Gateway to the Shanwar Palace

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting demonstrates a careful attention to costume and landscape, characteristic of the artist’s Indian period. The palette balances the warm tones of the architecture with the cooler shades of the surrounding foliage, while fine brushwork renders the textures of market produce and fabric.

Created by William Carpenter, the eldest son of portraitist Margaret Sarah Carpenter, the piece dates from his Indian travels between 1850 and 1856. After his return to England, Carpenter later lived in Boston before settling again in London, where he died in 1899. The painting entered the museum collection through a 20th‑century acquisition.

The Shanwar Palace, erected by Peshwa Bai Rao in 1736, suffered extensive fire damage in 1827‑28, leaving only fragments of its former structure. Carpenter’s view reflects the palace’s altered state, situating it within the vibrant urban fabric of Pune during the mid‑19th century.