Photograph of the Gateway to the Taj Mahal, Agra, India by Samuel Bourne, 1860s

This photograph shows the gateway which leads to the monument of the Taj Mahal.

This 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 it is categorised.
The mount is white. Bottom Left: Label from Bourne catalogue with some handwritten text.
Bottom right: label with ‘ A.in. Agra’

Historical significance: Samuel Bourne wrote an account of his journey in India in the British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and in some cases describing the scenes of which he took photographs. His account of the Taj Mahal can be found in:

Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, 1 July 1863, Pg 269.

Although Bourne visited the Taj Mahal in 1863 he did not photograph on that first sighting. He would have photographed on a later visit.

This view of the gate of the Taj Mahal was taken by the British photographer Samuel Bourne. He first travelled to India in 1863. Bourne wrote about his journey in The British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and in some cases describing the scenes he photographed.

His first sight of the Taj Mahal was overwhelming. He wrote: ‘The world knows not another building to be compared with the Taj. It rises in its queenly beauty on the banks of the Jumna, and the eye that has once gazed on its snowy whiteness and dazzling splendour can never forget it.’

53231