Interior of the Great Chaitya Hall at Karle

Physical description

This photograph is of the interior of the chaitya cave at Karle. It highlights the rows of pillars with their ornate capitals as they lead to the stupa in the centre of the hall of worship.

Place of Origin

India (photographed)

Date

1868-9 (photographed)

Artist/maker

Edmund David Lyon, born 1825 - died 1891 (photographer)

Materials and Techniques

Albumen print

Object history note

Historical significance: The Great Chaitya Hall at Karle is one of the largest and most elaborate halls of worship to be excavated from rock in India.

Descriptive line

Photograph of the interior of the Great Chaitya Hall at Karle, Maharashtra, India by David Edmund Lyon, albumen print, 1868-9

Exhibition History

The Photographers’ Pilgrimage: Exploring Buddhist sites (Gallery 17a and 18a 01/01/2004-22/06/2009)

Labels and date

nterior of the Great Chaitya Hall at Karle
Maharashtra, about AD 120
By David Edmund Lyon (1825–91)

This is one of the largest and most elaborate halls of worship to be excavated from rock in India. Lyon’s dramatic photograph highlights the rows of pillars with their ornate capitals as they lead to the central stupa (a symbol of the Buddha). Lyon took over a hundred photographs of the monuments of western India for the government. [59 words]

Albumen print, 1868–9
Museum no. IS.29-2008

Techniques

Albumen process

Subjects depicted

India; Buddhism; Cave temples

Categories

Architecture; Photographs; Buddhism

Collection code

SSEA