Drawings for Oriental Scenery including Part of the Palace in the Fort of Allahabad; and Mausoleum of Makhdum Shah Daulet, Maner, Bihar

Details

Thomas Daniell, R.A. (1749-1840)
Drawings for Oriental Scenery including Part of the Palace in the Fort of Allahabad; and Mausoleum of Makhdum Shah Daulet, Maner, Bihar
pencil, the first with pen and brown ink, brown wash, unframed
16 5/8 x 23½ in. (42.2 x 59.6 cm.); and slightly smaller (2)

Provenance

Sir Henry Russell, and by descent to
Sir Arthur Russell.
with Walker's Gallery, London.
Anon. sale; Sotheby's, London, 8 November 1961, lot 4 (part) (2 gns) where purchased for the present collection.

Engraved

the first, Oriental Scenery, vol. I, no. 8, 'Part of the Palace, in the Fort of Allahabad, Septr. 1795.'; the second, Oriental Scenery, vol. I, no. 12, 'The Mausoleum of Mucdoon Shah Dowlut, at Moneah, on the River Soane, Jany., 1796'.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

Built by the Emperor Akbar in 1583, the Fort of Allahabad has some remarkable architectural features and the pavilion shown here abounds with carved pillars, ornate fretwork and verandahs on several levels. At the time that the Daniells were compiling Oriental Scenery, the building was under threat: 'Since this view was drawn, the Nabob of Oud has ordered the whole of the building to be taken down and carried to Lucknow, with the intention, it is said, to be again erected in that city: a circumstance much to be lamented.' The plan, however, was not to be realised, and the fort remains at Allahabad, although much altered and rarely seen by the public.

Dating from 1616, the tomb of Shah Daulet is decorated with exquisite carving and the ceiling is inscribed with passages from the Koran. There is a mosque within the compound, on the right of the composition, and a garden extending beyond.

The finished watercolours formed part of the P. & O. Collection at Christie's, London, 24 September 2003, lots 40 and 5 respectively.

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