Agra: Taj Mahal, Tomb Door
Date
Authors
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Description
In several instances, however, the apertures of the doors penetrating the Taj are closed down with jali. These are kept simple and regularly patterned to let the light pass through with little effort. Over the door the beautiful floral motifs, looking very much like glazed tiles, frame the peaked apex of the arch, while running in a continuous frieze parallel to the door is the highly decorative script typical of Islamic buildings of all types. We will pay closer attention to the relief tiles at the base of the tomb in slide 32, but we should in this context notice their position in relation to the rest of the decoration and remember their function. Notice, too, the absence of bright colors in both the relief tiles and the carved patterns. All the areas have been toned down to let the beauty of the marble itself show through.
Citation
Collections
Source
Type
Archives Series
Basham Collection
Date created
circa 1970s
Access Statement
License Rights
This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
DOI
Restricted until
Downloads
File
Description