Robert Smith’s “The Kila Kona Masjid, Purana Qila, Delhi” was created in 1823. It beautifully captures the grandeur and architectural elegance of the Kila Kona Masjid, located within the historic Purana Qila (Old Fort) in Delhi, India. After Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun, he took over Purana Qila and built the mosque for his private use.
Smith highlights details of the mosque’s domes, arched entrances, and the surrounding landscape. His painting is an example of early 19th-century British art documenting India’s monuments and architecture. Today, this painting celebrates the rich heritage and grandeur of 15th-century architecture in a time when the Mughals tried to consolidate their presence in India but were often in a tussle with other Indian and Islamic rulers. The painting is a valuable historical and artistic record of Delhi’s layered history.
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