Photo 212/4(35)

Genre: Fine Arts, Photography of

View of John Flaxman's full-length statue of Raja Sivaji, in the audience hall of the Nayaka Palace 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: '404 - At the upper end of the Audience Chamber, now fitted up like a European drawing-room, on a raised platform, stands a statue of the late Rajah. This is executed in white marble by a European artist, who has, however, been too modest to engrave his name on the pedestal, but it is said to be by Chantrey. Whoever he was, he was so ignorant of Eastern customs as to represent the Rajah with his head bare. The consequence is, the natives have fitted a pasteboard turban to his head, with a tassel and other appropriate ornaments; but as this fits badly, it is generally seen cocked on one side, which gives the whole a very comic appearance. His feet, too, are bare, but being of one piece with the pedestal, native ingenuity has not yet accomplished the feat of shoeing him.' Another copy at Photo 1000/30(3053).