A View of the Taj Mahal, Signed by Koodrutoollah

dated 1880

Not on view

This watercolor depicts the most celebrated example of Indo-Islamic architecture: the Taj Mahal mausoleum built for Mumtaz Mahal (d. 1632), the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-58) at Agra. Inscriptions indicate that this work was made in 1880 by Indian artist Koodrutoollah, who is identified as a draughtsman working for the British East India Company. This painting is characterized by a blend of European and Indian styles. The crisply linear perspective of this work is informed by European engineering drawings, and also reflects the rise of photography in the mid nineteenth century. Meanwhile the Mughal Indian aptitude for meticulous detail is seen here in the intricately depicted pietra dura floral and calligraphic inlay on the building’s facade.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: A View of the Taj Mahal, Signed by Koodrutoollah
Draftsman: Koodrutoollah
Date: dated 1880
Geography: Made in India, Lucknow
Medium: Pen and ink, watercolor on paper
Dimensions: H. 26 1/2 in. (67.3 cm)
W. 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 2024
Object Number: 2024.211
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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"Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Chitarman Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
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"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Govardhan, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
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