3-028-444 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Indian Architecture: Temple of Marttand, or the Sun, Kashmir, (Hindu, A.D. 490-555), 1870. Engraving of a photograph taken for the archaeological survey of the North-West Provinces, by Mr. Burke, of Peshawur...of the Temple of the Marttand, or the Sun, (view looking east, a.d. 490-555)... As may be observed, this building has suffered much degradation, and but few indications are left of the original ornamentation on the exterior...Until within the last three years, the fine monumental architecture to be found throughout India appears to have been wholly neglected by the [British] Government authorities; but, thanks to Sir Stafford Northcote and Sir John Lawrence, to the Duke of Argyll, and especially to the present Viceroy, the Earl of Mayo, a public interest in the subject is awakening which, it is hoped, will rescue these historical monuments from oblivion and the spoliation of war, railways, roadmaking, and ignorant apathy, and spare this country the disgrace of neglecting the arts of a country which it rules...From time to time travellers have made rough sketches and hasty excavations of these ruins, but no precise survey of them has been made hitherto'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.