Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace

Ian · 13th March 2005, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LabanTayo

could it be that theyre resting the blades on their shoulders with the edge facing either in or out. if the edge is resting on the shoulder, then their hands would be in the correct position, whether the edge is in or out. kinda like holding a baseball bat on your shoulder. your knuckles would face upwards. just a thought.

Shelley:

I think you are probably correct. As a practicing swordsman, do you think would this be a common way to carry a sword, to have it resting on the shoulder?

Ian.

LabanTayo · 13th March 2005, 07:01 AM

look at the picture in Cato's book, Moro Swords, there are some guys resting a Kampilan and a Kris on their shoulder. i've seen other pics of this happening in other cultures. i cant recall where, but i have seen it.

Jens Nordlunde · 13th March 2005, 09:30 AM

Having had another look at the cavalry it seems as if they rest the flat side of the swords on the shoulder, with either the edge towards their neck or away from it.

Another artistic detail is, that the horses seem to be galloping- they are usually shown like that, but what about the poor chap in the left side of the first picture, holding the parasol – he is on foot – he must be quite a sportsman

.

Ian · 13th March 2005, 12:47 PM

Jens:

The more you look at the detail in these pictures, the more you see.

The foot soldiers are all marching in step. All the horses are galloping. Despite the rather stylized presentation, there is a surprising amount of detail. In each of the main pictures there is at least one guy looking back over his shoulder. There is a little more detail in the picture of the foot men: the faces are not in full profile (which they appear to be in the cavalry) and each man has a completely different face, almost as if the artist was drawing real people.

I am sure these murals have been restored retouched over the last 200+ years, especially since they were directly exposed to the weather on the outside surface of the building. But they still retain the flavor of Moghul art. Probably the work of several different artists orginally, they are some of the best examples of large Moghul art work I have seen.

Ian.

Jens Nordlunde · 13th March 2005, 01:51 PM

Ian, these pictures are really very interesting, and as you say every man in the pictures is an individual. Do you have any more pictures you can show?
I have an old very big painting, showing a procession with a Raja/Maharaja on an elephant escorted by men armed with mazes where the heads are lion heads, and by women armed with mazes where the heads are lilies or lotus buds, in the right corner two children, dressed in richer dresses than the others, the Raja/Maharaja’s children(?), are like floating in the air. Unfortunately I don’t know from where in India it is, but one day I will pull myself together and try to find out. I am sorry that I can’t show any pictures as the mirror effect in the glass spoils it.

Jens

Ian · 13th March 2005, 08:36 PM

Jens:

Unfortunately these are the only two I managed to take before one of the Palace museum staff came running up and admonished me for trying to take pictures. "Very sorry, Sir, it is forbidden -- but if you pay me 100 rupees I will tell you the life history of Tipu Sultan." So I paid him 100 rupees for telling me what I could read in the guide brochure, and we agreed that I would not take any pictures of the forbidden type.

Such is the informal way of getting things done in India (and many parts of Asia). All proprieties were satisfied, no angry words were said, we were both happy with the deal, and I walked away with the two pictures I had already taken (total cost about 2 dollars).

Ian

anish25 · 2nd January 2012, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Jens:

Unfortunately these are the only two I managed to take before one of the Palace museum staff came running up and admonished me for trying to take pictures. "Very sorry, Sir, it is forbidden -- but if you pay me 100 rupees I will tell you the life history of Tipu Sultan." So I paid him 100 rupees for telling me what I could read in the guide brochure, and we agreed that I would not take any pictures of the forbidden type.

Such is the informal way of getting things done in India (and many parts of Asia). All proprieties were satisfied, no angry words were said, we were both happy with the deal, and I walked away with the two pictures I had already taken (total cost about 2 dollars).

Ian

Hello Ian, Jens and others following this thread !

I am an armchair historian from bangalore. I am a Tipu enthusiast. Me being in the middle of his erstwhile kingdom has made it relatively easy to visit his places and do research...

I'l post some of the pictures i took.. and share it with you all

anish25 · 2nd January 2012, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Jens:

Unfortunately these are the only two I managed to take before one of the Palace museum staff came running up and admonished me for trying to take pictures. "Very sorry, Sir, it is forbidden -- but if you pay me 100 rupees I will tell you the life history of Tipu Sultan." So I paid him 100 rupees for telling me what I could read in the guide brochure, and we agreed that I would not take any pictures of the forbidden type.

Such is the informal way of getting things done in India (and many parts of Asia). All proprieties were satisfied, no angry words were said, we were both happy with the deal, and I walked away with the two pictures I had already taken (total cost about 2 dollars).

Ian

Hi,
I had many more photos to upload but the uploader wouldnt allow me to upload pics greater than teh size of 1280x1280 px : /
many of my pics r in this format.. so i'll paste my album link here..

I request the moderater to allow this in the greater interest of the thread users.

http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Album?ui...aid=1231356096

13th March 2005, 09:30 AM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Having had another look at the cavalry it seems as if they rest the flat side of the swords on the shoulder, with either the edge towards their neck or away from it. Another artistic detail is, that the horses seem to be galloping- they are usually shown like that, but what about the poor chap in the left side of the first picture, holding the parasol – he is on foot – he must be quite a sportsman . Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 13th March 2005 at 10:25 AM.

13th March 2005, 07:01 AM	#2
LabanTayo Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kansas City Posts: 177	look at the picture in Cato's book, Moro Swords, there are some guys resting a Kampilan and a Kris on their shoulder. i've seen other pics of this happening in other cultures. i cant recall where, but i have seen it.

13th March 2005, 12:47 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Jens: The more you look at the detail in these pictures, the more you see. The foot soldiers are all marching in step. All the horses are galloping. Despite the rather stylized presentation, there is a surprising amount of detail. In each of the main pictures there is at least one guy looking back over his shoulder. There is a little more detail in the picture of the foot men: the faces are not in full profile (which they appear to be in the cavalry) and each man has a completely different face, almost as if the artist was drawing real people. I am sure these murals have been restored retouched over the last 200+ years, especially since they were directly exposed to the weather on the outside surface of the building. But they still retain the flavor of Moghul art. Probably the work of several different artists orginally, they are some of the best examples of large Moghul art work I have seen. Ian.

13th March 2005, 01:51 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Ian, these pictures are really very interesting, and as you say every man in the pictures is an individual. Do you have any more pictures you can show? I have an old very big painting, showing a procession with a Raja/Maharaja on an elephant escorted by men armed with mazes where the heads are lion heads, and by women armed with mazes where the heads are lilies or lotus buds, in the right corner two children, dressed in richer dresses than the others, the Raja/Maharaja’s children(?), are like floating in the air. Unfortunately I don’t know from where in India it is, but one day I will pull myself together and try to find out. I am sorry that I can’t show any pictures as the mirror effect in the glass spoils it. Jens

13th March 2005, 08:36 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Jens: Unfortunately these are the only two I managed to take before one of the Palace museum staff came running up and admonished me for trying to take pictures. "Very sorry, Sir, it is forbidden -- but if you pay me 100 rupees I will tell you the life history of Tipu Sultan." So I paid him 100 rupees for telling me what I could read in the guide brochure, and we agreed that I would not take any pictures of the forbidden type. Such is the informal way of getting things done in India (and many parts of Asia). All proprieties were satisfied, no angry words were said, we were both happy with the deal, and I walked away with the two pictures I had already taken (total cost about 2 dollars). Ian