The simple grave of Asaf al-Daula under a canopy inside the Imambara

Watercolour of Asaf ud-Daula's grave inside the Great Imambara in Lucknow from 'Views by Seeta Ram from Cawnpore to Mohumdy Vol. IV' produced for Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram between 1814-15. Marquess of Hastings, the Governor-General of Bengal and the Commander-in-Chief (r.1813-23), was accompanied by artist Sita Ram (flourished c.1810-22) to illustrate his journey from Calcutta to Delhi between 1814-15.

Nawab Asaf ud-Daula of Awadh (r.1775-1797), requested architect Kifayat-ullah in 1784 to construct the Great Imambara, for the purpose of celebrating the Muslim festival of Muharram in commemoration of the imams Ali, Hasan, and Hussein. Subsequently, the imambara was used as a mausoleum for Asaf ud-Daula upon his death in 1797. Illustrated is the simple grave of Asaf ud-Daula under a canopy inside the Imambara, with parties of imams reading the Koran, another in a wooden and gilt 'minbar', and a 'Ta'zia' beyond. The hall is brilliantly lit with coloured girandoles attached to the parapet beneath the ceiling, and by three rows of chandeliers suspended from the latter. Inscribed below: 'Enterior of the Hall in the Imaumbarah Decorated as during the Moharrum.'