Northern Entrance or doorway of the Ala-ood-deen gateway, Delhi
Photograph
1860s (photographed)
1860s (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This photograph shows the northern façade of the gateway into the extended Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi. Known as the Alai Darwaza, it was built in 1311 by the Afgan ruler Alauddin Khalji. He had grand plans to extend the original mosque. Most of them were abandoned after his death in 1315, but this gateway is the most notable addition he made. It is 17.2 metres square.
The mosque and gateway are made out of rubble. It is the first of many Indian Islamic monuments to use a combination of white marble and red sandstone for the façade. The plainness of this northern façade is in marked contrast to the highly decorated southern façade (see Museum no. 53225).
The British photographer Samuel Bourne lived and worked in India between 1862 and 1869. During this time he toured the Himalayas and travelled through the subcontinent, photographing its landscape, architecture and historical sites. He set up a studio in Simla with Charles Shepherd and sold his prints sold to an eager public both in India and Britain.
The mosque and gateway are made out of rubble. It is the first of many Indian Islamic monuments to use a combination of white marble and red sandstone for the façade. The plainness of this northern façade is in marked contrast to the highly decorated southern façade (see Museum no. 53225).
The British photographer Samuel Bourne lived and worked in India between 1862 and 1869. During this time he toured the Himalayas and travelled through the subcontinent, photographing its landscape, architecture and historical sites. He set up a studio in Simla with Charles Shepherd and sold his prints sold to an eager public both in India and Britain.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Northern Entrance or doorway of the Ala-ood-deen gateway, Delhi (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Albumen print from wet collodion glass negative |
| Brief description | Photograph of the Alai Darwaza or gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in the Qutb Minar complex, Delhi, India, 1860s. |
| Physical description | This photograph shows a gateway into the extended Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. It was built by the Afgan ruler Alauddin Khalji in 1311, as recorded on the inscriptions on the south, east and west arches. He had grand plans to extend the original mosque and though most of them were abandoned after his death in 1315, this gateway, known as the Alai Darwaza, is the most notable addition he made. It is 17.2 meters square. This photograph shows the northern façade and its plainness contrasts with the highly decorated southern façade. See photograph number 53,225 for a view of the southern façade. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Signature and negative number on bottom right hand side. |
| Object history | The photograph was initially part of the photographic collection held in the National Art Library. The markings on the mount are an indication of the history of the object, its movement through the museum and the way in which it is categorised. The mount is white and has evidence of handwritten text across the top: IIbd. On the right hand side there is a label with: A.in. Delhi Bottom left: handwritten title. |
| Historical context | Bourne took this photograph on his journey through India during the 1860s. In the published account of his journey, on his first encounter with Delhi on June 25th 1863 he wrote: ‘Of course Delhi can’t fail to be interesting to the photographer: the Cashmere Gate, the fort, and other noted places must be taken, while its mosques and similar buildings will be photographed for their own merits. About eleven miles from Delhi is the famous Kootub, of which many of my readers have seen Beato’s large photograph, published by Hering, of Regent Street.’ Bourne, S, Photography in the East, The British Journal of Photography, September 1 1863, pg 345. |
| Production | Bourne visited Delhi in 1863, as mentioned in his writings. He is also likely to have made subsequent visits in 1864 and 1866 though this is not recorded in his writings. This print would have been made before March 1867. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Places depicted | |
| Summary | This photograph shows the northern façade of the gateway into the extended Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi. Known as the Alai Darwaza, it was built in 1311 by the Afgan ruler Alauddin Khalji. He had grand plans to extend the original mosque. Most of them were abandoned after his death in 1315, but this gateway is the most notable addition he made. It is 17.2 metres square. The mosque and gateway are made out of rubble. It is the first of many Indian Islamic monuments to use a combination of white marble and red sandstone for the façade. The plainness of this northern façade is in marked contrast to the highly decorated southern façade (see Museum no. 53225). The British photographer Samuel Bourne lived and worked in India between 1862 and 1869. During this time he toured the Himalayas and travelled through the subcontinent, photographing its landscape, architecture and historical sites. He set up a studio in Simla with Charles Shepherd and sold his prints sold to an eager public both in India and Britain. |
| Bibliographic reference | Bourne, S, Photography in the East, The British Journal of Photography, September 1 1863, pg 345. |
| Other number | 1381 - Negative number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 53226 |
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| Record created | December 22, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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