Lucknow. The Great Emambara and Mosque

Samuel Bourne, a British photographer who spent seven prolific years capturing the landscapes and architecture of India, created this albumen print in 1863. Bourne arrived in Calcutta (Kolkata) in early 1863, and by July of that year, he had embarked on his first major Himalayan expedition, returning with 147 negatives. This image of the Great Emambara and Mosque in Lucknow is a testament to his dedication and technical skill in documenting a rapidly changing India. Bourne's work, often characterized by a keen eye for composition and high technical expertise, was produced using a 10x12-inch plate camera and the wet plate collodion process. His studio, Bourne & Shepherd, became the premier photographic studio in India, making his extensive archive of images widely available. This photograph offers a glimpse into the grandeur of Indian architecture through the lens of a pioneering 19th-century travel photographer.