Add Or 5610-5631

Album of drawings by an Indian artist of sculpture in the Kalyana Mandapam of the 16th Century Jalakantesvara Temple inside of Vellore Fort. The drawings were collected by Major Thomas Marriott (c.1773-1847) and then given to George Anneseley, Lord Viscount Valentia (1770-1844).

On 25 February 1804 Lord Viscount Valentia went to Vellore and was shown the Kalyana Mandapam by Major Thomas Marriott. In his diary, Valentia remarked that it was ‘a very noble apartment, supported by pillars, singularly but beautifully carved….Each pillar is of a single stone; those in front are composed partly of figures on horseback, carved with considerable spirit; the others are on every side divided into square compartments, many containing the different adventures of Crishna with the Gopi’s… Major Marriott very kindly presented me with drawings of several of the pillars’. (Valentia’s Voyages and Travels to India… London: 1811, Volume 1.)

Following the end of the 4th Mysore War in 1799, Major Thomas Marriott (c.1773-1847) was appointed Commandant of Vellore Fort. He was put in charge of the family of Tipu Sultan, who were imprisoned at the fort.

The album contains 39 folios measuring 59.5 by 40.5 cm. There are drawings on 21 folios, notes on 12 folios and the remaining 6 folios are blank. It was acquired by the Lithuanian book collector, Robert Saitschick (1868-1965), whose bookplate appears at the front of the album. Board and quarter morocco binding.