Photo 212/4(26)

Genre: Architectural Photography

General view of the Subramanya Temple in the court of the Brihadishvara Temple at Tanjore (Thanjavur)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: '395 - Close to the Great Tower in the north-west corner of the enclosure, stands the little temple here represented, dedicated to Subramanya. It is more modern in date, and very much more ornamental in style than the great temple; yet if we may trust tradition, that was built by Keri Kala Chola (1100?) and this temple by his grandson Rajendra less than a century afterwards. Though there does not seem any great reason for doubting the general correctness of these dates, it would be most important if they could be fixed absolutely. For if they are correct, the Tanjore Pagoda is not only the finest, but the oldest of those hitherto described. They would also go to prove that the style was severe and comparatively plain in the eleventh and twelfth century, but burst into exuberance in the thirteenth, and continued to increase in elaboration till at least Trimul Nayak's death (1663); after which it gradually became attenuated till it expired under European influence at the end of last century.' Another copy at Photo 1000/30(3044).