Drawings of the Taj Mahal

Description

Seven drawings of the Taj Mahal in watercolour and pen and ink. All the drawings are on heavy machine-made wove paper.


1. Ink inscription on lower margin 'The Tomb of the Sultana Mumtaza Lemani, or the most exalted of the age'. Additional later pencil inscriptions on lower margin showing the accession number 49474 and the note 'Taj Mahal, Agra (7 drawings)', 550 x 708 mm.


2. Drawing with two sections, titled in ink on upper and lower 'The upper part of the Emperor’s Tomb' and 'The Upper part of the Sultana's Tomb', 550 x 708 mm.


3. Ink inscription on lower margin 'The Tomb of the Emperor Shah Jehan', 550 x 712 mm. Minor tear to left edge.


4. Ink inscription on lower margin 'The screen work around the Tombs in the Taj', 550 x 712 mm.


5. Ink inscription on lower margin 'The Taj', 550 x 708 mm.


6. Ink inscription on lower margin 'Interior of the Taj'. Minor tears to margin at lower edge, and larger tear to margin at right hand side, 555 x 716 mm.


7. Pen inscription 'Gateway to the Taj', 550 x 712 mm.


Possibly early 19th century.

Physical characteristics

Technique: ink and brush

Medium: ink; watercolour

Biography or history

The Taj Mahal was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628-58) for his favourite wife Arjumand Banu Begum at her death in 1631. Constructed of India's finest marble, quarried at Makrana near Jodhpur, it took 20,000 craftsmean from all over Asia 12 years to build. The tomb and accompanying buildings are laid out around a garden which is separated into 4 sections by raised walkways which have water channels at their centres. The pietra dura, or inlay, was made out of precious and semi-precious stones arranged in floral designs on the exterior and interior of the building. The domed white marble mausoleum is on a plinth with tapering minarets on the corners.

Provenance

Given to the University by Mr H. Whitaker. The gift is recorded in the University of Leeds Accession Book no. 5, with accession number 49474, 17 April 1942.

Access and usage

Reproduction

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