Agra. - View from the Fort
0000; Gale Group; Linguagem: English
Resumo
Photograph from an album of 80 albumen prints taken by Eugene Clutterbuck Impey. The view looks north from the ramparts of the Agra Fort, towards the River Yamuna (Jumna), with the Mussaman Burj in the foreground and the Bridge of Boats in the distance. The Agra fort was built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (ruled 1556-1605). He had begun his rule from Delhi, but then decided to make Agra his capital. With this end, he built many fine structures in Agra and made it the grandest city of the empire, much praised by contemporarychroniclers and foreign travellers. The fort is semi-circular, with its base along the west bank of the Yamuna river. It was built over a period of 14 years (1565-79) and is a sound military structure while architecturally beautiful. Its massive walls and ramparts are faced with red sandstone and huge circular bastions project from the walls. The Mussaman Burj or Octagonal Tower, built ca.1628 during Shah Jahan's reign, is a marble pavilion on a bastion. The column-lined chamber is beautifully decorated with pietra dura work in hardstones and relief carvings. According to legend, it was here that Shah Jahan lay on his deathbed, gazing at the Taj Mahal. Photographer: Impey, Eugene Clutterbuck.
Referência(s)