Not currently on display at the V&A

One of four drawings of Mughal architecture.

Drawing
ca. 1840 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Company painting shows a view of the Jami Masjid in Delhi. This is India's largest mosque, designed by the architect of Shah Jahan and built between 1644 and 1656. It was originally called Masjid-i Jahannuma ('mosque commanding a view of the world') and stands on Bho Jhala, one of Shahjahanabad's two hills, looking east towards the Red Fort.

'Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditional Indian artistic styles with conventions and technical features borrowed from western art. Some Company paintings were specially commissioned, while others were virtually mass-produced and could be purchased in bazaars.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleOne of four drawings of Mughal architecture. (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Brief description
Drawing; watercolour, View of the Jami Masjid, Delhi, Mazhar Ali Khan, ca.1840
Physical description
A view of the Jami Masjid in Delhi, seen from the side of an adjoining house. Rooftop in foreground. Street and steps leading up to the mosque in the centre. Houses to left and right.
Dimensions
  • Length: 13.5cm
  • Width: 19cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • Delineation of the Jami Masjid, Shah Jahanabad from the side of [?] the house of [?]. Work of Mazhar Ali Khan. (Inscription; decoration; Persian)
  • '1834' (Watermark:)
Object history
IS.477 to 489-1950 were purchased for £5 in 1950.
Subject depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This Company painting shows a view of the Jami Masjid in Delhi. This is India's largest mosque, designed by the architect of Shah Jahan and built between 1644 and 1656. It was originally called Masjid-i Jahannuma ('mosque commanding a view of the world') and stands on Bho Jhala, one of Shahjahanabad's two hills, looking east towards the Red Fort.

'Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditional Indian artistic styles with conventions and technical features borrowed from western art. Some Company paintings were specially commissioned, while others were virtually mass-produced and could be purchased in bazaars.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 149 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IS.482-1950

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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