STUDIO

Interior of Sikandra Bagh, Albumen silver print, 24×28.7 cm

- BY ADITYA MANI JHA

In March 1858, Felice (aka 'Felix') Beato arrived in Lucknow with his camera and assorted photographic equipment. The British-Italian photographer, was regarded as a bit of a technical wizard, having pioneered the hand-colouring of photographs. He was also credited with perfecting the then-prevalent 'wet-plate' process of developing photographs in the field—the process had to be finished in no more than 15 minutes from the moment of capture, necessitating the setting up of portable darkrooms. Be