Stowe Or 17A

By Agra draughtsmen, 1812-15. The drawings are of varying sizes, some larger than the album page. The standard views are enclosed within thick and thin black rules. The drawings of details unique to this album tend to run off the page without rules. Another feature unique to this album is the noting of the prices paid. The initial R.P. must be those of Lady Nugent’s agent for the commission. Album size: 76.5 by 101 cm.

Note: Maria Lady Nugent (d. 1834) refers to commissioning a set of such drawings on her visit to Agra in 1812 in her A Journal from the year 1811 till the year 1815 (London, 1839): ‘I mean to have drawings of every thing – the beautiful Taje in particular’. She was the daughter of Cortlandt Skinner, attorney-general of New Jersey, and married George Nugent (1757-1848) in 1797. He was created a Baronet in 1806 and was made Commander-in-Chief of India under Lord Minto from 1811-15, when he resigned with the new administration of Lord Hastings. She refers many times to Stowe and to the Marquess of Buckingham, who had married Mary Elizabeth only daughter and heir of Robert, Earl Nugent, to whom Sir George was related. A note in Stowe Or. 17B (a companion volume of copies of all the inscriptions on the Taj Mahal and other monuments together with details of the artists and craftsmen who worked on the monuments of Agra) notes that it and the drawings were given to the Marquess of Buckingham for the library at Stowe on the Nugents’ return from India.

Provenance: Lady Nugent; Marquess of Buckingham; acquired by the British Museum from the sale of the Stowe library.

Literature: Rieu, Supp. p.263. Titley no. 37.

Stowe Or.17A

f.1. Elevation of the gateway leading into the Taj Mahal.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

76 by 88 cm.

f.2. View of the Taj Mahal from the south-west.

Inscribed: 30 Rs.

67 by 100 cm.

f.3. Side elevation of the Shah Jahan’s cenotaph including the inlaid pietra dura work.

Inscribed: 36 Rs. (on reverse) Emperor’s tomb. 30 Rs. R.P.

71 by 133 cm.

f.4. Side elevation of the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal including the inlaid pietra dura work.

Inscribed: 25 Rs. (on reverse) Elevation of the Begum’s tomb at the Tage. 25 Rs. R.P.

71 by 133 cm.

f.5. No. V. Plan of the Top of the Upper or State Tomb of the Emperor Shah Jahan in the Taze.

41 by 181 cm.

f.6. This is the Top of the Begum’s Tomb. 15 Rs. R.P.

48 by 151 cm.

f.7. Plan of the inlaid decoration of the qalamdan on top of the cenotaph of Shah Jahan.

Inscribed: The Kullumdan on the top of the Emperor’s tomb. No price yet. Part of the ….[unreadable] R.P.

32.5 by 54 cm.

f.8. Inlaid pietra dura work on the top of the plinth round Shahjahan’s tomb.

Inscribed: 10 Rs.

65.5 by 115 cm.

f.9. Inlaid pietra dura work on the top of the plinth round the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

65 by 99.5 cm.

f.10. View of the octagonal screen round the tombs of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal from the south.

Inscribed: The Screen. R.P. 25 Rs.

67.5 by 96.5 cm.

f.11. Detail of the lintel across the entrance through the screen round the tombs of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

48 by 133 cm.

f.12. One of the carved floral panels in the dado of the Taj Mahal.

Inscribed: No. 12 Plan of the embossed panels in the surbase around the Taze. 20 Rs.

72.5 by 131 cm.

f.13. View of the Agra Fort from the River Jumna.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

43 by 115 cm.

f.14. View of the Delhi Gate at the Fort of Agra.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

66 by 91 cm.

Note: The Union Jack above the gate does not include the St. Patrick’s Cross added in 1801, but this does not in itself mark these drawings as pre-1800.

f.15. View of the Amar Singh Gate to the Agra Fort.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

76.5 by 66 cm.

f.16. View of the Moti Masjid.

34.5 by 98 cm.

f.17. Two of the pillars which support the roof of Dewan Khass formerly the audience chamber for the nobility in the fortress of Agra. Naql bar??? do istoon Dewan Khass Quela Ackbarabad.

58 by 83.5 cm.

Note: the pillars seem to be those which support the arcade of the verandah.

f.18. Courtyard of the Jami‘ Masjid of Agra.

39 by 99.5 cm.

f.19. View of the tomb of Iti‘mad al-Daula.

Inscribed: 30 Rs.

66.8 by 98 cm.

f.20. Gateway leading to the mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra.

55 by 69 cm.

f.21. View of the mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

35 by 100.5 cm.

f.22. Side elevation of Akbar’s cenotaph at Sikandra.

Inscribed: No. 22 Elevation of the side of the cenotaph of the Emperor Ackbar’s tomb at Secundra. 15 Rs.

54 by 147 cm.

f.23. End elevation of the cenotaph of Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra.

65 by 76 cm.

f.24. Buland Darwaza, the gate leading to the great mosque of Akbar and the tomb of Salim Chishti at Fathpur Sikri.

54 by 75 cm.

f.25. Tomb of Salim Chishti at Fathpur Sikri.

Inscribed: 15 Rs.

55 by 75 cm.