Patna

1888 · Painting · 14.9 × 25.2 cm

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Not on view at present

Where is “Patna” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 15 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the painting

The brothers Frederick William Alexander de Fabeck (1830-1912) and William Frederick de Fabeck (1834-1906) were both employed in the Indian Medical Service. Frederick William was born on 15 September 1830 and studied in Paris. He became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in 1858, the year in which he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Bengal Service. He died in Alassio, Italy, on 5 May 1912. William Frederick became Assistant Surgeon in the Madras Service in 1857, Surgeon in 1869, Surgeon Major in 1873, and Brigade Surgeon in 1882. His sketches, mainly of architectural details, were probably made when he was posted to Jaipur as a teacher at the School of Art (1869-7?); he later became Director. He also prepared plans for the 1883 Jaipur Exhibition. He served in the Crimea (1954-5) and was at the siege and capture of Sebastopol.

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He died in London on 18 January 1906. This painting is by the elder brother, Frederick William, and shows the gola or granary at Patna in Bengal. This storage house for grain, also known as Golghar ('round house'), was built in 1786 by John Garstin at the request of the then administrator, Warren Hastings, as a safeguard against a recurrence of the terrible famine of 1770. There are two sets of stairs on the outside that spiral up to the summit, which has a hole in it. People carrying grain could ascend one flight of steps and descend by the other.

Victoria and Albert Museum