The Taj Mahal
Painting
1852 (made)
1852 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
William Carpenter was trained at the Royal Academy Schools.He was in India from 1850 t0 1856, during which time he travelled extensively from Bombay (Mumbai) and across western India to Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore and Afghanistan. His depiction of every day street scenes and groups of people is remarkably accurate and animated, his portraits vividly capturing the character of his sitters and the glowing effects of sunlight as cityscapes and architectural monuments. Brilliantly executed in a range of warm colours, his watercolours evoke a gentle romanticism.
After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A.
Unlike many of Carpenter's carefully painted scenes, this image is in a more relaxed and fluid style. The over-grown trees in the foreground were cut down in 1903 in order to return the garden to its original design.
After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A.
Unlike many of Carpenter's carefully painted scenes, this image is in a more relaxed and fluid style. The over-grown trees in the foreground were cut down in 1903 in order to return the garden to its original design.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Taj Mahal (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | The Taj Mahal by William Carpenter, Paintings, watercolour on paper, India, 1852. |
| Physical description | View of the Taj Mahal painted from the gateway. Trees in the foreground on either side of the path leading to the Taj. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | Unlike many of Carpenter's carefully painted scenes, this image is in a more relaxed and fluid style. The over-grown trees in the foreground were cut down in 1903 in order to return the garden to its original design.(1/12/2008) |
| Credit line | Purchased from William Carpenter |
| Object history | Historical significance: William Carpenter (1818-99) William Carpenter was trained at the Royal Academy Schools, and was the eldest son of the distinguished portrait painter Margaret Sarah Carpenter and William Hookham Carpenter, who became Keeper of the Prints and Drawings Department at the British Museum. He was in India from 1850 t0 1856, during which time he travelled extensively from Bombay (Mumbai) and across western India to Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore and Afghanistan. His depiction of every day street scenes and groups of people is remarkably accurate and animated, his portraits vividly capturing the character of his sitters and the glowing effects of sunlight as cityscapes and architectural monuments. Brilliantly executed in a range of warm colours, his watercolours evoke a gentle romanticism. After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A. |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | William Carpenter was trained at the Royal Academy Schools.He was in India from 1850 t0 1856, during which time he travelled extensively from Bombay (Mumbai) and across western India to Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore and Afghanistan. His depiction of every day street scenes and groups of people is remarkably accurate and animated, his portraits vividly capturing the character of his sitters and the glowing effects of sunlight as cityscapes and architectural monuments. Brilliantly executed in a range of warm colours, his watercolours evoke a gentle romanticism. After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A. Unlike many of Carpenter's carefully painted scenes, this image is in a more relaxed and fluid style. The over-grown trees in the foreground were cut down in 1903 in order to return the garden to its original design. |
| Bibliographic reference | Patel, Divia; Rohatgi, Pauline and Godrej, Pheroza, "Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists: an exhibition of paintings and drawings from the 17th to the early 20th century organised by the V&A and CSMVS". Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai and Victoria and Albert Museum, 2008, ISBN:81-901020-8-7
p. 62 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.182-1881 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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