The Military Station at Algoa Bay

Algoa Bay is in South Africa and this print was produced in 1804 after Samuel Daniell's return. Despite depicting very different scenery Daniell's piece is modelled on European landscape traditions of the time. He uses a darker foreground to direct the viewer's eye to the centre of the piece, where we see human figures herding animals. This is known as a pastoral scene, depicting an idealised view of humanity and nature in harmony, despite the large fortified military building on the hilltop. Artists used this style as it sold well to the general public. While people in the upper classes of British society were interested in learning about new places they valued the composition and familiarity of the European style.