Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

South Asia Photography Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
FSA.A1992.07
Creators:
Burke, John, d. 1900
Scowen & Co.
Shepherd & Robertson
Dates:
19th century
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
8 Prints
albumen
images 24 x 29 cm. or smaller.
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Taken in the later 19th and early 20th centuries, these photographs portray the people, architecture and landscape of Sri Lanka, India and what is now the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area. The collection consists of 8 photographic prints: 1. Natives of Rajputana, signed "Shepherd & Robertson Photo 1120" in black ink in the lower left corner; 2, Native Soldiers in Armour, unsigned; 3. Kandyan Chiefs and Government Agent, signed "Scowen & Co." in white ink in the lower left corner; 4. Taj Mahal, unsigned; 5. Mausoleum of the Great Akbar at the Secundra, unsigned; 6. Ali Musjid and Surroundings from Rotass, Looking Down on Fort, Showing Ascent with River, signed "Burke 28" in white ink in the lower left corner; 7. A Khyber Village, signed " Burke 32" in black ink and in white ink in the lower left corner; 8. Rifle Practice, signed "Burke 285" in black ink in the lower left corner.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Eight large file folders arranged in one box.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
John Burke (1843-1900) was an Irishman who came to India as an apothecary with the Royal Engineers. A few years later, he became the assistant of the photographer William Baker. At the start of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, Burke tried to go as an official photographer with the British Army, but his request was refused. He decided to travel with the Army at his own expense, financing his trip by selling photographs depicting the life of British soldiers and native people of India. It was in this context that Burke took some of the earliest photographs of Afghanistan.

Administration

Custodial History
Purchased in 1992.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.
Preferred Citation
South Asia Photography Collection, FSA.A1992.07. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

More Information

Local Numbers

Local Numbers
FSA A1992.07


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Rajput (Indic people) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Akbar, -- Emperor of Hindustan, -- 1542-1605 -- Tomb. Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Soldiers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Forts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Taj Mahal (Agra, India) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kandy (Sri Lanka) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Khyber Pass (Afghanistan and Pakistan) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Khyber (Pakistan) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sikandra Rao (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Albumen prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
National Museum of Asian Art Archives
Washington, D.C. 20013
AVRreference@si.edu