Artwork

One of Sixteen views of monuments in Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Lucknow and South India.

One of Sixteen views of monuments in Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Lucknow and South India. is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a painted depiction of the Harmandir Sahib, commonly known as the Golden Temple, situated in Amritsar.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted depiction of the Harmandir Sahib, commonly known as the Golden Temple, situated in Amritsar. It forms part of a series of sixteen images that illustrate notable monuments from Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Lucknow and the southern regions of India, presenting each site in a comparable visual format.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on the temple’s gilded sanctum, highlighted by its prominent golden dome and subsidiary domes. Enclosed by a white-washed wall and a surrounding water channel, the structure is set against a backdrop of ancillary buildings, underscoring its status as a focal point of religious and architectural significance.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, the painting renders the temple’s elaborate carvings, patterned surfaces and reflective gold with meticulous detail. A palette of gold, white, blue and muted earth tones creates depth, while careful brushwork conveys the texture of stone, water and sky, aligning the work with the Realist tradition of faithful visual representation.

History & Provenance

Created as one panel within a larger collection of sixteen monument views, the piece was likely commissioned to document and celebrate India’s architectural heritage during a period of heightened interest in travel and antiquities. Its provenance traces back to the original series, though specific ownership records beyond the series’ compilation are not documented.