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Picture Wall Conservation - <p>One of the most neglected areas of the Lahore Fort, the most important landmark in the Walled City, was the Picture Wall. The Picture Wall is a 1560 meters long mural composed of decorative tile, that spans the Northern and Western façades of the Fort and is the principal reason for the site’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981. Together with the Shah Burj Gate (Hathi Pol), the Picture Wall forms the original entrance to the Fort. Built approximately 400 years ago; it is among some of the most exquisite features of the Lahore Fort and is one of the largest murals in the world. Parts of the Wall are extensively embellished in cut brickwork, cut glazed tile mosaic work, filigree work and painted lime plaster. The Wall consists of an array of exquisitely decorated recessed panels, and the eaves and brackets of pavilions and other roof top structures are carved in sandstone and marblework inlaid with semi-precious stones.</p><p><br></p><p>Prior to restoration, the Picture Wall had become a site for storage of surplus materials and disposal of refuse. A major road (removed in 2016), just outside the Fort and running parallel to the Picture Wall, carried heavy traffic and further contributed to the Wall’s degradation. As a result, the Wall’s surface decoration was deteriorating at an alarming pace, exposing it to the risk of complete destruction.</p><p><br></p><p>Continuing an already strong collaboration between the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), and its country affiliate, the Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan (AKCS-P), and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), established during the restoration of the Wazir Khan Hammam and the Wazir Khan Mosque in the Walled City of Lahore, and the Imperial Kitchen in Lahore Fort; in September 2015, under a partnership agreement, AKSC-P and WCLA engaged in the Conservation of the Lahore Fort project, which included as a key component, the restoration of the Picture Wall. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Source</strong>: From the Foreword by Luis Monreal</p>

Type

book

Year

2024

One of the most neglected areas of the Lahore Fort, the most important landmark in the Walled City, was the Picture Wall. The Picture Wall is a 1560 meters long mural composed of decorative tile, that spans the Northern and Western façades of the Fort and is the principal reason for the site’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981. Together with the Shah Burj Gate (Hathi Pol), the Picture Wall forms the original entrance to the Fort. Built approximately 400 years ago; it is among some of the most exquisite features of the Lahore Fort and is one of the largest murals in the world. Parts of the Wall are extensively embellished in cut brickwork, cut glazed tile mosaic work, filigree work and painted lime plaster. The Wall consists of an array of exquisitely decorated recessed panels, and the eaves and brackets of pavilions and other roof top structures are carved in sandstone and marblework inlaid with semi-precious stones.

Prior to restoration, the Picture Wall had become a site for storage of surplus materials and disposal of refuse. A major road (removed in 2016), just outside the Fort and running parallel to the Picture Wall, carried heavy traffic and further contributed to the Wall’s degradation. As a result, the Wall’s surface decoration was deteriorating at an alarming pace, exposing it to the risk of complete destruction.

Continuing an already strong collaboration between the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), and its country affiliate, the Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan (AKCS-P), and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), established during the restoration of the Wazir Khan Hammam and the Wazir Khan Mosque in the Walled City of Lahore, and the Imperial Kitchen in Lahore Fort; in September 2015, under a partnership agreement, AKSC-P and WCLA engaged in the Conservation of the Lahore Fort project, which included as a key component, the restoration of the Picture Wall.

Source: From the Foreword by Luis Monreal

Khalid Kanwal. Picture Wall of Lahore Fort. Lahore: Walled City of Lahore Authority, 2024.