The Firoz Shah Minar at Gaur and a Palash tree
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | The British Library |
| Location History: | The painting was commissioned by Francis Rawdon-Hastings, the Earl of Moira and 1st Marquess of Hastings, during his tenure as the Governor-General of Bengal (1813–1823). This particular work was painted during either a 1817 sporting expedition to northern Bengal or a 1820–1821 convalescent tour of the Rajmahal Hills. It was compiled into a collection titled "Views by Seeta Ram from Malda to Gunga Pursaad Vol. II". In 1845, Lord Hastings' younger daughter, Lady Sophia Hastings, married John Crichton-Stuart, the 2nd Marquess of Bute. Through this marriage, the albums passed directly into the secure hands of the Bute family estate. In the mid-1990s, the Bute family decided to sell the remainder of the collection.The remaining albums including the Bengal and Rajmahal tours were institutionalized when they were acquired by the British Library in 1995 with financial assistance from the National Art Collections Fund. |
To me, the Firoz Shah Minar does not appear to be the main focus of the painting. Instead, it seems to blend into its surroundings and become part of the landscape. Although the monument was built to commemorate Firoz Shah’s victories on the battlefield, it is presented here as something distant and almost forgotten. The surroundings give the place a slightly ghostly feeling, as though it could have been abandoned. Yet, the presence of people near the monument suggests that it has not been completely forgotten. Interestingly, my attention is drawn more strongly to the Palash tree than to the Minar itself. The Palash is strongly associated with spring as well as fire, which creates an interesting contrast with the old monument. Its vibrant flowers bring life and colour into a scene otherwise dominated by muted tones. The fiery appearance of the flowers could also remind us of the violence and battles associated with the monument’s original purpose, although this is my personal interpretation rather than an established meaning of the painting. The painting was also made during a period when the East India Company was expanding and becoming more firmly established in India. Because of this historical setting, I can also see the Palesh tree representing the transition in political era.