Not currently on display at the V&A

Ranjit Singh's tomb from the top of Ranjit Singh's palace, Lahore

Photograph
ca. 1860-1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This image was taken from Ranjit Singh’s palace in Lahore. It focuses on his samadhi, the structure erected over the place of his cremation, and manages to capture a number of carts positioned in the courtyard. This gives a sense of activity rarely seen in early photographs. The fuzziness surrounding the carts would have been caused by people or livestock moving around the well.

Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) was a Sikh chief who was known as the Lion of the Punjab. He was proclaimed the first Sikh Maharaja of Punjab in Lahore, in 1801. He united the Sikh provinces and became the most powerful ruler in India.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRanjit Singh's tomb from the top of Ranjit Singh's palace, Lahore
Materials and techniques
Albumen print
Brief description
Photograph of Ranjt Singh's tomb taken from Ranjit Singh's palace, Lahore.
Physical description
This photograph was taken from a slightly different view to that chosen by Bourne (see 52901), enabling the photographer to focus on the tomb of Ranjit Singh and including a number of carts positioned in the courtyard, giving a sense of activity rarely seen in early photographs. The fuzziness surrounding the carts would have been caused by people or livestock moving around the well.
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.2cm
  • Width: 25cm
Subject depicted
Summary
This image was taken from Ranjit Singh’s palace in Lahore. It focuses on his samadhi, the structure erected over the place of his cremation, and manages to capture a number of carts positioned in the courtyard. This gives a sense of activity rarely seen in early photographs. The fuzziness surrounding the carts would have been caused by people or livestock moving around the well.

Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) was a Sikh chief who was known as the Lion of the Punjab. He was proclaimed the first Sikh Maharaja of Punjab in Lahore, in 1801. He united the Sikh provinces and became the most powerful ruler in India.
Bibliographic reference
Stronge, Susan (ed). The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms, V&A Publications, London, 1999, Plate 231.
Collection
Accession number
2469-1900

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 23, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest