Set of two prints on Benaras

a) James Prinsep
Old Projecting Balcony at the Man Mundil or Observatory, Benares
1833
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Print size: 11.5 x 7 in (29.5 x 17.5 cm)
Sheet size: 12.25 x 8.5 in (31.2 x 21.7 cm)

Plate 6 from the first part of James Prinsep's 'Benares Illustrated'. Prinsep (1799-1840), an antiquary and colonial administrator was assay master at the Benares Mint between 1820-30. The lithographs published in this collection were based on his original sketches of the various views of the 'holy' city of the Hindus. Of this view he writes: 'This specimen of architectural effect can with difficulty be ascribed to so recent a period as the age even of Man Singh, from whom this Observatory derives its name and existence; for the stone is quite worn away in many places by the weather'. (Source: British Library Board, online)

b) J D Harding after James Prinsep
Temple of Vishveshwur, Benares
1831
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Print size: 11.5 x 7 in (29.5 x 17.5 cm)
Sheet size: 12.5 x 8.5 in (31.7 x 21.7 cm)

Plate 8 from the third part of James Prinsep's 'Benares Illustrated'. Prinsep (1799-1840), an antiquary and colonial administrator was assay master at the Benares Mint between 1820-30. The lithographs published in this collection were based on his original sketches of the various views of the 'holy' city of the Hindus. The temple of Kashi Vishwanatha stands in the centre of the city of Benares and enshrines the Hindu god Shiva as Vishwanatha, 'lord of the universe'. The original temple was located across the road until Aurangazeb destroyed it in the late seventeenth century. The present temple was built by Ahalya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1777. The dome above the sanctum sanctorum was gold-plated in 1839 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Panjab, years after Prinsep made this sketch of the temple. (Source: British Library Board, online)

(Set of two)

These works will be shipped unframed

NON-EXPORTABLE