Charles George Nicholls (fl. 1792-1818)

View of the Observatory called Jantar Mantar near Delhi

Details

Charles George Nicholls (fl. 1792-1818)
View of the Observatory called Jantar Mantar near Delhi
signed 'C G Nicholls' (lower right) and inscribed 'View of the Hindu Observatory called Juntur Munter, near Dehli.' (in the lower margin)
pencil, pen and ink and watercolour, heightened with gum arabic and with scratching out, watermark 'JWHATMAN/1805', within the artist's black-lined border,unframed
8¼ x 9¾ in. (21 x 24.7 cm.)

Lot Essay

Jantar Mantar was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber in 1725. The observatory is dominated by a huge sundial called the 'Prince of Dials.' Other instruments in the complex, plot the course of heavenly bodies and predict eclipses. The Observatory was a popular subject with visiting artists. For the aquatint by the Daniells of this subject see lot 13.

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