WD1061

'Book 9'. 85 sheets of drawings (92 folios) of the site and sculptures of the Great Stupa at Amaravati (A.P.) and two notes dated 1816-20.

Besides maps and plans of this early Buddhist site, the album contains drawings of the sculptures that once encircled the stupa. It is an invaluable record of the earliest excavations at the site and the condition of the sculptures when first unearthed. Most of the drawings are inscribed with the dimensions of the sculptures, which are catalogued here, for the sake of clarity, by giving height before width. Drum slabs, which feature in many of the drawings, are not described in detail because they are all carved with representations of stupas. Twenty three of the sculptures drawn in this album are now in the British Museum and are identified by their BM accession numbers in brackets.

Pen-and-ink, wash, and water colour; size of volume 18.5 by 11 .5 ins. Half bound Morocco.

The drawings were made by MacKenzie's assistants and copyists: Thomas Anderson, Charles Barnett, Marcellus Burke, John Gould, Henry Hamilton, T. Lockwood, John Mustie, Najibullah, John Newman, Pyari Lal, Shaikh Abdullah and William Sydenham.

Note: Mackenzie was the first European to discover the stupa at Amaravati. An account of the discovery, dated 1797, is given in an article titled Account of the Jains in Asiatick Researches (1807). Mackenzie returned to the site in March 1816, and although he left five months later, his draftsmen stayed on until October 1817. Fair copying continued until 1820. In 1823 an article by Mackenzie about the excavations was published posthumously in The Asiatic Journal.

Bibiliography: Barrett, D. Sculptures from Amaravati in the British Museum. London: 1954; Burgess, J. The Buddhist Stupas of Amaravati and Jaggayyapeta in the Krishna District, Madras Presidency, surveyed in 1882. Archaeological Survey of South India New Imperial Series VI. London 1887 (plates 3, 15, 16, 32-39, 50); Fergusson, J. Tree and Serpent Worship. London (2nd edition): 1873 (plates xlvi, xlvii, lxxxiii-lxxxvi, xcviii); Franks, A. W. List of drawings from the Amaravati Tope, Southern India, made for Colonel C. MacKenzie. London: 1881; Knox, R. Amaravati: Buddhist sculpture from the Great Stupa. London: 1992; MacKenzie, C. Ruins of Amravutty, Depauldina and Durnacotta. ‘The Asiatic Journal XV’, Jan. -June 1823 (pp.464-78); Sewell, R. Report on the Amaravati Tope, and excavations on its site in 1877. London: 1880 (plates i, iv).

The album is listed as Volume 9 in Wilson's catalogue ( 1828: p.581) and as ‘Book 9’ in the Library's handlist, Mss.Eur.D562/3. For further material on Amaravati by MacKenzie see WD806, 830 and 848.

Inscribed on original cover in ink: ‘No. 9. Antiquities at Amrawutty 1816-1817. Book 9.’

f.1. Incomplete list of contents in pencil.

f.2. Inscribed: ‘C.McK. Book 9. Originals. This volume contains Eighty Two Drawings. Eighty Six Drawings’

f.3. Inscribed: ‘India Antiqua illustrata or an Essay to illustrate The Ancient History, Inscriptions & Religion of lndia by Drawings of remarkable Sculptures, Inscriptions, Buildings, Coins & other existing Remains of Antiquity. This volume contains Eighty Two Drawings (with 1 Inscript. Dupl:’ 2 ‘maps Do and 3 leaves Memoranda etc loose) total Eighty Six Numbers).’

f.4-5. Map of Amaravati and surrounding countryside based on a survey conducted in 1816. Inscribed: ‘Plan of the town of Amrawutty,of the country near it, and of the Scite of the ancient City of Daranacottah…’

f.6. Plan of the stupa excavation in March 1816 showing location of stones.

Inscribed: ‘Sketch of Depauldinna at Amrawutty in its present state.’ Inscriptions along the South East side of the plan read as follows: ‘6 stones; 20 stones very neatly executed; 14 Stones Drawn by Newman; 7 Stones’.

f.7-8. Plan of the stupa excavation in June 1817.

Inscribed: ‘Plan descriptive of the present state of the Mound of Depaldenna at Amrawutty, showing what has been cleared out and what still remains to be removed, laid down from actual measurements, June 1817. The yellow colour denotes stones that are entirely destroyed. The white shews the place of stones that have been removed and are now missing. Scale of 20 feet to an inch. Drawn by J. Mustie, 26 March, 1819.’

f.9. Section plan of the stupa excavation in June 1817.

Inscribed: ‘Copied by J. Mustie, 6th March 1819.’

f.10. Three plans and one section plan of stone circles near the stupa.

f.11. Tall rectangular slab bearing an inscription (BM67).

Inscribed: 5ft. by lft.5ins. ‘Reduction of an Ancient Inscription on Stone found in Depaldinna at Amrawutty - The lower part of the stone broken off.’

f.12. Broken slab bearing an inscription.

Inscribed: ‘Fac Simile of an Inscription which was placed on the East side of the South Gateway of Dipaldinna August 1816. Cop’d by J. Gould, 18 December 1817.’

f.13. Rectangular slab showing a king with attendants (BM49).

Inscribed: 5ft.3ins. by 3ft.8ins. ‘September 4th 1816.’

f.14. Tall rectangular stele showing a column with wheel on top.

Inscribed: 5ft. by 13in. ‘Sept. 14 1816;’ ‘22 Sept.’

f.15. Piece of rail coping showing two running men carrying a large garland (BM30)

Inscribed: 2ft.8in. by 3ft. l0in. ‘March 1816.’

f.16. Drum slab (BM 87).

Inscribed: 3ft.3.25in by 3ft.1in. ‘T.A. Sept’r 1816’.

f.17. Rectangular slab showing birth of the Buddha.

Inscribed: 5ft. 1in. by 2ft.9in. ‘T.A.’

f.18. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.8in. by 2ft.8in. ‘H.H. September 1816.’

f.19. Rectangular slab showing a stupa above and a tree surrounded by attendants below.

Inscribed: 4ft.7.5in. by 1ft.10.5in. ‘The figures in this page are represented very handsome with smiles on their countenances. H.H. September 1816.’

f.20. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.5in. by 3ft.0.9in. ‘Tope slab. 25th Sept’r 1816. M.B.’

f.21. Rectangular slab with four square frames showing a stupa, a seated Buddha with attendants, another seated Buddha with attendants and Siddharta on horseback.

Inscribed: 3ft. 11in. by lft.2.2in. ‘M. Burke 21 Sept. 1816.’

f.22. Rectangular slab with two frames showing a king on a throne and a rishi with female attendants.

Inscribed: 5ft.6in. by 2ft.5in. ‘This figure is represented in the original with a modest smile in her countenance as if looking downward.’ (The figure referred to is indicated by an “x” at the bottom centre of the composition.)’ H.H. 25 Sept’r 1816.’

f.23. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft.5in. by 2ft.9in. ‘H.H. 26 Sept’r 1816’.

f.24. Drum slab (BM72).

Inscribed: 4ft. by 5ft.8.5in’. No.1. M.B. 16th Sept. 1816.’

f.25. Rectangular slab showing devotees around a tree.

Inscribed: 3ft.0.5in. by 2ft.8in. ‘Large Stone to the SW’. ‘10th Oct’r 1816. M.B.’

f.26. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.6.6in. by 4ft. ‘East side Inner Circle; No.6; No.5 by Burke, and No. 7 by Anderson. Both of this kind sent in last time. H.H. 15th October 1816.’

f.27. Two drum pilasters showing (a) a column with wheel on top and (b) four panels showing a stupa, a seated Buddha, another seated Buddha and standing man with horse (BM73).

Inscribed: (a) 4ft.8.lin. by 10.5in. ‘15th October 1816.’ (b) 4ft. 2.3in. by 8in. ‘M. Burke 20th October 1816.’

f.28. Rectangular slab showing a horse walking through a gate (BM51).

Inscribed: 5ft.l0in. by 3ft.8in. ‘Loose stone lying to the S.E. H.H.’ ‘18th October 1816.’

f.29. Rectangular slab showing similar scene to folio 28.

Inscribed: 11ft. 1in. by 3ft.l0in. ‘Loose stone lying in the S.E. corner of the reservoir. H.H. 20th October 1816.’

f.30. Rectangular slab with two scenes showing two devotees seated around a chakra above and four figures with a wheel and a horse below. (BM50)

Inscribed: 7ft. by 3ft. ‘Loose stone lying on the East side. H.H. 22nd October 1816.’

f.31. Rectangular slab with two scenes showing four standing figures with a horse above and Naga king with four Naga women below (BM53).

Inscribed: 6ft. by 3ft.l0in. ‘Loose stone lying on the south side. H.H. 25th October 1816.’

f.32. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.6in. by 3ft.2in. ‘Inner Circle S.W.’ ‘No.7.’ ‘27th October 1816.’

f.33. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.2in. by 3ft.4in. ‘East side inner circle. T.A. 12th Nov’r 1816’.

f.34. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft.lin. by 3ft.2in. ‘Inner Circle S.W. No.6.’ ‘8th November 1816. M.B.’

f.35. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.9in. by 3ft. ‘Inner circle S.W. side. No.8. 15th Nov’r. 1816. T.A. & M.B.’

f.36. Railing pillar with two lotus medallions and gandharvas (BM46).

Inscribed: 6ft.7in. by 2ft.9in. ‘Exterior circle (counting from the North) No.6. 19th November 1816. M.B.’

f.37. Railing pillar with two lotus medallions. Figures adoring a throne are shown in the area between the medallions.

Inscribed: 6ft.5in. by 2ft.7.5in.’ Exterior Circle (intermediate stones circular and no figures). No.5A . 25th November 1816. M.B.’

f.38. Rectangular slab showing a vase of flowers.

Inscribed: 4ft.4.5in. by 2ft.2.5in’. Loose stone to the East. C.B. Dec’r 1816.’

f.39. Rectangular slab showing a stupa (BM115).

Inscribed: 4ft.9.5in. by 2ft.8in. ‘Loose stone to the East. C.B.’ ‘Dec’r 1816.’

f.40. Two pillars labelled "a" and "b"(BM71), each showing a column with a wheel on top.

Inscribed: a) 4ft.l0in. by l0in. b) 4ft.l0in. by 10.5in. ‘The pillars found lying to the south which belong to the same circle. H.H.’ ‘March 1817.’

f.41. Frieze in two parts showing nobles, a royal procession, Naga people and devotees around a seated Buddha.

Inscribed: a) lft.5.2in. by 3ft.7.5in. b) lft.3in. by 6ft.3.8in.’ H.H.’ ‘March 1817.’

f.42. Two rectangular slabs showing (a) female figure (b) devotees venerating a tree and a wheel.

Inscribed: a) 3ft. 11.75in. by lft.2.25in. b) 3ft.7.75in. by lft.4in. ‘These stones were placed on either side of the annexed drawing.’ (a) ‘T.A.’ ‘15th Feb’y 1817’ (b) ‘W.S.’ 15th.

f.43. Railing column showing scenes of a newborn child being publicly presented . Above are devotees venerating a peacock. Below is a lotus medallion.

Inscribed: 5ft. by 3ft. ‘of 4 stones to the south. 1st. T.A. H.H.’ ‘March 4th 1817.’

f.44. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft. by 3ft.9.25in. ‘Inner circle. 2. Stone to the North. W.S.’ ‘9th March 1817.’

f.45. Two medallions (perhaps the inner and outer face of the same piece).

Inscribed: 3ft. by 3ft.2in. ‘Outer circle 2nd. H.H. March 8th 1817.’

f.46. Drum slab(BM81).

Inscribed: 4.5ft. by 3ft. ‘Sculpture at Amrawutty. Resembles No. 7. March 5th 1816.’

f.47. Drum slab (BM69).

Inscribed: 4ft.lin. by 3ft.9.5in. ‘Inner circle No.2 to the North East. T.A. 6th March 1817.’

f.48. Railing pillar with two lotus medallions.

Inscribed: 6ft.7in. by 3ft. ‘H.H.’ ‘12th March 1817.’

f.49. Railing medallion carved with scene of men running through a crowd.

Inscribed: 3ft.1.8in. across (height not given). ‘ H.H.’ ‘14th March 1817.’

f.50. Three fragments showing (a) stupa and wheel (b) gandharvas and men adoring a throne (c) seated men and a man with a snake headdress.

Inscribed: (a) 4ft.6.5in. by 3ft.8in. (b) 3ft.10.5in. by 3ft.8in. (c) 3ft.lin. by 2ft.9.5in’. C. Barnett 17th March, 1817.’

f.51. Three fragments showing (a) four devotees surrounding a building (b) seated Buddha and man on horse (c) three men on stools (BM52).

Inscribed: (a) 2ft.6.5in. by lft.10.75in. (b) 2ft.7.5in. by lft.2in. (c) l0ft.10.5in. by lft.9.5in. ‘C. Barnett 12th March 1817.’

f.52. Drum slab (BM85).

Inscribed: 3ft.7.5in. by 3ft. 11.5in. ‘Inner circle No. 1 to the North East. T.A. 20th March, 1817.’

f.53. Railing pillar showing a seated king and queen above a lotus medallion.

Inscribed: 3ft.8.3in. by 2ft. 11.6in. ‘Outer circle No.9.’ M. B. March 1817.

f.54. Railing pillar with scenes of devotees, nobles and a bullock cart.

Inscribed: 4ft. 10.5in. by 2ft.10.6in. ‘Outer circle No. 8. M.B. March 1817.’

f.55. Broken drum slab showing half a stupa.

Inscribed: 2ft. 10.6in. by 2ft.8in. ‘Inner Circle East side No.12.’ ‘W.S. March 1817.’

f.56. Two rectangular fragments showing (a) legs and lower torsos of seated figures venerating a throne (b) four standing and two seated people.

Inscribed: (a) lft.l0in. by 2ft.7.25in. ‘C.B. March 1817’. (b) 5ft.5.9in. by 3ft.5.4in. ‘M.B. March 1817.’

f.57. Two fragments showing (a) a wheel and stupa (b) humans and gandharvas.

Inscribed: (a) 3ft.7.5in. by 3ft.6.5in. (b)3ft.6in. by 3ft.5.75in. ‘C. Barnett March 1817.’

f.58. Railing Pillar. Central image shows devotees surrounding a throne. Seated figures above and lotus medallion below.

Inscribed: 4ft.7.5in. by 2ft.8.9in. ‘Outer circle No. (14 or) 21 M.B. March 1817.’

f.59. Three pillars carved with (a) seated Buddhas and a stupa capital (BM84), (b) seated Buddhas and a stupa capital(BM86), (c) a column surrounded by devotees.

Inscribed: (a) 4ft.1.8in. by 7.2in. (b) 4ft.6.9in. by 7.2in. (c) 3ft.5.9in. by 11.4in. ‘Pillars found lying on the South which belong to the inner circle. M.B. April 1817.’

f.60. Railing Pillar showing three Ganas. Lotus medallions above and below (BM17).

Inscribed: 6ft.0.75in. by 2ft.l0in. ‘C. B. April 1817’.

f.61. Railing Pillar showing three Ganas. Lotus medallions above and below (BM11). Inscribed: 6ft.11.25in. by 2ft.9.25in. ‘Sculpture on the back part of the stone forming the outer circle (the opposite side was drawn by Newman). C. B. April 1817.’

f.62. Three rectangular fragments carved with Buddhas. (a) Seated Buddha with horse and rider below. (b) Standing Buddha next to a seated king. (c) Standing Buddha, seated Buddha and a stupa surrounded by devotees.

Inscribed: (a) 3ft. by lft.1.9in. (b) lft.4.7in. by 2ft.11.9in. (c)lft.1.6in. by 2ft.10.9in. ‘M.B. April 1817.’

f.63. Medallion showing devotees around a stupa (BM8)

Inscribed: 2ft.11.5in. by 3ft.3.3in. ‘The best finished sculpture in Depaldinna. Outer gate. H.H. April 1817.’

f.64. Railing pillar showing seated nobles and a young family. Lotus medallion below.

Inscribed: 6ft. by 2ft.8.lin. ‘No.15.’ ‘C. B. April 1817.’

f.65. Medallion showing a man surrounded by devotees.

Inscribed: 2ft.11in. by 3ft.2.6in. ‘Outer circle No.18 (No.19 drawn by Newman) Principal figure horse. H.H. April 1817.’

f.66. Drawings of both sides of a medallion. The front is carved with dancers and musicians and the back with a lotus medallion.

Inscribed: 2ft.llin. by 3ft.3in’. Outer Circle 16 (17 drawn by Newman). T. A. 15th April 1817.’

f.67. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft. by 4ft.0.75in. ‘No.21. T. A. May 1817.’

f.68. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft.3in. by 4ft.0.75in. ‘No.22. T. A. May 1817.’

f.69. Drum slab (BM79).

Inscribed: 4ft.8.75in. by 2ft.l0in. ‘Begun by J. Mustie & finished by Abdula 13th Sept 1819.’

Reproduced in J. Howes 'Illustrating India' (OUP Delhi:2010), p.220, fig 6.19.

f.70. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.9in. by 4ft. ‘No.27. T. A. June 1817.’

f.71 (a). Drum slab and (b) narrow slab showing a woman standing under a torana.

Inscribed: (a) 5ft.l0in. by 3ft.6.75in, (b) 5ft.l0in. by 10.25in. ‘No.69 T. A. June 1817.’

f.72. Railing pillar showing scenes of figures at rest. Lotus medallion below.

Inscribed: 5ft. by 2ft.8.25in. ‘3rd Stone East of No.57. T. A. July 1817.’

f.73. Railing pillar showing devotees surrounding the foot prints of the Buddha, a seated man and a seat under a tree. Medallion showing devotees above and lotus medallion below.

Inscribed: 5ft.l0in. by 3ft.1in. ‘No.57. T. A. August 1817.’

f.74. Two railing pillars showing (a) three lotus medallions (b) soldiers and an elephant moving into battle. Devotees surrounding a standing Buddha above and a lotus medallion below.

Inscribed: (a) 6ft.1in. tall. (a&b) 3ft.11.2in. wide. (a) ‘No.57’ (b) ‘No.58’ ‘The accompanying Facsimile was taken from a stone placed here .- H.H. August 1817.’

f.75. Railing pillar showing nobles at leisure and a man on horseback returning with troops. Medallion above shows a crowd of female devotees. Lotus medallion below.

Inscribed: 6ft.6.5in. by 2ft.9.3in’. H.H. August 1817.’

f.76. Two medallions (probably the front and back of the same piece) showing (a) male devotees surrounding a throne (b) lotus medallion.

Inscribed:’ No.61. H.H. August 1817.’

f.77. Two medallions (probably the front and back of the same piece) showing (a) Naga king surrounded by women (b) lotus medallion.

Inscribed: 6ft.1.5in. by 3ft.3in. ‘No.59. H.H.’ ‘August 1817.’

f.78. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft.3in. by 4ft. ‘No.3. T. A. 11 Sept’r 1817.’

f.79. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 4ft.8.25in. by 3ft.0.25in. ‘No. 1 fronting from the right hand side. T.A.’

f.80. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft.5in. by 3ft.l0in. ‘No.2. T.A.’.

f.81. Drum slab.

Inscribed: 5ft.7in. by 4ft.0.25in. ‘No.4. T.A.’ ‘26 Sept’r’

f.82. Two rectangular fragments showing (a) a herd of cows (b) railing pattern.

Inscribed: (a) 2ft.7.75in. by 2ft.5in. (b) lft.llin. by 2ft.9in. ‘Began 3rd finished 5 Oct’r 1817. T.A.’.

f.83. Railing coping with narrative carving showing a seated king, musicians and dancers and a queen reclining on a bed.

Inscribed: 2ft.9in. by 7ft.4.25in.’ Specimen of the Ancient Sculptures from the Dipaldinna at Amrawutty. Drawn by Nujbulla 22nd April 1819.’.

f.84. Piece of railing coping showing a stupa being venerated and a seated king and queen surrounded by attendants

(BM34). Inscribed: 2ft.6.25in. by 3ft.3.5in. ‘Drawn by Pearylaul 27th Aug’st 1819.’.

Reproduced in J. Howes 'Illustrating India' (OUP Delhi:2010), p.221, fig 6.20.

f.85. Medallion with seated couple surrounded by attendants.

Inscribed: 2ft.6.5in. by 2ft.6.5in. ‘T.A.’

f.86. Medallion with elephant and riders.

Inscribed: 2ft. 11.5in. by 2ft.11.5in. ‘The situation of this stone is to the south of the stones Mr. Hamilton drew last. T.A.’

f.87. Medallion with lotus pattern.

Inscribed: ‘Ground.’

f.88. Copy of f.12.

f.89. Inch to mile map of Amaravati in 1816.

Inscribed: ‘Map of Amrawutty in Guntoor & of Purtyall & the Diamond Mines with the villages Adjacent reduced from the Original Survey in 1816. The Limits of the Diamond Mines of Purtyall is denoted by a yellow tinge. Scale of One Mile to an Inch. Cop’d by J. Mustie 5th February 1820.’.

f.90. Copy of f.89 by T. Lockwood, 19 January 1820.

f.91. Notes on Amaravati.

f.92. Notes on Amaravati.