.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This large-scale view is based on another in the British Library of about 1812 from the collection of George Steell, who served in the Bengal Engineers and was posted at Agra 1807-1813. It bears a watermark of 1803 and, at 38 by 131.5 cm., is slightly smaller than the present view; see Pal, P., Romance of the Taj Mahal, Los Angeles, 1989, p.78, no.69. Both have the distinctive double black linear borders.
From the left, the various buildings visible include: the Jahangiri Mahal (1570); the Khass Mahal (1636) of Shah Jahan with the two Bengali-roofed pavilions; the Musamman Burj (1631-40); the Diwan-i Khass (1637); the Hamman or baths with its high tower, now gone; the distant Delhi gate; the Moti or Pearl Mosque (1650s)
From the left, the various buildings visible include: the Jahangiri Mahal (1570); the Khass Mahal (1636) of Shah Jahan with the two Bengali-roofed pavilions; the Musamman Burj (1631-40); the Diwan-i Khass (1637); the Hamman or baths with its high tower, now gone; the distant Delhi gate; the Moti or Pearl Mosque (1650s)