The Indian Mutiny, photograph by Felice Beato (SEB)
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- Synopsis
- This is a photogragh. This disturbing photograph shows the courtyard in front of the damaged shell of Secundra Bagh palace. The courtyard is covered with disarticulated skeletons amongst bits of fallen masonry, broken doors and some pieces of cloth, presumably the remnants of clothing from the corpses. There appear to be more skulls than there are bones for. Only about four whole skeletons are visible by their exposed rib cages. One of the skulls sits upright on the ground facing the camera with its dropped jaw clearly visible. Secundra Bagh palace would once have been a very splendid building with the facade facing the courtyard in the Greek style of architecture. The two storey building had a row of ornately decorated Ionic (scrolls) columns on each floor with a large doorway on the ground floor on the right hand side. There was further decoration between the two floors with a triangular pediment on the roof and above the large doorway. The doorways to the rooms within the palace were set back behind the columns with an open corridor running in front of them. The photograph records the damage done to the building during the fighting. Part of the roof and upper storey decoration has gone with other parts badly damaged by cannon balls and musket fire. Circular holes can be seen peppered all over the building. All wooden doors and shutters have gone with some lying smashed in the courtyard. You can now see daylight right through the building where the doors would have been. Looking over this gruesome scene and posing for the photograph are four Indian men. Two of the men are seated centrally at the base of the palace building. Another is standing just to the left of the seated men leaning on one of the ornate Ionic columns. The fourth man stands further to the left behind a small white pony with a saddle and reins that has its back to the camera. The men are wearing Indian clothing - a long-sleeved shirt over a dhoti (knee-length baggy trousers) with simple sandals on their feet. The man with the pony is wearing a turban. The standing man and the seated one nearest to him are wearing skullcaps. The men appear undeterred by all the skeletal remains laid out in front of them."
- Copyright:
- 2013
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Excellent
- Publisher:
- RNIB
- Date of Addition:
- 05/12/17
- Copyrighted By:
- Imperial Museum
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Art and Architecture
- Submitted By:
- Caroline Walker
- Proofread By:
- N/A
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.