Not currently on display at the V&A

In Nishat Bagh

Photograph
1864 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 1863 Samuel Bourne (1834-1912) arrived in India. He had left his job as a Nottingham bank clerk in order to develop his new career as a photographer. Bourne undertook three treks to Kashmir and the western Himalayas in 1863, 1864 and 1866, during which he photographed his surroundings extensively.

He began his second trip to India, during which this photograph was taken, in March 1864. It was to be a nine-month expedition through the Kashmir region. Throughout his travels Bourne wrote about his first impressions of the places he visited and these writings were published in the British Journal of Photography. Of his first impressions of Nashit Bagh he noted: "About a mile to the right of Shalimar is the “Nishat Bagh,” or garden of Pleasure, and then a lovely prospect of hills lead the eye back to the Takht-i-Soliman,” crowned by its little temple and solitary poplar tree. Let the reader endeavour to imagine this lovely panorama spread around him – every object in which is faithfully mirrored in the peaceful lake, whose surface on the first day that I visited it was as smooth as glass itself –and he will then be able to form some idea of the kind of scenery which delights every visitor to this celebrated valley." "...From this I proceeded to the Nishat Bagh, which is similar in character to Shamilar, having six of seven terraces and a stream of water flowing through the middle. The gardens of Shalimar and Nishat are filled with fruit, the chief of which are apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, and mulberries. The two latter only were in season at this time, but of these there was abundance, and very delicious they were." Bourne, S, Narrative of a Photographic Trip to Kashmir (Cashmere) and the Adjacent Districts, The British Journal of Photography, 4 January 1867, p.4

Towards the end of the 1860s, Bourne established a partnership with fellow photographer and Englishman Charles Shepherd (fl.1858-1878) and in the space of a few years Bourne & Shepherd became the pre-eminent photographic firm in India. By the end of 1870 they had three branches, in Simla, Calcutta and Bombay.

Samuel Bourne’s ability to combine technical skill and artistic vision has led to him being recognised today as one of the most outstanding photographers working in India in the nineteenth century.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • In Nishat Bagh (assigned by artist)
  • Nishat Bagh, Kashmir (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from wet collodion negative
Brief description
Photograph, 'In Nishat Bagh', albumen print, Samuel Bourne, India, 1860s
Physical description
The photograph shows a view of Nishat Bagh, seen from a raised viewpoint, with trees on either side and three figures standing in the middle-ground.
Dimensions
  • Photograph height: 23.3cm
  • Photograph width: 29.3
  • Mount height: 26.7cm
  • Mount width: 32.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
Signature and negative number at the bottom, slightly to the right
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.
Production
The negative was made in 1864. This print was made before March 1867.
Place depicted
Summary
In 1863 Samuel Bourne (1834-1912) arrived in India. He had left his job as a Nottingham bank clerk in order to develop his new career as a photographer. Bourne undertook three treks to Kashmir and the western Himalayas in 1863, 1864 and 1866, during which he photographed his surroundings extensively.

He began his second trip to India, during which this photograph was taken, in March 1864. It was to be a nine-month expedition through the Kashmir region. Throughout his travels Bourne wrote about his first impressions of the places he visited and these writings were published in the British Journal of Photography. Of his first impressions of Nashit Bagh he noted: "About a mile to the right of Shalimar is the “Nishat Bagh,” or garden of Pleasure, and then a lovely prospect of hills lead the eye back to the Takht-i-Soliman,” crowned by its little temple and solitary poplar tree. Let the reader endeavour to imagine this lovely panorama spread around him – every object in which is faithfully mirrored in the peaceful lake, whose surface on the first day that I visited it was as smooth as glass itself –and he will then be able to form some idea of the kind of scenery which delights every visitor to this celebrated valley." "...From this I proceeded to the Nishat Bagh, which is similar in character to Shamilar, having six of seven terraces and a stream of water flowing through the middle. The gardens of Shalimar and Nishat are filled with fruit, the chief of which are apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, and mulberries. The two latter only were in season at this time, but of these there was abundance, and very delicious they were." Bourne, S, Narrative of a Photographic Trip to Kashmir (Cashmere) and the Adjacent Districts, The British Journal of Photography, 4 January 1867, p.4

Towards the end of the 1860s, Bourne established a partnership with fellow photographer and Englishman Charles Shepherd (fl.1858-1878) and in the space of a few years Bourne & Shepherd became the pre-eminent photographic firm in India. By the end of 1870 they had three branches, in Simla, Calcutta and Bombay.

Samuel Bourne’s ability to combine technical skill and artistic vision has led to him being recognised today as one of the most outstanding photographers working in India in the nineteenth century.
Other number
804 - Negative number
Collection
Accession number
52975

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 26, 2016
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest