Who painted Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso?

Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso was painted by Samuel Bourne in 1866.

Where can I see Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso?

Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso?

Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso

Samuel Bourne , 1866

Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso 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.

About this work

This photo was taken in the 1860s, when British officers built summer homes in the Himalayas to escape the heat.

You see a quiet hillside bungalow wrapped in trees, sunlight dappling the white walls and red roof.

This photo was taken in the 1860s, when British officers built summer homes in the Himalayas to escape the heat. The image is one of the earliest records of Shimla before roads and crowds changed it. The soft light and sharp details make the scene feel still, as if the house is waiting for the next monsoon.

Look up other photos in the same album—search for Samuel Bourne (British, 1834–1912).

Overview

This 1860s photograph, part of an album of 50 images documenting the Indian subcontinent from the Himalayas to major cities, captures a serene hillside scene of Sir Hugh Rose's bungalow in Mahasso, near Shimla.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a British summer home in the Himalayas, reflecting the colonial practice of escaping the heat in hill stations. It stands as one of the earliest photographic records of Shimla before significant development.

Technique & Style

Characterized by soft, dappled sunlight on the white walls and red roof, the photograph achieves a sense of stillness. The sharp details and calm composition suggest an anticipation of the impending monsoon season.

History & Provenance

Taken by Samuel Bourne (British, 1834–1912), this photograph is part of a collection that includes architectural studies of key Indian monuments, providing historical evidence of their pre-20th-century restoration state.

Context

Part of a broader album that geographically spans from Himalayan hill towns to major Indian and Pakistani cities (Lahore, Delhi, Lucknow, Agra, Benares, Calcutta), highlighting colonial-era interests in both residential and monumental architecture.