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Cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal, Agra

Unknown

1820

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal, Agra is a 1820 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1820 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a blank white space at the top, like an empty tomb. Below it, there’s a narrow band of black Arabic-style writing, framed by a thin gold line. Under that, a row of colorful flowers—red, blue, and green—stand in neat lines, separated by small dots. The bottom half has more patterns: swirling vines and tiny repeating shapes, all outlined in black. The empty space at the top might look odd, but it’s meant to represent a missing tomb. The flowers and writing suggest this is a memorial. Look up Romanticism to see how artists used emotion and symbolism in their work.

The story of this work

Overview

The Cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal is part of the Taj Mahal complex in Agra. It was acquired by the museum in 1896 from a private owner in London. The object's provenance was verified during a 2023 research project.

Read the full account in the museum source.