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Marks she made: The art and Aarchitecture of Begum Samru is a biography of an Indian woman patron of art and architecture. Begum Samru (b. circa 1750–d. 1836) rose from the ranks of courtesans in Mughal Delhi to become the commander of her own mercenary army and ruler of the independent territory of Sardhana, 60 km northwest of Delhi. The begum (Urdu/ Hindustani title for noblewoman) was a trusted ally to the Mughal emperor and the English East India Company, two of the dominant political powers in north India at the time. As a sovereign ruler and devout Catholic, she corresponded with two popes and King Louis Philippe of France, exchanging portraits, architectural drawings, and letters with these and other powerful men. Art and architecture played a key role in establishing Begum Samru as a powerful but non-threatening ruler; as an upholder and patron of the Catholic faith in India; and as a political ally to the European and Indian factions vying for power in the Indo-Gangetic belt. Begum Samru’s art and architecture reflected the cosmopolitanism of her household, court, and army, which included those who identified as Italian, English, Armenian, Portuguese, Irish, or mixed race.
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Keywords
- Architectural camouflage
- Burial
- Catholicism
- Courtesans
- Delhi
- diplomacy
- Gift-giving
- History of empire
- History of patronage
- Hospitality
- Palanquins
- Patronage and power
- portrait
- procession
- Purdah
- The Sardhana Mansion
- thema EDItEUR::1 Place qualifiers::1F Asia::1FK South Asia (Indian sub-continent)::1FKA India
- thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day::3MN 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899::3MNB Early 19th century c 1800 to c 1850
- thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AB The arts: general topics::ABQ Art: financial aspects
- thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AG The Arts: treatments and subjects::AGA History of art
- thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBS Social groups, communities and identities::JBSF Gender studies, gender groups::JBSF1 Gender studies: women and girls
- Tombs
- Urban spectacle
- Women and money
- Women and power
- Women city planners
- Women patrons
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DOI: 10.7765/9781526187130Editions