Images

Untitled (Cenotaph of the Mughal Emperor Akbar)

Start Zooming Stop Zooming

Current search

Actions

Current search
Add To Album

Date

19th Century

Description

Pen and ink drawing, accented with watercolour paint on paper of the cenotaph of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605) in the mausoleum at Sikandra. The painting shows the cenotaph which is placed in the centre of the fifth level of the mausoleum. This level, which is at the top of the building, is open to the elements. The floor is decorated with different coloured tiles of marble creating a checkered pattern. This is continued on the side of the plinth on which the cenotaph rests. The cenotaph is carved out of a single piece of white marble and decorated in a bas relief of interlocking geometric shapes. In some of the geometric shapes are floral motifs whilst in others are inscriptions which list the ninety-nine names of Allah. On top of the cenotaph is a raised area, which represents a pen-case which is used to indicate that the inhabitant of the tomb is male. The drawing is framed by a thick black line.

Image Licence

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Image Credit

Location

Tomb of Akbar the Great, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Country

India

Medium

Watercolour