Artwork
Colonnades of Pirthi Raj, Delhi
Colonnades of Pirthi Raj, Delhi is a photography by the Impressionist artist Louis-Théophile Marie Rousselet. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Rousselet drew this while traveling in India, but he worried his sketches didn’t show the real beauty of the place.
Sunlight slants across tall stone arches in an old Delhi palace. The shadows are sharp, almost like cut paper.
Rousselet drew this while traveling in India, but he worried his sketches didn’t show the real beauty of the place. So he learned photography there—something few Europeans did at the time. This image is from a book of his work, mixing drawing and early photos.
If you like quiet light on old buildings, look up the subject of france, 19th century.
Overview
This photograph, 'Colonnades of Pirthi Raj, Delhi', is part of a collection by Louis Rousselet, a European traveler who documented Indian sites through drawing and photography.
Technique & Style
The image showcases Rousselet's skill in capturing the interplay of light and shadow, with sunlight casting sharp, defined shadows on the stone arches of a Delhi palace.
History & Provenance
Rousselet learned photography during his time in India, a notable achievement for a European at that period. The photograph is included in a volume that combines his drawings and photographs.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph depicts a palace in old Delhi, highlighting the architectural features of the region's historical buildings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis-Théophile Marie Rousselet
Louis-Théophile Marie Rousselet (1845–1929) was a French artist.
