Painting of the Gateway of the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh by William Simpson, watercolour on paper, India, 1862

Painting of the Gateway of the Buddhist Stupa, at Sanchi, near Bilsah (modern day Vidisha), India. This view shows one of four sandstone toranas or stone gateways, in a state of disrepair. The columns and architraves of the gateway depict scenes from the Jataka, stories of Buddha’s former life. The carvings also include Buddhist iconography, such as the dharmachakra, triratnas, various yakshas and yakshis and other animal, plant and floral motifs. The stupa in the background is covered in vegetation. In the foreground, architectural fragments, sculptures, and rubble from the site are strewn around. An acetic, clad in an orange dhoti, with a brass pot, stands in front of the torana.

Purchased from Messrs Day and Son Ltd (London) in 1869

Historical significance: William Simpson (1823 - 1899)

William Simpson was commissioned to go to India by his employers, Day and Sons, the London lithography firm. Having established his reputation by documenting the Crimean war in 1854, he was instructed to sketch well-known sites in and around Delhi associated with the heavy fighting of 1857.

Simpson arrived in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1859 and travelled widely. His rapid pencil drawings formed the preparatory studies for his finished watercolours which were done after his return to London in 1862. His fond memories of India, as noted in his journal, resulted in these highly coloured, evocative and romantic interpretations of the Indian landscape.

Simpson, a largely self-taught artist from a poor family in Scotland, had hoped to achieve fame on the publication of his paintings in a lavishly illustrated volume. Unfortunately, financial problems led to the poorly printed India Ancient and Modern containing only fifty images. Simpson called it the ‘big disaster’ of his life.

The V&A has the single most important collection of watercolours made during Simpson's first expedition to India.

Sanchi

William Simpson (1823 - 1899) was a distinguished watercolourist and war artist. Having established his reputation by documenting the Crimean war in 1854, Day and Sons, the London lithography firm, commissioned him to sketch well-known sites in and around Delhi associated with the Revolt of 1857 by Indians against the rule of the British East India Company.

Simpson arrived in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1859 and travelled widely. His rapid pencil drawings formed the preparatory studies for his finished watercolours done after his return to London in 1862. His detailed journal, sketches and pictures from India resulted in these highly coloured, evocative, and romantic interpretations of the landscape and architecture.

The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the most important Buddhist sites in India. Abandoned from the 14th century, Sanchi was 'rediscovered' by a British officer, General Taylor, in 1818. This view shows one of four stone gateways in a state of disrepair. Restoration work on the site was initiated in 1881.

1149-1869