Object Description
Orientalist antique painting of the Taj Mahal, by Fischer
Austrian, 19th Century
Canvas: Height 63cm, width 94cm
Frame: Height 89cm, width 120cm, depth 6cm
This majestic landscape painting of the Taj Mahal is by the Austrian artist Ludwig Hans Fischer (1848-1915). Following his studies at the Vienna Academy, Fischer journeyed around Europe, Asia, and Africa, which went on to heavily inspire his later paintings such as this piece. He later published collections of his sketches from the trip, as well as several books on travel and painting.
Unlike typical Orientalist artworks from the 19th century, which tended towards depictions of the Middle East, Fischer depicts a vista of the River Yumana in Agra, East India, and this unusual setting adds to the unique quality of this work. Despite being in the background, the ivory-white marble of the Taj Mahal stands out, almost glowing against the dusky light of the broad evening sky: the artist highlights why the mausoleum is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
In the foreground, Fischer has populated the scene with groups of figures on the shoreline, dressed in eye-catching fabrics, as well as a wooden boat moored to the bank. Amongst lush green shrubs, other buildings and shrines are situated, also designed in the Mughal style which the Taj Mahal itself sports.
The painting is signed in the lower left-hand corner ‘Ludwig Hans Fischer’. On the reverse of the ornate giltwood frame is an old handwritten inscription, which reads, ‘Ludwig Hans Fischer pinx(it), Ost-Indien: Stadt Agra am Fluss Yumana, Im Hintergrund die Mosche Tadsch-Mahal = Traum in Marmor’ (‘Painted by Ludwig Hans Fischer, East India: City of Agra on the Yumana River, in the background the Taj-Mahal Mosque = Dream in Marble’).
With its beautiful handling of light and exceptional subject matter, this painting would make a fabulous addition to any antique collection.