Archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen (1875–1935) – Agra and the Taj Mahal, 1900-1913.

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Archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen (1875–1935). After distinguishing himself as the youngest sub-foreman ever to have served at Kew, appointed in 1896 at the tender age of 21, Albert Griessen moved two years later to take up an appointment at the Government Botanic Gardens in Calcutta. A swift transfer to Agra as Superintendent to the Taj and Government Gardens followed, where he was charged with restoring the grounds of the Taj Mahal and the surrounding area, including McDonnell Park and the Circuit House. Griessen's responsibilities would also grow to include the landscaping for the Delhi Durbars of 1903 and 1911, along with the splendid camps built for state visits in Agra, where his team could swell to 2,000 men. After 13 years of service at Agra, he moved to Delhi’s Horticultural Department, where he was responsible for projects including the afforestation of the dry and barren Delhi Southern Ridge. It would be to Albert Griessen that Sir Edwin Lutyens turned to for a planting scheme to complement his plan for New Delhi: Griessen planted the roads laid out by Lutyens as part of his newly-designed capital. At the same time, he took part in town-planning projects in Muttra and the Native States, designing the open spaces for a selection of maharajahs. In 1930 he retired after 28 years of public service.

Archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen (1875–1935) – Agra and the Taj Mahal, 1900-1913.

Price realised GBP 8,750

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Archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen (1875–1935) – Agra and the Taj Mahal, 1900-1913.

Price realised GBP 8,750

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Archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen (1875–1935) – Agra and the Taj Mahal, 1900-1913.

MacDonnel Park, the Taj and Khanialams Govt. Nursery, Agra, large pen on paper plan (130 x 124cm), 1910, mounted on linen, scale 1 inch: 200 feet, hand-coloured;

[And:] Govt. Circuit House Grounds, Agra, Perspective study showing how trees should be planted, lithographic map (114 x 88cm), mounted on linen, scale 1 inch: 100 feet, trees for planting added in black, blue and red pen;

[And:] Agra City Park Proposed Project, lithographic map (118 x 89cm), mounted on linen terminating in wooden batons, scale 1 inch: 100 feet, additions in pen (occasional instances of damage, the bottom terminal partially detached;

[With:] 18 original project photos, showing McDonnell Park, the polo ground in course of excavation, and Griessen with his construction team, with another c.57 photographs and images, chiefly of Agra and the Taj Mahal, mounted on card (11 x 50cm – 24 x29cm), (some wear to card mounts);

[And:] 5 pen plans on tracing paper, signed by Albert Griessen, four with hand-colouring, including a projection for the new appearance of the Circuit House after reducing the platform and proposed layouts for the land between the Park and the New Mall at Agra (58 x 50cm – 91 x 71cm) [And:] 7 pen and wash architectural drawings depicting various buildings within the Taj Mahal complex, including the mausoleum, the mosque, the main gateway, and the decorative pietra dura inlay (some foxing and tattering);

[And:] Agra papers of Albert Griessen, c.1900-1913, including correspondence received and copy outgoing, engineer's drawings, and printed reports and ephemera, covering projects for the Taj Mahal, the hydraulic ram scheme for Agra, and the afforestation of Government Farm ravines (one bundle).

Covering Griessen’s term as Superintendent to the Taj and Government Gardens, this material offers an insight into his work to restore the grounds of the Taj Mahal, McDonnell Park, and the Circuit House. Particularly appealing are the large, attractive plan for the layout of McDonnell Park and the original project photographs showing Griessen’s work in progress.

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Robert Tyrwhitt

rtyrwhitt@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2151

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