Not currently on display at the V&A

Interior of the Moti Masjid, showing the marble saracenic Arches and Pillars, Agra

Photograph
c.1860s (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Fort at Agra was built between 1565-1571 by the emperor Akbar (1556-1605). Sections of the Fort were added later with the Moti Masjid or Pearl mosque being built between 1648-1655 by the emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658). This photograph shows a section of the white marble arches and pillars that surround the courtyard of the mosque on the north, south and east sides. The two men in the foreground give a sense of scale to the building.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Interior of the Moti Masjid, showing the marble saracenic Arches and Pillars, Agra (assigned by artist)
  • The Moti Masjid inside the Fort at Agra (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from a wet collodion glass negative
Brief description
Photograph of the Moti Masjid, Agra Fort, India by Samuel Bourne, 1860s
Physical description
The Moti Masjid or Pearl mosque was built by the emperor Shah Jahan from 1648-1655. It stands at the highest point in the Fort. This photograph shows a section of the white marble arches and pillars that surround the courtyard of the mosque on the north, south and east sides. The two men in the foreground give a sense of scale to the building.
Dimensions
  • Print height: 24.3cm
  • Print width: 29.5cm
  • Mount height: 26.2cm
  • Mount width: 32.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
signature and negative number in bottom right hand corner
Object history
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’ and the word 'duplicate'
Place depicted
Summary
The Fort at Agra was built between 1565-1571 by the emperor Akbar (1556-1605). Sections of the Fort were added later with the Moti Masjid or Pearl mosque being built between 1648-1655 by the emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658). This photograph shows a section of the white marble arches and pillars that surround the courtyard of the mosque on the north, south and east sides. The two men in the foreground give a sense of scale to the building.
Other number
1229 - Negative number
Collection
Accession number
53250

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Record createdOctober 20, 2006
Record URL
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