“Step back in time to 1863 and see Old Delhi's grand palace gateway as it once stood. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into Mughal architecture before modern restorations, capturing intricate details in stunning light.”
This albumen print captures the imposing Gateway of Allahood Deen's Palace in Old Delhi, a significant historical record of Mughal architecture before 20th-century restorations. The scene is bathed in the stark light of a clear Indian day, emphasizing the intricate details of the gateway's arches and carved surfaces. You can almost feel the texture of the weathered stone and sense the scale of this grand entrance, which once led to a royal residence. The photograph, taken by Samuel Bourne in 1863, reflects his meticulous approach to documenting India's landscapes and monuments, often requiring extensive travel with heavy photographic equipment. This image offers a glimpse into the past, preserving the original state of a structure that has witnessed centuries of history.
- Artist
- Samuel Bourne
- Date
- 1863
- Medium
- albumen print
- Location
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- [object Object]
- Collection
- Photography
- Culture
- England
- Credit line
- Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The ornate carving around the main archway.
The subtle variations in tone and shadow across the stone.
The figures near the base, giving a sense of scale.
The weathered texture of the ancient stone.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Delhi. Gateway of Allahood Deen's Palace, Old Delhi — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Samuel Bourne
1834–1912 · United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandA bank clerk who quit his job, sailed to India, and hauled cameras up 18,600-foot Himalayan passes to capture 2,200 images.
Further Works by Bourne
Agra. The Gateway of the Gardens Surrounding the Taj
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Agra. The Taj, the Central of Principal City
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Agra. View of the Taj from a Corner in the Quadrangle
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Agra. View of the Taj from the Garden
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Agra. View of the Taj in Front of Nootkan (The Light of the World), Wife of the Emperor Akbar, View from the River
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
A Village Scene, Near Calcutta
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Delhi. Tomb of the Emperor Shums ooo deen Allomsh, Builder of the Kootub Minar in the Ruins of Old Delhi
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Delhi. View of North Side of the Jamma Musjid in Principal Mabonedau Place of Worship
1863 · Cleveland Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Bourne: works from the same years.
Same era · 1840s–1870s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Barks Fleeing Before the Storm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1870 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Alfred Sisley
Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1864 · Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection
Same era · 1840s–1870s
A Sketch
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1862 · Hispanic Society of America
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Fish (Still Life)
Édouard Manet · 1864 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Mount Madison from the Androscoggin River
William Hart · 1862
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Peasants Bringing Home a Calf Born in the Fields
Jean-François Millet · 1864 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Rêverie (Portrait of Gabrielle Borreau)
Gustave Courbet · 1862 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
A Woman Seated beside a Vase of Flowers (Madame Paul Valpinçon?)
Edgar Degas · 1865 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1840s–1870s
The Banks of the Marne in Winter
Camille Pissarro · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
The Beach at Sainte-Adresse
Claude Monet · 1867 · Art Institute of Chicago