album;
drawing
- Museum number
- 1945,1013,0.9.15
- Description
-
Pen and ink drawing, accented with watercolour paint on paper of the cenotaph of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r.1556-1605) in the mausoleum at Sikandra. The painting shows the cenotaph which is placed in the centre of the fifth level of the mausoleum. This level, which is at the top of the building, is open to the elements. The floor is decorated with different coloured tiles of marble creating a checkered pattern. This is continued on the side of the plinth on which the cenotaph rests. The cenotaph is carved out of a single piece of white marble and decorated in a bas relief of interlocking geometric shapes. In some of the geometric shapes are floral motifs whilst in others are inscriptions which list the ninety-nine names of Allah. On top of the cenotaph is a raised area, which represents a pen-case which is used to indicate that the inhabitant of the tomb is male. The drawing is framed by a thick black line.
- Production date
- 19thC(early)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 21.70 centimetres
-
Width: 29 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- This painting comes from an album of watercolour paintings and pen and ink drawings of North Indian architectural subjects (1945,1013,0.9.1-33). These include the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Sikandra. Albums such as this were commonly made during the early 19th century, typically for European visitors in India. Comparable albums are in the collections of the British Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1945
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1945,1013,0.9.15
