Lahore Fort’s “picture wall” is one of “our” planet’s man-made wonders.
It may or may not be “the world’s biggest mural” – as is sometimes claimed – but it is certainly the largest Persian-style picture wall.
The artistic quality, variety and intricacy are breathtaking…most especially when one remembers that the picture wall comprises more than 6,600 square metres!
The not-quite-concluded 21st century “restoration” of this 17th century masterpiece has been hugely ambitious, but very well-considered…and not “overdone”.
This happened just in time; early this century the much-degraded picture wall came alarmingly close to its irreversible, nigh-total disintegration.
Quotation from Wikipedia:
Emperor Jahangir ordered the construction of the massive “Picture Wall”, which is considered to be the greatest artistic triumph of the Lahore Fort.[36] Unlike the Red Fortand Agra Fort, Lahore Fort’s ramparts were made of brick rather than red stone. The monumental Picture Wall is a large section of the outer wall which is exquisitely decorated with a vibrant array of glazed tile, faience mosaics, and frescoes.[17]
The embellished wall stretches over much of the fort’s northern and western walls and measures approximately 1,450 feet (440 m) by 50 feet (15 m).[17] The wall contains 116 panels,[37] which depict a myriad of subjects, including elephant fights, angels, and polo games that do not form a cohesive narrative; each can be viewed in isolation. Though begun under Jahangir, the Picture Wall was decorated throughout the 1620s, and may have been completed under the reign of his son, Shah Jahan.[38]
This post’s photos show just a little of the picture wall’s best-preserved section.
The next chapter’s photos zoom in, closer.