COMPANY SCHOOL, NORTH INDIA, FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY

This large panorama is very similar to one in the British Library from the collection of George Steell, who served in the Bengal Engineers and was posted at Agra between 1807 and 1813 (Ms.Add.Or.929; P. Pal, Romance of the Taj Mahal, Los Angeles, 1989, no.69, p.78). The British Library panorama is watermarked 1803 but was probably painted about 1812. Both paintings share a double black outer linear border, although the present lot has a thicker inner and thinner outer border which is the inverse of the British Library painting. Our painting is also significantly longer than that at the British Library. Another very similar panoramic view of the Fort at Agra, probably based on the British Library panorama, was sold in these Rooms, 10 June 2013, lot 322.

During the Rebellion of 1857 many buildings in the Red Fort were destroyed and so a large panoramic view such as the present lot is not just rare but of great topographical and historical interest. The walls, gates and buildings in red sandstone were mostly erected during Akbar’s reign, building on the site of previously existing Hindu and Lodhi period forts. the white marble palaces were part of Shah Jahan’s extensive remodelling of the Fort. From the left the painting depicts the Jahangiri Mahal (1570); the Khass Mahal with its two Bengali-roofed pavilions (1636); the Musamman Burj (1631-40); the Diwan-i Khass (1637); the hammam with its high tower; the minarets of the far Delhi gate; and the Moti Masjid (1650s).