One of the most famous of the early European
commercial photographers, and the most prolific photographer of the
“picturesque” tradition, Samuel Bourne, a former bank clerk, arrived in India
in 1836. Bringing with him a large amount of photographic equipment, developing
local contacts, and having access to Indian bearers, Bourne travelled the
subcontinent—producing over 2,000 negatives including some of the finest 19th
century travel photography.
Initially partnering with William Howard, Bourne set up the Howard
& Bourne studio in Shimla. They were joined by Charles Shepherd, and with
the leaving of William Howard, the studio dropped his name to become Bourne
& Shepherd. In 1866, in alignment with a growing culture of
studio-photography, the Bourne & Shepherd establishment set up a branch in
Calcutta, where it still trades as one of the oldest studios in the world, to
this day.
One of the most prestigious studios of its time, it was patronised
heavily by royalty, nobility, Europeans, Indians and a mushrooming upper middle
class; and certain to be commissioned for special events such as the Delhi
Durbar. Shepherd was a photographer of some standing but became more known as a
master printer, staying back to head the business side of operations; and was
somewhat overshadowed by Bourne, who became the primary photographic expert on
India. Bourne’s work immortalised the Indian landscape and was fervently
consumed by the British public in the form of postcards, book illustrations and
views for albums.
“Bourne & Shepherd: Figures in Time” is
presented by Tasveer in Mumbai, in partnership with the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai
City Museum and organised in collaboration with MAP.

Kolkata (formerly
Calcutta), Old Court House Street, 1867
Samuel Bourne

Afghanistan, group of
Affreedies from the Khyber Pass, c. 1860
Charles Shepherd

Darjeeling, the loop
on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, c. 1880
Bourne & Shepherd

Delhi, His Eminence,
The Viceroy’s Elephant, Delhi Durbar, 1877
Bourne & Shepherd

Delhi, The Great Arch
and the IronPillar at the Qutub Minar, 1905
Samuel Bourne

Jaipur, His Highness, Maharaja Ram Singh, G.C.S.I., 1877
Bourne & Shepherd

Jodhpur, His Highness, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, G.C.S.I., 1877
Bourne & Shepherd

Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Bathing in the Hooghly, (#2499), c. 1890
Bourne & Shepherd

Kolkata (formerly
Calcutta), Government House, showing the South-Eastern arch (#1707), 1867
Samuel Bourne

Kolkata (formerly
Calcutta), The Cathedral, from the West, (#1712), 1867
Samuel Bourne

Ooty (formerly
Ootacamund), The lake and the new Church from near Audrey House, (#1351), 1869
Samuel Bourne

Varanasi (formerly
Benares), Vishnu temples on the Ganges, 1866
Samuel Bourne