Not on display

The Taj Mahal

Painting
ca.1820 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Delhi (made)
Agra (made)

Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to their fourteenth child. Completed in 1643, the building is constructed from white marble extracted from Makrana in Rajasthan. Its Koranic inscriptions and finely detailed floral decoration are inlaid with semi-precious stones. Shah Jahan was buried next to his wife on his death in 1666.

Object details

Categories
Indian Company Paintings
Architecture
Object type
Painting
TitleThe Taj Mahal (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on paper
Watercolour
Paper
Brief description
Painting, architectural: The Taj Mahal, watercolour on paper, Agra or Delhi, c.1820
Physical description
The Taj Mahal seen from across the river Jumna; three small boats on the river.
Dimensions
  • Length: 48.5cm
  • Width: 70.8cm
Style
Company
Gallery label
(July 2017)
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to their fourteenth child. Completed in 1643, the building is constructed from white marble extracted from Makrana in Rajasthan. Its Koranic inscriptions and finely detailed floral decoration are inlaid with semi-precious stones. Shah Jahan was buried next to his wife on his death in 1666.
Subjects depicted
River
Boats
Place depicted
Taj Mahal
Summary
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to their fourteenth child. Completed in 1643, the building is constructed from white marble extracted from Makrana in Rajasthan. Its Koranic inscriptions and finely detailed floral decoration are inlaid with semi-precious stones. Shah Jahan was buried next to his wife on his death in 1666.
Bibliographic references
  • Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 136 p. ISBN 0944142303
  • The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982 Number: ISBN 0 906969 26 3 Topsfield, Andrew; cat, no. 130, p. 56
Other number
4201 - Previous number
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
AL.4201

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O403932/the-taj-mahal-painting-unknown/
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