Indian Cities - Through the Ages

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 15 Jan 2014 Rare Paintings
The Gavi Gangadhareshvara Temple, Bangalore - 1804

Plate nineteen in 'Picturesque Scenery in the Kingdom of Mysore' by James Hunter. This aquatint is based on a picture by Hunter, and contrary to its assigned title -'A Moorish Mosque At Bangalore', represents a Hindu temple.

The GANGADHARESHVA... Read More
 14 Jan 2014 New Books
New Book:
Madras Miscellany
By Muthiah S
Published by Westland & Tranquebar Press - 2011

Madras Miscellany has, over that decade, created an awareness and a greater appreciation of the significant past of Madras and of the events and the people who over the years made Madras ‘the first c... Read More
 14 Jan 2014 Rare Paintings
Water-colour drawing of a European house in Madras (Chennai) with a palanquin and carriage at the door and a watercarrier in the foreground by Justinian Gantz(1802-1862) in 1832. Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'Just Gantz 1832.' Justinian Gantz, eldest son of John Gantz, is described in the 'E... Read More
 14 Jan 2014 Rare Paintings
Water-colour drawing of a European house in Madras (Chennai) by Justinian Gantz (1802-1862) in 1841. Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'Madras, 1841.' Justinian Gantz, eldest son of John Gantz, is described in the 'East India Register' as 'Miniature Painter'. He married Ann Philipina Martin at Bl... Read More
 14 Jan 2014 Rare Paintings
Water-colour drawing of the Merchants' buildings at Chennai (Madras) by John Gantz in 1829. Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'J. Gantz & Son. 1829.' John Gantz, probably of Austrian extraction, was employed as a draftsman and surveyor by the East India Company from about 1800 to 1803, eventually... Read More
 14 Jan 2014 Rare Paintings
Watercolour of the general view of temples at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, by John Gantz, c. 1825. Inscribed: 'N.' 'Easterly View of the Village Pagodas and adjacent Mountain Mahabalipoorum from an Original sketch by Mr Braddock. J. Gantz'.

John Gantz (1772-1853) and his son Justinian ran a lit... Read More
 13 Jan 2014 Rare Paintings
Panoramic view of new and old Delhi and the surrounding country.

From the book:
The Illustrated History of the British Empire in India and the East - From the earliest times to the suppression of the Sepoy mutiny in 1859
By Edward Henry Nolan
Published by James S.Virtue, London - 1858
Volu... Read More
 11 Jan 2014 Rare Paintings
Plate twenty two in 'Picturesque Scenery in the Kingdom of Mysore' by James Hunter - 1804.

This aquatint is based on a picture by Hunter showing a temple at Sriperumbudur. The famous 11th Century Vaishnava philosopher, Ramanuja, was from this place. A shrine dedicated to him is inside the temp... Read More
 6 Jan 2014 Rare Photographs
General view of Seetabaldee, or Nagpur, Central India - 1860

This view of Nagpur was taken in the 1860s by an unknown photographer. The modern city was established in the eighteenth century. However, the earlier history of the district is obscure with elements that can be dated as far back as ... Read More
 16 Dec 2013 Rare Photographs
Photograph of the Palace, Trivandrum taken by an unknown photographer in the 1900s. The photograph is from an album containing views of various locations in India, formerly in the collection of Horatio Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, (1850-1916), who was Commander in Chief o... Read More
 16 Dec 2013 New Books
New Book:
H.H. Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma
Travancore : The Footprints Of Destiny : My Life and Times Under the Grace of Lord Padmanabha
As told to Uma Maheswari
Published by Konark Publishers - 2011

Travancore: the Footprints of Destiny is an unusual work among the chronicles of the amazin... Read More
 14 Dec 2013 Rare Photographs
View looking north from the Khwabagh, showing the Panch Mahal and the Diwan-i-Khas, Fatehpur Sikri - 1893

Photograph of the Diwan-i-Khas at Fatehpur Sikri, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by Edmund William Smith in 1893. This view looks due north from the Khwabagh (H... Read More
 14 Dec 2013 Rare Photographs
General view of the Astrologer's Seat from the Pachchisi Court, Fatehpur Sikri - 1893

Photograph of the Astrologer's Seat, Fatehpur Sikri, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, Edmund William Smith in 1893. The city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r.1556... Read More
 11 Dec 2013 Rare Photographs
A lantern slide photo of the Old Palace, Mysore - c.1880

It was the seat of power for Krishna Raja Wodeyar the third who ruled from 1799 until 1868. The design, typical of Hindu architecture, uses a simple column-and-beam structure. The columns however, were elaborately carved in the style com... Read More
 11 Dec 2013 Rare Paintings
"Palace of the Maharajah of Mysore, India," from the Illustrated London News, 1881 (with modern hand colouring).

Source: Columbia University Read More
 11 Dec 2013 Rare Photographs
"The Old Palace, Mysore," a photo by Nicholson & Son, Madras, c.1880's

Source: Columbia University Read More
 7 Dec 2013 Rare Photographs
IMPERIAL CITY

On the morning of 15th December 1911 an unexpected ceremony was performed in the Government of India Camp, when Their Majesties graciously laid the stones which are to serve not merely as lasting and visible memorials of the Royal visit, but are the foundation stones of the new ... Read More
 26 Oct 2013 Rare Paintings
Watercolour painting on paper, of the Taj Mahal. The painting shows the Taj Mahal to the east when standing in front of the mosque. In the far distance on the left hand side of the painting is the Yamuna River and behind the Taj Mahal, the 'jawab' or guest house is just visible. The focus of the ... Read More
 26 Oct 2013 Rare Maps
Agra without the Taj.

Map Maker: Alain Manesson Mallet
Paris / 1683

An attractive birds eye view of the city. From Mallet's monumental Description de l' Univers, first published in Paris in 1683, perhaps the greatest work of its kind in the 17th century.

This picture disproves the new narrativ... Read More
 25 Oct 2013 Rare Paintings
Enameld Mosque in the town of Mathura

19th century

Credit: Wellcome Library, London Read More
 25 Oct 2013 Rare Paintings
An aerial view of the Taj Mahal and gardens.

Gouache painting on paper.
Mughal Style
1800

© Trustees of the British Museum Read More