A fine tinted engraving of Burtpore (Bharatpur) Palace from a private publication “Zur Erinnerung an die Reise des Prinzen Waldemar von Preussen nach Indien 1844-1846”, (In Memory of the Journey of Prince Waldemar of Prussia to India in the Years 1844-1846) which was printed posthumously in two volumes in 1853. It was based on the diary, essays notes and letters left by the Prince. The engraving is by A. Haun, after Ferdinand Bellerman from the original work by Prince Wilhelm Waldermar, printed by the Konigl Lith Institute in Berlin 1854.
The engraving is titled ‘Bhurtpore Altes Schlofs” (Bharatpur Old Palace) and depicts Lohagarh Fort of Bharatpur with the elephant stables below. Lohagarh Fort (or Iron Fort) at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, was constructed by the Bharatpur Jat ruler, Maharaja Suraj Mal, who built numerous forts and palaces across his kingdom. Lohagarh Fort is considered to be one of the strongest built in Indian history, as Jat rulers had added to it over the years so that it was 13km in circumference and surrounded by semi-circular bastions. It also had a 150ft wide and 59ft deep dry moat, which could be filled by diverting water from a nearby lake for further defence. The fort, which had three palaces within its walls, withstood repeated attacks of British forces in 1805 when they laid siege for over six weeks but was finally captured by the British in January 1826. The British first captured the lake to prevent the moat being filled, and then daily attacks and the use of mines meant they finally breached the fort.
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Waldemar, son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Karl of Prussia, visited Sri Lanka, India and Nepal in 1844-1846. As was the Prussian aristocratic custom, he joined the military and by 1838, he had risen in ranks to simultaneously become a Major in the Guard-Dragoons and Commander of the 3rd Guard Militia. In 1844, he was promoted to Colonel of the Guard Artillery Brigade. That same year, he joined Eduard Graf von Oriola, a former captain on the General-staff, and Lieutenant Albrecht Wilhelm von der Groeben on a tour of India. Prince Waldemar maintained a travelogue during his journeys composed of his diaries, and sketches of Egypt, Iraq, India, Calcutta, Delhi, Lahore, Bombay, Nepal, and other locations.
Ferdinand Konrad Bellermann (1814 - 1889) was a German painter and naturalist, who is most famous for his scenes of Venezuela, which have been sold at Sotheby's.
The German (Austrian) painter, lithographer and etcher, August Haun (1815–1894), studied under Karl Blechen and August Wilhelm Schirmer. He first displayed his works at the annual Berlin Academy exhibitions from 1836, starting with landscape drawings and then proceeding to genre scenes, architectural pieces and romantic landscapes.