The Principal Pagoda at Bidjinanto
Title The Principal Pagoda at Bidjinanto
Accession Number R1516
Museum Name Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata
Gallery Name NA
Object Type Painting
Medium Watercolour
Main Artist Samuel Davis
Artist's Nationality English
Artist's Life Date / Bio Data

Samuel Davis (1760-1819), one of the earliest European amateur painters had visited the Indian sub-continent during British colonial rule. He arrived in Madras in 1780 sailing through the famous East India Company ship 'Earl of Oxford' (weight- 758 ton; launched on 1778-1796). Davis spent twenty- six years (1780 - 1806) in India and during these long years, though he was loaded with tedious official duties ranging from police, judiciary and revenue to higher accountancy, his spare time was used by utilizing his inner ability in depicting the landscapes and buildings of southern, eastern and northern India and exclusively the sceneries, monasteries, ruins, cascades, bridges and palaces of Bhutan which added a significant impact in the history of European paintings in India.

These paintings are not only the graphic records but also through these paintings one can visualize the refreshing splendor of 18th & 19th centuries India and Bhutan.

Provenance By the Hon Justice L P Beaufort of Wynbarg,S Africa through Lord Curzon,1921.
School British School
Period / Year of Work AD
Dimensions 58x45cm
Brief Description


Detailed Description

Line Temple (Rekha Deul) is located in an area that suggests it has ties to Eastern India.

A well is visible at the foreground site, which may indicate its significance or importance in the complex.

In the center of the complex, three shrines are depicted with a priest and a woman taking water from the well, creating a serene scene on a clear sunshine day.