Who painted Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi?

Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi was painted by William Simpson in 1865.

Where can I see Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi?

Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi?

Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi

William Simpson , 1865

Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist William Simpson. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour depicts the tomb of Shams ud‑Din Iltutmish within the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi.

About this work

The painting shows the Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish at the Qutub Minar, Delhi.
It was created after the artist's return to London.
The artist's journey to India was a significant factor in this work, as he was commissioned to sketch sites associated with the Revolt of 1857.
You can learn more about the style of this painting by looking into Impressionism.

Overview

This watercolour depicts the tomb of Shams ud‑Din Iltutmish within the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi. Executed in London after the artist’s return from India, the work presents the monument’s architectural form against a luminous sky, rendered in the delicate washes characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century British watercolour.

Subject & Meaning

The tomb commemorates Shams ud‑Din Iltutmish, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate in the early thirteenth century. By portraying this historic structure, the painting links the medieval past of Delhi with the contemporary interest of a Victorian audience in India’s architectural heritage.

Technique & Style

The artist employed rapid pencil sketches made on site as the basis for the final composition, translating them into a fully realised watercolour after returning to England. The piece combines precise architectural detailing with atmospheric colour washes, reflecting a Romantic sensibility rather than the looser brushwork of later Impressionism.

History & Provenance

Commissioned by the London lithography firm Day and Sons, the artist travelled to India in 1859 to document sites associated with the 1857 Indian Rebellion. After completing field studies in Delhi, he finished the watercolour in 1862, after which it entered the firm’s portfolio for publication and sale.

Context

The work belongs to a broader series of sketches and paintings produced by the artist during his Indian tour, intended to satisfy British curiosity about the subcontinent following the upheaval of 1857. The Qutub Minar complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was a focal point for such visual records.