The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian CourtLatham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
History
The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian Court
Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
Crystal Palace (Sydenham, London, England)
Passing on in this gallery, at the back of the Assyrian Court, we enter
a department appropriated as an Indian Court. The first object which we
notice is a stand covered on both sides with a fine collection of Indian
arms and armour arranged with other objects of interest. On the wall
near is ranged a collection of most interesting paintings, lent to the
Crystal Palace by the Hon. East India Company. They are copies of some
frescoes found on the walls of a series of caverns at Adjunta, in
Western India, and were made at the instance of the Indian Government by
Captain Gill, of the Madras army. The subjects are scenes in the life of
Buddha and of Buddhist saints, and various historical events connected
with the rise and progress of the Buddhist religion in India. The date
of their execution extends from about the Christian era to the tenth or
twelfth century; and in style they closely resemble the contemporary
works of painters in Europe, possessing nearly the same amount of
artistic merit, and displaying the like absence of _chiar’-oscuro_, and
the same attempt to copy with literal exactness the object represented,
excepting where certain conventionalities are apparent. The collection
is valuable as affording the means of comparing the state of art in the
East with that in the West during the same period.
On the next stand are several Burmese idols and other curious objects,
mostly belonging to the religious ceremonial of this people; among these
will be noticed some very curious wood-carving; and we must not omit to
notice in connection with these things, a very peculiar pagoda, or idol
shrine, which stands close by. Placed along the floor are some very
curious musical instruments, drums or tom-toms of various sizes, some
instruments formed of pieces of hard wood, which on being struck sound
the notes, and some having metal vessels, which produce a peculiar tone.
Further on is a case filled with magnificently embroidered garments,
saddle-cloths, &c., which display that craving after splendour which
appears to be part of Oriental nature. In this case are also some other
choice articles of very great beauty and value, amongst which may be
pointed out a small Japanese cabinet; a hookah, a dagger and sheath
wrought with silver, a pair of slippers embroidered with pearls, and
other rare objects from Persia. Here also are some specimens of Chinese
work. On the right of this case is a chamber devoted to Chinese
curiosities. The walls are hung with paintings, representing the
manufacturing and other industrial occupations of this truly curious
people. In the centre is the figure of a Mandarin in his richly
embroidered dress. Quitting this chamber the visitor will remark on
either side of him some fine models of Indian Mosques, carved in wood,
which will amply repay a careful inspection. They belong to the close of
the 15th century. After examining the curious model of the encampment of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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