The Great Mosque and its gateway at Fathpur Sikri from the south-east - 1814

Watercolour of the Jami Masjid and Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri from 'Views by Seeta Ram from Tughlikabad to Secundra Vol. VIII' produced for Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram between 1814-15. Marquess of Hastings, the Governor-General of Bengal and the Commander-in-Chief (r.1813-23), was accompanied by artist Sita Ram (flourished c.1810-22) to illustrate his journey from Calcutta to Delhi between 1814-15.

Idealised view of the Great Mosque and its gateway at Fathpur Sikri from the south-east. The Buland Darwaza is set into the south wall of the Jami Masjid (Dargah Mosque), the main congregational mosque at Fatepur Sikri which is located 37 km south-east of Agra. This city was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar (r.1556-1605 between 1571 and 1585. The huge gate, approached by a flight of steps, has two inscriptions in the archway, one of which reads: 'Jesus Son of Mary (on whom be peace) said: The world is a bridge, pass over it, but build no houses on it. He who hopes for an hour may hope for eternity. The world endures but an hour. Spend it in prayer, for the rest is unseen.' The gate is crowned with a series of domed kiosks. It was probably built to commemorate Akbar's conquest of Gujarat in 1573. Inscribed below: 'Gate at Futtipoor Seecree.'

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