Neglected Elements of Sehdara, Jahangir’s Quadrangle, Lahore Fort

Neglected Elements of Sehdara, Jahangir’s Quadrangle, Lahore Fort

Mahnoor Fatima Mahnoor Fatima

Mahnoor Fatima

Designer | Founder @ Astana

发布日期: 2023年11月27日
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Grateful for the help of AKTC when doing my little research here!

Jahangir’s Quadrangle was the women’s area of the Fort. Construction started sometime during Emperor Akbar’s rule and it was completed during Jahangir’s reign in 1617 – 18 AD. The material used is locally produced, brick and red sandstone, and the architectural style follows closely the style of the imperial buildings of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. The courtyard was planned to have a pool with fountains and a seating platform.

While there are other elements in the Quadrangle, I choose to talk about the Sehdara, which has not undergone restoration and is a very interesting piece of architecture. The layers of painting on the walls and the roof seem to show some very interesting frescos carried out in a European portraiture style depicting Christian religious figures. The building is said to have been built or used a Christian chapel.

Figure 1. Plan of Jahangir’s Quadrangle
Figure 2. Frescos of Christian Religious Figures. The faces have been scraped off due to some religious beliefs, and are in need of being cleaned and repainted. It is an intriguing idea to think of Christian practices being prevalent inside the Lahore Fort!
Figure 3. Layers of Paint and Plaster.

Everything needs to be painstakingly removed to discover what lies underneath. The paint is still vibrant underneath the layers of plaster. Every time a new group took control of the Fort, they had to show control by covering the doings of the past rulers. This is why there are many layers of plasters as the Fort was in the hands of many rulers – Mughal, Sikh, British.

There is also the problem with the vandalism that is apparent on the walls.

Similar instances of damage were on the Picture Wall, where the conservators used lime mortar to first make sure the paint is still adhesive. The bacterial growth on the wall was removed with brushes and a biocide solution made on the site. There was greater attention to conserve rather than recreate, however, imitation style tiles were made to complete the wall.

Proposals such as these have been suggested.

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Figure 4. The difference between the original sandstone and the layers of plaster applied over it.
Figure 5. The Sehdara also boasts one of the oldest buildings to have a false ceiling – the original structure is brick, but the fresco painting is on top of another ceiling. The paint on the ceiling requires work.
Figure 6. Vandalism inside on muqarnas
Figure 7. A little hook in the center points to maybe a curtain that the users of the sehdara would draw on – for privacy or mosquitos!
Figure 8. The Sehdara has suffered damage due to exposure to the climate – we have very hot temperatures, days with blazing sun, and monsoon rains. Apart from the weather, one of the greatest causes of ruin is due to pigeons! These birds are one of the most harmful to our built heritage, and many restoration attempts seek solutions to their behaviors.

Some of the fresco work done right underneath the overhang is still visible due to its location.

The stone jaalis are also in need of restoration.

The red sandstone archways are designed to imitate the other buildings in the quadrangle inspired by Akbar’s sense of design.




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