Ashoka Pillar moved to its present position by Feroz Shah

1880

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Column

Dominant colour

Ashoka Pillar moved to its present position by Feroz Shah is a 1880 by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Column, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1880 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a tall stone pillar standing in a grassy field, with British soldiers and workers gathered around it. This pillar was once part of an ancient Indian monument built by Emperor Ashoka over 2,000 years ago. In the 1800s, the British moved it to Delhi as a trophy of empire. The painting shows that moment—history being carted away. Look up more paintings of England, 19th century to see how artists pictured colonial power.