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Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 1
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 2
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 3
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 4
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 5
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 6
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 7
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 8
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 9
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 10
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 11
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 12
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 13
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 14
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 15
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 16
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 17
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 18
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 19
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 20
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 21
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 22
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 23
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 24
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 25
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 26
Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra India, 1826–29 image 27
Lot 211

Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra
India, 1826–29

Amended
Islamic and Indian Art
22 May 2025, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

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Lieutenant Philip Meadows Taylor (1808–1876), an album of twenty-four drawings principally of Indian sites in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra
India, 1826–29

pen and ink on wove paper watermarked J Whatman Turkey Mill 1823, captioned and some dated, several with looser pencil sketches verso, partially loose, original roan-backed marbled boards, cover inscribed Views in India by Lieut. P. M. Taylor, His Highness the Nizam's Servant
240 x 330 mm.

Footnotes

Provenance
Acquired in the US art market.


This remarkable album of twenty-four sketches (including two multi-page panoramas) is the earliest recorded work by Taylor, whose Indian career began in 1824 - and who is perhaps best known for his novel Confessions of a Thug (1839), which had a sensational effect and introduced an entire mythology into British consciousness.

As a collection of diverse views – covering fortifications, temples, archaeology, architecture, topography and cantonment life in Aurangabad, Ellora, Belgaum, Bolarum, Daulatabad, Hyderabad, Goa and Trichinopoly – it clearly reflects Taylor's enthusiasm for Indian culture that remained with him throughout most of his life spent immersed in his adopted country. Taylor was an administrator in British India and a novelist who made notable contributions to public knowledge of South India. Though largely self-taught, he was a polymath, working alternately as a judge, engineer, artist and man of letters. He spent a large part of his career in the service of the Nizam of Hyderabad in the role of soldier, administrator, Superintendent of Bazaars and Assistant Superintendent of Police for the southwestern districts of Hyderabad.

A later collection of nineteen of Taylor's drawings made in India and during a voyage to England dating to 1830–38 is in the British Library (shelfmark WD 122), and several of these later views of the Deccan plateau appeared in Taylor's Sketches in the Deccan (London, Charles Tilt, 1837).
It appears that our sketches were possibly also intended for publication based on a note signed S. J. that accompanies a view of the residency at Hyderabad: 'This view is nearly the same as one by Capt. Grindley. This however is nothing against its publication as it is more distinct – as if taken nearby & is very faithful.'
While on furlough in England, Taylor published the first of several Indian novels, Confessions of a Thug (1839), in which he reproduced the tales he had heard about the Thuggee cult, described by the chief actors in them.

In 1860, Taylor's health failed and he returned to England, where he wrote five more Indian novels. He also wrote an autobiography (published posthumously in 1877), the letterpress for the monumental eight-volume The People of India: A Series of Photographic Illustrations, with Descriptive Letterpress, of the Races and Tribes of Hindustan (London, 1868–75), and a students' manual of Indian history. He was made a companion in the Order of the Star of India in 1869.

The drawings are as follows:
1. Fort at Talmer.
2. Fort in the Mahratta territory.
3. Waterfall at Ellora.
4. Waterfall at Ellora with the Derh Warra Cave.
5. Dharoor Ghaut, a mountainous landscape.
6. Tomb of the Begum Rabea Durrani, Aurangzeb's daughter, at Aurangabad.
7. Ellora Pagoda, November 1828.
8. Bheer, 1828.
9. A hilltop fort at Murkul.
10. The fort of Daulatabad, 14 miles from Aurangabad.
11. Two drawings on one sheet, showing sculptures of avatars of Vishnu at Ellora.
12. The hilltop fort of Gootee from the west.
13. The Delhi Gate, Aurangabad.
14. The British Residency, Hyderabad (back view); inscribed verso This view is nearly the same as one by Capt. Grindlay. This however is nothing against its publication, since it is more distinct, as if taken nearer, 'tis very faithful. S. J.
15. A smaller view of the bridge at Aurangabad, 1829, on purple paper with decorative border, inscribed verso Bridge at Aurangabad erected by Captain Tweedon [?] Mysore [?] Artillery.
16. My estate at Sudasheopeth, 40 miles NW from Hyderabad, with further captions denoting various buildings.
17. Hilltop settlement at Ooplea.
18. Double-page view of the Cantonment of the 1st Division of the Nizam's army - at Bolarum.
19. Fort at Hyderabad [?].
20. Sketch of a landscape in the Scottish Highlands
21. A sketch of the harbour entrance at Goa.
22. Double-page (with foldout third section) view of the cantonment of the 2nd Division of the Nizam's troops, Aurangabad, with further captions denoting various buildings and landmarks, dated 1829.
23. The fort at Trichinopoly, Madras Presidency.

Saleroom notices

For a full list of Taylor's inscriptions and annotations, please contact the Islamic and Indian Department. Please note that there are 24 drawings but only 23 in the complete list, since two drawings (no. 11) are on one sheet.

Additional information