Photo 212/6(14)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Close view of shrine attached to the Chennakeshava Temple at Belur, showing sculptural detail in the form of banded friezes. Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient Aarchitecture of Southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '464 - The base of the Vimana and Tower being solid, differs considerably in design from the porch which was illustrated in the seven preceding views. As will be observed, on referring to 456, to each of its three faces a projecting pavilion is attached, in which are the windows that admit light to the sanctuary. As architectural objects they give variety of outline and play of light and shade to the otherwise solid base. They are, besides this, objects of extreme beauty and variety of detail in themselves, and worthy of the temple to which they are attached. Under the upper cornice will be observed that curious imitation of a wooden framework, which was noticed in speaking of the cornices of Avadea Covill and Tanjore. Being in the shadow, the Photograph hardly does justice to its details; but looking upwards to the temple, it adds immensely to the richness of effect.'