Delhi. View of North Side of the Jamma Musjid in Principal Mabonedau Place of Worship

Samuel Bourne, a British photographer who spent seven prolific years in India from 1863 to 1870, captured this striking albumen print of the Jama Masjid in Delhi. This work is characteristic of Bourne's meticulous approach to landscape and architectural photography, which earned him a reputation as one of the finest travel photographers of the 19th century. Working primarily with a 10x12-inch plate camera and the wet plate collodion process, Bourne embarked on ambitious expeditions across the Indian subcontinent, often with a large retinue of porters to carry his heavy equipment. His detailed and carefully composed photographs, like this view of the Jama Masjid, aimed to document the grandeur of India's natural and built environments. This piece reflects his dedication to capturing iconic landmarks, a practice that established the studio Bourne & Shepherd as the premier photographic business in India, widely distributing his images throughout the subcontinent and Britain.