Photo 212/4(2)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Close view of the mandapa of the Athmanathar Temple, looking towards the doorway to the sanctuary. Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient architecture of Southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '371 - This Photograph gives a view of the Interior of the large Porch in front of the entrance to this temple. It is quite impossible to give any idea of the beauty of the work here to be found. Each pillar is of itself worthy of the closest investigation, and hours might be spent in this one outer porch, and still not half its wonderful carving be discovered. The pillars are so close together, and the light is so very obscure, that to photograph it properly would be impossible, more especially as whitewash and paint have done their worst to obscure and destroy what was originally so perfect. There is not, however, one spot in the whole porch that is not exquisite; and when we consider the nature of the stone and the quantity of the pillars, it is doubtful if there is anything so beautiful, on a small scale, in the whole of Southern India. The whole of the outer pillars in front of the portico have been carved into different incarnations of the gods, which, in point of execution, far exceed almost any to be found elsewhere, for though at Peroor and Tinnevelly, perhaps, the figures are equally good in appearance, but when the nature of the stone is considered, these must be pronounced much more wonderful.' Another copy of this print at Photo 1000 (3020).