DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0408
384
DRAVIDIAN STYLE.
Book IV.
dynasty in 1(575. The palace was probably commenced shortly after-
wards, but the greater part of its buildings belong to the 18th century,
and some extend even into the 19th.
It is not unlike the Midura palace in arrangement—is, indeed,
evidently copied from it—nor very different in style; but the orna-
mentation is coarser and in more vulgar taste, as might be expected
from our knowledge of the people who erected it (Woodcut No. 214).
In some of the apartments this is carried so far as to become almost
offensive. One of the most striking peculiarities of the palace is the
roof of the great hall externally. As you approach Tanjore, you see
F
215. Garden Pavilion at Vijayanagar. (From a Photograph.)
two great vimanas, not unlike each other in dimensions or outline,
and at a distance can hardly distinguish which belongs to the great
temple. On closer inspection, however, that of the palace turns out
to be made up of dumpy pilasters and fat balusters, and ill-designed
mouldings of Italian architecture, mixed up with a few details of
Indian art! A more curious and tasteless jumble can hardly be
found in Calcutta or Lucknow.
The palace buildings at Vijayanagar are much more detached and
scattered than those either at Tanjore or Madura, but they are older,
and probably reproduce more nearly the arrangements of a Hindu
prince's residence, before they fell completely under the sway of
DRAVIDIAN STYLE.
Book IV.
dynasty in 1(575. The palace was probably commenced shortly after-
wards, but the greater part of its buildings belong to the 18th century,
and some extend even into the 19th.
It is not unlike the Midura palace in arrangement—is, indeed,
evidently copied from it—nor very different in style; but the orna-
mentation is coarser and in more vulgar taste, as might be expected
from our knowledge of the people who erected it (Woodcut No. 214).
In some of the apartments this is carried so far as to become almost
offensive. One of the most striking peculiarities of the palace is the
roof of the great hall externally. As you approach Tanjore, you see
F
215. Garden Pavilion at Vijayanagar. (From a Photograph.)
two great vimanas, not unlike each other in dimensions or outline,
and at a distance can hardly distinguish which belongs to the great
temple. On closer inspection, however, that of the palace turns out
to be made up of dumpy pilasters and fat balusters, and ill-designed
mouldings of Italian architecture, mixed up with a few details of
Indian art! A more curious and tasteless jumble can hardly be
found in Calcutta or Lucknow.
The palace buildings at Vijayanagar are much more detached and
scattered than those either at Tanjore or Madura, but they are older,
and probably reproduce more nearly the arrangements of a Hindu
prince's residence, before they fell completely under the sway of