Please complete the form to email this item.

Photograph - The Badashahi Masjid gateway

The Badashahi Masjid gateway

  • Object:

    Photograph

  • Place of origin:

    Lahore, Pakistan (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1860-1870 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Craddock, James (artist)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Albumen print

  • Museum number:

    79:865

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

  • Download image

This magnificent gateway leads into the great courtyard of the Badshahi Mosque, which dominates Lahore. The mosque was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangseb (ruled 1658-1707). The marble tablet above the doorway bears a Kalima as well as a Persian inscription recording the date of the mosque’s completion, AH 1084/AD 1674. During the Anglo-Sikh Wars, the mosque was used to store ammunition, but it was given back to the Muslims in 1856. It then became the repository of relics associated with the Prophet Muhammad.

Dr John McCosh took the earliest photograph of the mosque in 1849. Although he captured the soldiers stationed outside, the inadequacy of his photographic equipment probably prevented him from taking a view of the steps. Twenty years later, with more advanced technology and greater experience, Craddock was able to show the grand scale of the scene.

Physical description

This photograph shows the magnificient and imposing gateway to the Badshahi mosque. In the foreground, the steps leading up to it are surrounded by trees.

Place of Origin

Lahore, Pakistan (made)

Date

ca. 1860-1870 (made)

Artist/maker

Craddock, James (artist)

Materials and Techniques

Albumen print

Dimensions

Height: 28 cm, Width: 22 cm

Object history note

Dr John McCosh took the earliest photograph of the mosque in 1849, capturing the soldiers stationed outside, although the inadequacy of his photographic equipment probably prevented him from taking a view of the steps. Twenty years later, with the advancement of technology and experience, Craddock was bale to show the grand scale of the scene.

Historical context note

The mosque was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangseb (r.1658-1707); the marble tablet above the doorway has the Kalima as well as a Persian inscription recording the date of completion of the mosque, AH1084/AD 1674. During the Anglo Sikh Wars it was used to store ammunition but was given back into Muslim hands in 1856, after which it became the repository of relics associated with the Prophet Muhammad.

Descriptive line

Photograph of the Badshahi Mosque gateway, Lahore.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Stronge, Susan (ed). The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms, V&A Publications, London, 1999, Plate 233.

Exhibition History

The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms (01/01/0003-25/07/1999)

Subjects depicted

Architecture, Buildings

Categories

Photographs

Collection code

SSEA

Download image
Qr_O72317
Ajax-loader