IDNO

P.97235.WIL

Description

A distant view of the Taj Mahal from the roof of the Musamman Burj (Octagonal Tower) in Agra fort. The Taj Mahal is just visible on the horizon, and in the foreground is the bulbous dome crowning the Musamman Burj with its top gilded with copper, and the parapet. [JD 7/5/2008]

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“(224-236 were taken during a sight-seeing tour the Williamsons made in North India, ending up in Delhi.)
231. “The Taj Mahal from Agra Fort, 29.1.34 (Peggy)”.” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

Place

S Asia; India; Uttar Pradesh; Agra; Agra Fort

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Williamson, Margaret

Collector / Expedition

Date

28 - 29 January 1934

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

The transcription of this album by Mark Turin and Sara Shneiderman was carried out with reference to Krystina Cech’s catalogue list alone. Alex Nadin has since revised their cataloguing by systematically matching their records to the images. Margaret Williamson’s handwritten captions for photographs have now been transcribed into the Inscription field, and Cech’s descriptions appear in the Description field. Correct entries for Place, Named Person and Other Nos. have also been entered by Alex Nadin. [Sudeshna Guha 29/10/2002]

Place: “Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.” The Red Fort became an Unesco World Heritage site in 1983. [Source: Unesco World Heritage, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/251, JD 7/5/2008]

Place: “Musamman Burj or the Octagonal Tower is believed to have been built by Shah Jehan as the palace of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal and it was here that he spent his last days since his son Aurungzeb imprisoned him till his death along with his favorite daughter Jahanara Begum. It is situated at the location where the main wall of the fort takes a turn towards the east. It is said that at first a small marble palace built by Akbar was situated at this site, which was later demolished by Jehangir to erect new buildings. Shah Jehan in his turn chose this site to erect the multi-storied marble tower inlaid with precious stones for Mumtaz Mahal. It was built between 1631-40 and offers exotic views of the famous Taj. The dome crowning it has gilded copper at the top.” [Source: Agra: The Taj City, http://www.agraindia.org.uk/agra-fort/muthamman-burj.html, JD 7/5/2008]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Jocelyne Dudding 7/5/2008]