1701.b.24

Imprint: London: Published by Thos. M'Lean, 26, Haymarket. 1859.

Folio, half-leather binding with brown cloth boards, measuring 505 x 340 mm, pp. 2, 56 leaves of descriptive letterpress describing the illustrations, followed by 56 albumen prints mounted on light card, one to a page (recto only). The title page notes that 'only twenty-five copies [have been] printed of this work.' The illustrations are studies from waxed paper negatives of the Hoysaleshvara Temple at Halebid (mainly close views of sections of the highly sculptured façade), with a short accompanying letterpress description of each subject. The great 12th-century temple is considered to represent the finest flowering of the Hoysala style, both architecturally and in the richness of its sculptural ornamentation. For another copy of this work, see APAC Photo 959.In the preface, Oakeley briefly records his introduction to the Hoysaleshvara Temple at Halebid and gives some account of his trials in photographing it: 'Whilst travelling through the Madras Presidency towards the close of 1856, I was strongly recommended by my friend, Dr. Neill [Andrew Charles Brisbane Neill, who had himself photographed the site with Linneaus Tripe in 1854], of the 1st Madras Light Cavalry, to visit Hallibeede ... I was told of a wonderful temple said to exist there, but very few of the many from whom I sought information, knew anything about it, and it was with very great difficulty, after a march of some twenty days along the most miserable cross country roads conceivable, that I succeeded in finding this splendid temple. Having seen a great number of the most celebrated pagodas in the south of India, I can unhesitatingly assert, it far surpasses any, even the most gorgeous of these beautiful structures ... Having a photographic apparatus with me, I lost no time in committing to waxed paper faithful representations of almost every portion of the sculpture, which literally covers its walls. Of the merit of the photographs, I must leave an indulgent public to judge, only observing, by way of anticipating criticism, that they were done under very great disadvantages, — a considerable portion of my apparatus was broken in the over-land journey, our servants were all ill ... and moreover, this was my first attempt at photographing in a hot climate. I was compelled to reject the formulae I had used in England, and adopt such as the residents in the country found to succeed, or discover new ones for myself...'For another copy of this work, see APAC Photo