International Art Treasures Web Magazine

December 2005  

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Taj Mahal

The Building of a Legend
Peabody Essex Museum (PEM)
Salem, Massachusetts
through July 23, 2006

Portaits of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
Title: Portraits of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, mid 19th century. Delhi, India.
Medium: Watercolor, Gouache, and Gold on Ivory; Ebony.
Dimensions: 22 7/8 x 15 x 7/8 in. each.
Permanent Collection and Image Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum.

Built for love! That is the legend of the Taj Mahal located in Agra, India. It tells the story of an Emperor's love for his wife.

The fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, commissioned the Taj Mahal as the tomb for his wife Arjumand Banu Begum who is more commonly known as Mumtaz Mahal which means Exalted One of the Palace. She died in 1631.

The Taj Mahal mid 19th Century Agra or Delhi India
Title: The Taj Mahal, mid 19th century. Agra or Delhi, India.
Medium: Ink, Watercolor, Gouache, and Silver on Wove Paper.
Dimensions: 7 3/8 x 8 13/18 in.
Permanent Collection and Image Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum.

Over twenty thousand workers and master craftsmen were involved in the construction which took 23 years to complete. The Taj Mahal was finished in 1654.

Take me take me ...to the Palace of Love by Rina Banerjee
Title: Take me, Take me… to the Palace of Love, 2005,
Artist: Rina Banerjee (b. Calcutta, India 1963.)
Medium: Alabaster and Agate
Photo by Dennis Helmar.
Image Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum

The exhibit features 40 paintings, watercolors, photographs and objects the majority are drawn from the PEM's collection. One of the highlights are the seven Sita Ram paintings. Sita Ram traveled with Lord Moira, later the Marques of Hasting, the British Governor-General of India on a fifteen month tour of Northern India. They journeyed from Calcutta to Delhi during 1814 and 1815 and later took another trip for the Lord's convalescent tour in the Rajmahal Hills during the 1820-21 winter.

Taj Mahal at Agra at a distance with the Ruins of Umbur Singh's House in front by Sita Ram
Title: Taj Mahal: at Agra at a distance with the Ruins of Umbur Singh’s House in front, ca. 1815,
Artist: Sita Ram. Eastern India.
Medium: Watercolor, Gouache and Graphite on Laid Paper.
Dimensions: 15 x 22 5/8 in.
Permanent Collection and Image Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum.

The Peabody Essex Museum showcases art and culture from New England and around the globe. It boasts four National Historic Landmark buildings and an extensive permanent collection supplemented with changing exhibits. Most of the objects in Taj Mahal: The Building of a Legend are from the PEM's own collection including the recently acquired important pair of ivory portraits of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Taj Mahal: Building of a Legend
Peabody Essex Museum (PEM):
through July 23, 2006

Peabody Essex Museum

www.pem.org

© 2005 International Art Treasures Web Magazine, All Rights Reserved.