Attributed to Samuel Daniell (British 1775-1811)
Portrait of Man, probably from Bechuanaland, Southern Africa
Watercolour
14.3 by 13 cm.; 5 ⅝by 5 in.

All unframed




Samuel was the younger brother of William and nephew of Thomas Daniell. As a result of his interest in natural history and travel, he left England for the Cape of Good Hope soon after the British occupation of the Colony, arriving in December 1799. In 1801 he was appointed by Lieutenant General Dundas as secretary and draughtsman to Truter’s expedition to explore the region north and east of the Cape Colony, then called Bechuanaland, in the area of the Moloppo and Kuruman rivers (now Botswana borders). Daniell’s own claim to fame on this expedition was his discovery of the source of the Kuruman river, one of the natural wonders of Southern Africa. During his stay in South Africa he made numerous sketches which were used to illustrate his celebrated work, African Scenery and Animals at the Cape of Good Hope which he co-published with his brother William, in 1804. After his death, further engravings based on his drawings were published including, Sketches representing the Native Tribes and Scenery of Southern Africa, in 1820. His work, in both his finished watercolours and sketches, broke away from the topographical style of his family. In his figure drawing, use of colour and original composition his work is considered to be the best of the family.