One of five views of Delhi.
Painting
ca. 1850 (made)
ca. 1850 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This oval ivory plaque is painted with a view of the Jami Masjid, Delhi, the largest mosque in India, which was built between 1644 and 1656 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is part of a set of six plaques representing Mughal monuments and would have originally been hung on a wall. Such sets were produced for the growing number of Europeans in India who wished to acquire high-quality souvenirs of their travels. The skilled technique is a legacy of Indian court artists working in miniature.
With the decline of Mughal patronage in the 18th century, miniature painters formerly working for the court began to produce works specifically for the growing number of westerners in the subcontinent. By the mid 19th century, when this piece was painted, this had grown into a substantial souvenir trade.
With the decline of Mughal patronage in the 18th century, miniature painters formerly working for the court began to produce works specifically for the growing number of westerners in the subcontinent. By the mid 19th century, when this piece was painted, this had grown into a substantial souvenir trade.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | One of five views of Delhi. (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Watercolour and ivory |
Brief description | Painting; Watercolour on ivory, The Jami Masjid, Delhi or Agra, ca. 1850 |
Physical description | A view of the Jami Masjid, Delhi. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Object history | This painting was purchased from Lt. H. H. Cole. |
Place depicted | |
Summary | This oval ivory plaque is painted with a view of the Jami Masjid, Delhi, the largest mosque in India, which was built between 1644 and 1656 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is part of a set of six plaques representing Mughal monuments and would have originally been hung on a wall. Such sets were produced for the growing number of Europeans in India who wished to acquire high-quality souvenirs of their travels. The skilled technique is a legacy of Indian court artists working in miniature. With the decline of Mughal patronage in the 18th century, miniature painters formerly working for the court began to produce works specifically for the growing number of westerners in the subcontinent. By the mid 19th century, when this piece was painted, this had grown into a substantial souvenir trade. |
Bibliographic reference | Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period
Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 224 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 281-1871 |
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Record created | July 26, 2006 |
Record URL |
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