Capturing the Old Punjab

By Ramanjit Singh

In the 19th century, several British artists went to India to make a series of illustrations of the country, its people and landscape. Among some of these artists who travelled to Punjab were William Simpson and William Carpenter. Both captured their journeys in vivid watercolors and their work can be seen in museums and auction houses like Sotheby's, Christie's and Bonham's.

I'm presenting some of their illustrations here.

Painting of the Akal Bunga (Akal Takht), Golden Temple, Amritsar, by William Simpson, India, 1864

A sketch of the interior of the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar by William Simpson, ca.1860

1854 Golden temple painting by William Carpenter

1854 India, The Punjab. Views of the Golden Temple at Amritsar by William Carpenter

Watercolour painting of the interior of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, by William Carpenter, circa 1854

Wazir Khan Mosque, water color c. 1860 Artist: William Simpson

The Masjid of Wazeer Ali Khan, Lahore, Punjab by William Carpenter

Painting of a street scene in Lahore by William Carpenter, watercolour on paper, 1855-56. Probably Sunehri Masjid in the background?

William Carpenter's painting of Jama Masjid, Delhi, as seen from a balcony, along with houses and courtyard below, probably 1852.

Also refer to the works of the American painter Edward Lord Weeks.