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The Imambara, Lucknow

Unknown

1795

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Patna School of Painting Romanticism 18th Century Architectural Palace

Dominant colour

The Imambara, Lucknow is a 1795 paint by Unknown, a Patna School of Painting work, depicting Palace, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1795 · Patna School of Painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a grand palace with delicate arches and a golden dome under a soft sky. A few tiny figures walk near the steps, making the huge building look even bigger. It’s one of many Indian palace scenes painted for British visitors in the late 1700s. Artists blended Indian details with European styles to please foreign buyers. Look for more like this at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

The artwork depicts a scene at the Imambara in Lucknow during the Muharram observance, rendered in watercolor. It is one of 49 paintings contained in a volume titled *Views in India*, which was purchased from Mr. T. Toon of Leicester Square on 4 March 1887 for £50. The acquisition details are documented in museum records as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

Read the full account in the museum source.