Where can I see Delhi. The Kootub Minar or Tower in the Ruined City of Old Delhi?

Delhi. The Kootub Minar or Tower in the Ruined City of Old Delhi is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Delhi. The Kootub Minar or Tower in the Ruined City of Old Delhi?

Delhi. The Kootub Minar or Tower in the Ruined City of Old Delhi is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Delhi. The Kootub Minar or Tower in the Ruined City of Old Delhi

Delhi. The Kootub Minar or Tower in the Ruined City of Old Delhi is a photography by the Impressionist artist Samuel Bourne. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This 1860s photograph captures the Qutub Minar in Old Delhi, depicting the tower amidst ruins.

About this work

It shows the Qutub Minar exactly as it stood when the British photographer walked through the ruins.

You see a tall, red-stone tower rising from a field of broken walls and scattered stones. The tower leans slightly, and sunlight picks out its carved balconies.

This photo was taken in the 1860s, before modern repairs. It shows the Qutub Minar exactly as it stood when the British photographer walked through the ruins. The image is one of the earliest clear records of the site.

To see more early photos of India’s monuments, look up Samuel Bourne (British, 1834–1912).

Overview

This 1860s photograph captures the Qutub Minar in Old Delhi, depicting the tower amidst ruins. The image provides a historical record of the monument's pre-restoration state.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is the Qutub Minar, a prominent red-stone tower, shown leaning slightly amidst a backdrop of broken walls and scattered stones, highlighting the site's neglected state before twentieth-century interventions.

Technique & Style

The photograph showcases the photographer's ability to capture architectural detail, with sunlight accentuating the tower's carved balconies. The composition reflects a documentary approach, prioritizing accuracy over aesthetic embellishment.

History & Provenance

Taken in the 1860s, this photograph is one of the earliest clear records of the Qutub Minar. It is part of an album containing 50 images documenting various Indian cities and monuments during this period.

Context

The photograph is attributed to a British photographer, likely part of the colonial-era documentation of Indian monuments. For similar early Indian photography, see the works of Samuel Bourne.