Gateway of the Taj, Agra

A carefully lettered title on the reverse of this photograph identifies the building seen here as the "gateway of the Taj Mahal," although it is actually the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), which is situated in the nearby Agra Fort. The construction of Agra Fort was started by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565. In contrast to the red sandstone that characterizes Akbar's architectural patronage including Agra Fort, the Pearl Mosque was constructed of white marble by order of Akbar's grandson Shah Jahan after he became emperor in the mid-1600s. Dwarfed by the lofty interiors of the Pearl Mosque, the two figures in this image carry on a conversation, seemingly unaware of being photographed. These two men play a central role, however, in Samuel Bourne's strategy to capture the immensity of the cusped arches and broad pillars of this room. Their presence testifies to the scale of the mosque and provides a sense of life to the photograph.