Vertical Section through the Tage
Drawing
ca.1816-1822 (made)
ca.1816-1822 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This drawing made by a Delhi or Agra artist for the British Superintendent of Public Buildings in India from 1816 to 1822 depicts a cross section of the Taj Mahal. Two stories of eight rooms surround a central chamber in which are the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the tomb was built by her husband Shah Jahan, and Shah Jahan himself. The empress died in Burhanpur in 1631, following which orders were given by Shah Jahan for construction to begin in Agra. The tomb was essentially completed by 1643.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Vertical Section through the Tage (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour |
| Brief description | Taj Mahal; Drawings, Delhi, ca.1816-1822 |
| Physical description | Cross section of the Taj Mahal in watercolour and ink on paper. elief panel of white marble with inlaid border of pietra-dura work on the inside of the entrance to the Taj Mahal, Agra. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Panell at the Entrance of the Taje' (Inscribed on front in ink:) |
| Credit line | Given by Col R.W. Phipps |
| Object history | This drawing is from a portfolio of drawings made by Delhi artists working in Calcutta for Colonel Pownell Phipps, father of the donor and Superintendent and Inspector of Public Buildings, Calcutta, 1816-1822. Given by Col R.W. Phipps. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. R.P. 192-4465 |
| Production | By Delhi artists working in Calcutta. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Places depicted | |
| Summary | This drawing made by a Delhi or Agra artist for the British Superintendent of Public Buildings in India from 1816 to 1822 depicts a cross section of the Taj Mahal. Two stories of eight rooms surround a central chamber in which are the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the tomb was built by her husband Shah Jahan, and Shah Jahan himself. The empress died in Burhanpur in 1631, following which orders were given by Shah Jahan for construction to begin in Agra. The tomb was essentially completed by 1643. |
| Bibliographic reference | Pratapaditya Pal, Janice Leoshko, Joseph M. Dye, III, Stephen Markel. Romance of the Taj Mahal, Time Books International, New Delhi, 1989, fig. 57, p. 67.
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period
Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 133 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.179-1920 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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