Artwork

South Façade of the Quadrangle of the Nayak Darbar Hall, Thanjavur

South Façade of the Quadrangle of the Nayak Darbar Hall, Thanjavur is a photography by the Impressionist artist Captain Linnaeus Tripe. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2020.213
Credit line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

About this work

You see a tall stone building with carved pillars, arched windows, and a flat roof, all bathed in bright Indian sunlight.

You see a tall stone building with carved pillars, arched windows, and a flat roof, all bathed in bright Indian sunlight.

Tripe took this photo in 1858, when cameras were slow wooden boxes with no shutters. He had to guess how long to leave the lens open, yet the shadows stay clear enough to count the tiny flowers on the wall.

Look up the technique called chiaroscuro to see how other artists balance light and dark.

Overview

This 1858 photograph by Linnaeus Tripe captures the South Façade of the Quadrangle of the Nayak Darbar Hall in Thanjavur, showcasing a tall stone building with intricate carvings.

Technique & Style

Tripe achieved a remarkable balance of light and shadow using early photographic techniques, where the lens cap was removed and replaced to control exposure. The resulting image retains clarity in both bright sunlight and deep shadows.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph presents a detailed view of the building's architecture, featuring carved pillars, arched windows, and a flat roof, with visible decorations that are rendered clearly despite varying light conditions.