Aurangabad from the ruins of Aurungzebe's Palace, drawn in 1813

This is plate 28 of Robert Melville Grindlay's 'Scenery, Costumes and Architecture chiefly on the Western Side of India". Grindlay (1786-1877) was in the service of the East India Company and also worked as an artist. During his stay in India, Grindlay made a large collection of sketches and drawings. This plate shows a distant view of Aurangabad, which was the centre of local government and the headquarters for the troops of the Nizam of Hyderabad State even after he moved from there in 1811. Grindlay explains: "The area seen from the ruined palace was called Begumpura, or the Lady's Quarter, and was named after Aurungzebe's daughter, who was buried there. The cupola and minarets of her tomb are to the centre right."

"Next to Daniell the most attractive colour plate book on India. One of the few books in which the name of the colourist is mentioned. viz. J.B. Hogarth" (Tooley). The work was originally issued in six parts comprising 6 plates each, taken from a collection of sketches and drawings made by Grindlay while he was in the service of the East India Company.

Source: Bonhams