Photo 212/6(27)

Inscription: Numbered '477' in the negative.

Genre: Architectural Photography

A close view looking along a portion of the façade, showing rich sculptural and moulding details. 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: '477 - is another portion of the south-west façade of this temple. The figures in the bas-relief, immediately above the horsemen, are exquisite specimens of sculpture, and are more like carvings in ivory than anything else, in fact, it is difficult to believe they are really cut in so hard a material as stone. Above this, Vishnu will be recognised in his boar incarnation, holding the Goddess Lakshmi, as already seen at the Mahavellipore. See No. 430. On the projecting pavilion, is Shiva with Parvati on his knee, and above them, Shiva standing alone. The same groups are repeated on both sides of all the six projecting pavilions of this front.' Another copy of this print at Photo 1000 (3125).