The Taj Mahal
1860 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This oil painting depicts the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, rendered with the distinctive folk-art aesthetic characteristic of Erastus Salisbury Field. It features simplified architectural forms set against a clear sky, emphasizing symmetry and clean lines.
Did you know?
Erastus Salisbury Field, a prolific American folk artist, is best known for his portraits, yet he occasionally ventured into historical and biblical subjects. While he never traveled to India, he likely created this work based on lithographs or illustrations that were popular in 19th-century America to satisfy the growing public fascination with exotic architecture. His interpretation of the Taj Mahal reflects a stylized, almost dreamlike vision, characteristic of his untrained yet highly imaginative approach to composition.
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The Taj Mahal
Erastus Field, 1860
