Artwork
Elevation of the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), Agra
Elevation of the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), Agra is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The drawing presents a frontal elevation of the Moti Masjid, known as the Pearl Mosque, situated in Agra.
About this work
Overview
The drawing presents a frontal elevation of the Moti Masjid, known as the Pearl Mosque, situated in Agra. Executed in the early nineteenth century, it forms one of a series of fifteen architectural studies that document Mughal monuments in the city. The image captures the mosque’s symmetrical façade, its smooth pale walls, and the rhythmic succession of pointed arches topped by modest domes.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration records the mosque’s defining elements: a raised platform supporting a row of tall arches, each crowned by a small spire, and a background of shallow domes that emphasize the building’s verticality. By emphasizing balance and proportion, the drawing reflects contemporary interest in cataloguing the aesthetic principles of Mughal religious architecture.
Technique & Style
Rendered by Delhi-trained artists employed in Calcutta, the work relies on precise line work and cross‑hatching to convey depth and surface texture. Clean, evenly spaced strokes delineate the arches and domes, while fine detailing on the spires demonstrates a careful observational approach typical of early nineteenth‑century architectural drawing.
History & Provenance
Created between 1816 and 1822 for Colonel Pownell Phipps, the drawing was part of a larger portfolio presented by Colonel R.W. Phipps. The collection entered the museum’s holdings in 1924, where it remains as a documentary record of Mughal architectural heritage and colonial-era artistic collaboration.
Artist & collection
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