Photo 212/5(3)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Close view of a pillar, carved in the form of a rearing horse and rider. Lyon's 'Notes to acccompany 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: '410 - shows a view of the two Pillars immediately on the top of the steps leading to the temple. Parts of two steps are to be seen on the left, also the head of the stone elephant, one of which is placed on each side of them, as may be seen in 409. Though the effect of the sculpture shown in this Photograph is rich and vigorous, it will not, on close inspection, bear comparison with the more ancient examples above described. A man loading a musket will be observed, as the principal figure on the right-hand pillar, and his accoutrements, and the form of his firelock, and his dress, all prove him to be just such a Sepoy as fought against us, in our wars with the French in this country. As he is an integral part of the sculpture, it is quite clear that the temple cannot be earlier than the beginning of the last century.'