Not currently on display at the V&A

The Akal Boonga - the sacred temple - north view

Photograph
ca. 1858-1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This photograph is a general view of the Golden Temple at Amritsar. It shows the temple, the causeway and the entrance gate.

After the Indian army had ‘mutinied’ against the British in 1857, Felice Beato travelled through India photographing the sites connected with the events. Although there had been incidents in Amritsar, it was not a ‘Mutiny’ site like Lucknow and Delhi. In all, Beato took 11 photographs of the Golden Temple from different viewpoints, of which this is one.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Akal Boonga - the sacred temple - north view
Materials and techniques
Albumen print
Brief description
Photograph of the Golden Temple, Amritsar.
Physical description
This photograph is a general view of the Golden Temple showing the temple, the causeway and the entrance gate.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
  • Width: 28.4cm
Object history
Beato took many photographs of the Golden Temple taken from different viewpoints. The photographs were offered for sale to the public, ten of the 17 views of Amritsar listed in the sales catalogue were displayed in the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867. The V&A has 11 of the 17 views, three of which were displayed in Paris and retain their original 1867 mounts marked with their 1867 catalogue numbers.
Historical context
After the Indian army 'mutinied' in 1857 Felice Beato travelled through India photographing the sites connected with it. Although there had been incidents in Amritsar, it was not a 'Mutiny' site such as Lucknow and Delhi. In all, Beato took eleven photographs of the Golden Temple from different view points. The photographs were offered for sale to the public, ten of the 17 views of Amritsar listed in the sales catalogue were displayed in the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867. The V&A has 11 of the 17 views, three of which were displayed in Paris and retain their original 1867 mounts marked with their 1867 catalogue numbers.
Subject depicted
Summary
This photograph is a general view of the Golden Temple at Amritsar. It shows the temple, the causeway and the entrance gate.

After the Indian army had ‘mutinied’ against the British in 1857, Felice Beato travelled through India photographing the sites connected with the events. Although there had been incidents in Amritsar, it was not a ‘Mutiny’ site like Lucknow and Delhi. In all, Beato took 11 photographs of the Golden Temple from different viewpoints, of which this is one.
Bibliographic reference
Stronge, S. (Ed.) "The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms", V&A, 1999 p. 211, Cat. 20
Other number
U1 - Beato's negative number which appears in the bottom right hand corner.
Collection
Accession number
80096

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Record createdDecember 20, 2002
Record URL
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