Maps of Mughal India: Drawn by Colour Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Gentil, Agent for the Frech Government to the Court of Shuja-ud-daula at Faizabad, in 1770

Colonel Gentil was in Faizabad, the capital of Oudh, from 1765 to 1775. he became interested in Indian painting, history, geography, religions and customs, and attempted to illustrate Indian life and culture for his compatriots in Europe. He translated the geographical parts of Abu-l Fazl's A' in-I- Akbari into French, and then drew maps of the subas into which he inserted all the places named by Abu-l Fazl. He discovered other manuscripts as detailed for the southern part of the peninsula, and called his work an atlas of the Mughal Empire divided into 21 subas. Some of the names to be found in his maps are known only from this source, as the places to which they refer have long since disappeared. Scholars of historical geography owe a large debt to Gentil for recording so many names, and giving them the contemporary pronunciation that was current in Faizabad at that time. The religions, dress and royal customs of India fascinated Gentil. He employed three Indian artists to supply miniature paintings which decorate his maps. He thus left an important pictorial record of the local manufactures, customs and dress found in many parts of India. We see the bidri-maker and his products, musical instruments of the imperial court, professionals of the market-place, then as now 'the fortune-teller, doctor and medicine-seller. Different types of weapon are drawn in great detail, and the famous zodiac coins of Jahangir. Leisure-pursuits are also depicted, wrestling, gymnastics, juggling, and various forms of bird and animal fighting. This important volume of contemporary Indian life and geography was never printed in France, and lay unknown in Gentil's home till recently. It is now in the India Office Library, London, and is the first of Gentil's miniature albums to be published.