Where can I see A mosque on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh?

A mosque on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A mosque on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh?

A mosque on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

A mosque on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh

A mosque on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 18 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a pen-and-ink drawing depicting a mosque situated beside a river in Dhaka, historically known as Dacca.

About this work

Overview

The work is a pen-and-ink drawing depicting a mosque situated beside a river in Dhaka, historically known as Dacca. The structure appears partially dilapidated, with three visible domes and three arches framing its façade. The composition captures the building’s relationship to the water’s edge, offering a snapshot of the city’s riverside architecture during the colonial era.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing focuses on the mosque’s remnants, emphasizing its three domes and arches as the surviving elements of a larger complex. By portraying the building in a state of decay, the artist highlights the passage of time and the impact of environmental or human forces on religious architecture along the Buriganga River.

Technique & Style

Executed with fine cross‑hatching, the drawing builds texture and depth through intersecting lines that suggest stone surfaces and water ripples. This method allows subtle gradations of tone, rendering the ruined masonry and the river’s reflective qualities with a precise, almost documentary clarity.

Context

Created when Dhaka formed part of the East India Company’s Bengal Presidency, the image reflects the city’s significance as a colonial administrative hub. The depiction of a deteriorating mosque by the river underscores the coexistence of indigenous religious sites with the expanding British presence in the region.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Chinnery

George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.