Lot 118: CAPT. HENRY DIXON (1824-83)

The Palace of Rajah Lalat Indra Kesari, or Ranee Goompah, Rock-cut Caves, Oodyaghirri, Orissa, - (Left view) no. 13; The Great Temple. Bobeneswar in Orissa no. 1; Group of Temples to the West of the Great Temple. Bobeneswar in Orissa no. 4 3 albumen prints. Circa 1858. Arched tops, one signed HD in the negative, each mounted on card, titled, numbered and with photographer's credit Photographed by Capt. Henry Dixon, 22nd M.N.I. on printed paper series labels and with photographer's monogram blindstamp on mount. Each approximately 91/4 x 111/2 in. (23.5 x 29.2 cm.) Exhibited: New York, The Morgan Library and Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, From Merchants to Emperors, British Artists and India 1757-1930, 1986-87 (the first two photographs only) (3) PROVENANCE The Paul F. Walter Collection; Christie's London, Visions of India, 5 June 1996, lot 225 (the first two photographs only) LITERATURE Pal and Dehejia, From Merchants to Emperors, pl. 205 EXHIBITION Exhibited: New York, The Morgan Library and Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, From Merchants to Emperors, British Artists and India 1757-1930, 1986-87 (the first two photographs only) NOTES Henry Dixon, of the 22nd. Madras Infantry is perhaps best known for his series of photographs comprising architectural studies and views of Mysore, for which he received government funding. The government had recently given responsibility for the documentation of such sites directly to the individual Presidencies in order to continue the comprehensive recording of India's antiquities which had begun when Capt. Thomas Biggs was appointed as Government Photographer to the Bombay Presidency.