Samuel Daniell. Male Eland. Original 1820 soft-ground etching engraved by William Daniell. FRAMED.

A sensitively drawn early depiction of an eland by artist Samuel Daniell, engraved by his brother William Daniell for the book published in limited numbers in1820 entitled "Sketches of the Native Tribes, Animals and Scenery of South Africa". 

The type of eland depicted is probably a subspecies, either the Cape Eland or Livingstone's Eland.

The soft-ground etching with landscape in outline as background is in excellent clean condition and is 29 x 24 cm within indent. Loosely attached to gilt and green mount, only at top, not stuck down. Exposed portion of print is 27.5cm x 22.5 cm when mounted. Excellent condition gilt frame is 46 cm x 41 cm. 

 William Daniell in his preface states, with regard to his brother Samuel's drawings, "He was indefatigable in the pursuit of the various subjects he has delineated; and it was his constant care to see the animals alive, that he might make himself master of their actions and habits. To the knowledge acquired in this way, he added all that could be obtained.by conversation with the peasants and natives." The letterpress descriptions accompanying the plates were the work of Dr. Somerville and John Barrow. "A most beautiful and sensitive work." (Abbey). Abbey, Travel I, 326; Mendelssohn, Vol. I, pp. 412-13.

Samuel Daniell arrived at the Cape on 9 December 1799, joining an expedition which travelled the perilous 700 miles to Lataku, the seat of King Mooliahaben of the Booshuanas-then the extreme limit of European exploration. His drawings of the landscape, the wild animals, and the inhabitants of the interior became the source for both his African Scenery and Animals (1804-1805) and the present work, published posthumously. His brother William used soft-ground etching for the latter in the belief that it would best "transfuse the spirit of the originals." Daniell's sketches are now highly regarded as an early and sympathetic record of African life.