Photo 101

Collection of 30 loose salted paper prints, mounted on card with false plate mark, and printed letterpress imprint reading, Photographed by J. Murray, MD, Agra. London, Published Dec. 1, 1857, by J. Hogarth, 5 Haymarket. Each print has been numbered and captioned in pencil, the numbers referring to the descriptions listed in the accompanying booklet, Agra and its vicinity, 1858, written by J. Middleton, Principal of the East India Company's College at Agra and published by J. Hogarth, London, 1858. The photographs pre-date the Indian Mutiny and were exhibited at the publisher's offices in London, eliciting the following review in the Art Journal in December 1857: 'Photographs of Indian Cities - There are now exhibiting, by Mr Hogarth, a series of beautiful photographs, presenting localities that must hereafter be regarded with an interest far beyond that which ordinary historical events communicate. The views are thirty in number and have been executed by J. Murray, Esq, MD, resident at Agra. They are very large, being eighteen by fifteen inches, but nevertheless, it is only with a glass that the ornamental detail of Indian palatial architecture becomes visible; and great indeed is the contrast between these sumptuous edifices and the squalid habitations by which they are so often surrounded...It is impossible to do justice to the marvellous detail of these photographs...'. The collection consists of architectural and topographical views in Agra, Sikandra, Fatehpur Sikri, Brindaban, Mathura and Naini Tal. The captions given in the print catalogue are transcribed from the booklet.

A further collection of 25 of Murray's views was published by Hogarth in 1859, a copy of which can be found in the main Humanities Section of the British Library (pressmark 1781.c.9). The prints themselves are similarly mounted to those in Photo 101, but with the date of issue given on each print as 'Dec. 1 1858'. The whole, however, was published as a printed volume with letterpress by J. T. Boileau, rather than as a portfolio of loose prints. The volume contains the following material:

Picturesque Views in the North Western Province of India, photographed by J. Murray M.D. &c. With descriptive letter-press by Major-General J.T. Boileau, F.R.S. F.R.A.S. Late Commandant of the Bengal Engineers, and Chief Engineer of the North-West Provinces (London: J. Hogarth, 5, Haymarket. 1859).

Frontis. Entrance to the Jumna Musjeed, Agra.

1. East Pavilion and part of the Taj Gardens.

2. The Jumma Musjid [Agra].

3. Interior of the Delhi Gate of the Fort of Agra.

4. Part of the River Face of the Fort [Agra].

5. North Face of the Khas Muhul [Agra].

6. East side of the Khas Muhul [with Taj Mahal in distance, Agra].

7. The Diwani Khas [Agra].

8. A riverside view [‘Is a view of the south-west Boorj of the enclosure of Etimad-ood-dowlah’s Tomb, and of a Kothee, or private dwelling-house, which has been erected immediately adjoining the south wall of the garden, on the platform of a native Bara-duree, or summer house].

9. Entrance gateway, Etimad-ood-Dowlah’s Tomb [Agra].

10. West Pavilion, Etimad-ood-Dowlah’s Tomb [Agra].

11. The Cheenee Kee Rozu [‘The tomb of Nuwab Ufzul Khan, a noble of the reign of Juhangeer, which forms the subject of this view, is commonly known as the Cheenee-kee-Rozu, or China Mausoleum, from the fact of its having been faced with glazed tiles’].

12-16. Views on the banks of the Jumna. [‘These five plates comprise views taken along the left bank of the Jumna, and exhibit the river faces of the royal and other gardens in the order in which they occur from south, northwards, i.e. up the stream. With the exception of the Ram Bagh (plate XV), they are for the most part now deserted and in ruins, or are partially let out to native gardeners for cultivation...’].

17. Gateway of the gardens at Secundra [entrance to Akbar’s Tomb].

18. Mausoleum of the Emperor Akbar at Secundra.

19. A Hindoo Mut’h [‘The figure seated on the small mound in the centre of the picture will be readily recognised by the friends of the talented photographer of these views as a truly characteristic representation of John Murray M.D.’].

20. Inclosure and Gateway at Futehpoor Seekree [Buland Darwaza].

21. Mausoleum of Shekh Suleem Chishtee [Fatehpur Sikri].

22-25. Views at Nynee Tal. [‘Plate XXII is a view of the Sher-ka-dunda, as seen from the bed of the dry lake. Plate XXIII is a scene on the borders of the lake, exhibiting the rich luxuriance of the mountain forests, among which several of the residents’ houses are seen peeping out. Plate XXIV is another view of the lake side, selected for its rocky scenery: and Plate XXV is a view of the lake with the Church of St. John in the Wilderness and the residence of General Sir Wm. Richards, K.C.B. on the mountain in the background...’].