| The
Thanjavur Art Gallery
A remarkable collection of
south Indian sculptures and paintings is housed
in the old palace buildings at Thanjavur. Inside
the museum there is a gallery with a representative
collection of stone sculpture from the Pallava,
Chola, Pandya and Nayaka periods. Another gallery
contains sample characteristic glass paintings of
Tanjore. There are two major traditions in this
style of painting of south India, especially Thanjavur.
This museum is conversely best known for its bronze
sculpture collection, of rare artistic quality.
Location
: 58 kms from Tiruchirapalli |
Government
State Museum
The Government State museum
in Chennai has a good collection of paintings
and sculptures, both traditional and modern. The
modern paintings of Tanjore, Rajput, Moghul, Kangra,
Deccani schools and modern paintings in Oil, Tempera,
Water Colour, Graphics and Acrylic mediums. Graphics
and modern style metal sculptures are also exhibits
in the collections. Tanjore paintings and Rajput
paintings belong to 16th and 17th centuries AD.
The Kangra paintings represent Krishna tradition
as the main subject. Another important one is
the museum contains twelve Portraits of British
Governors and Governors-General in the collections.
The Raja Ravi Varma paintings, which are considered
as National Treasures, have been located in a
gallery with Fibre Optic lighting. The Contemporary
Art Gallery has been lit using Dichroic Halogen
lamps; these lamps reflect back the heat. Therefore,
the paintings are prone to the least possible
damages. They also were having a pleasing visual
effect. These lighting methods are technology
demonstrator and a first for museums in India
at the time of their installation in 2001 AD.
Location
: Panthean Road, Egmore, Madras |
Art
Museum - Madurai
The museum at the Sri Meenakshi
Temple complex has on display of bronze images
and icons, musical instruments, lamps, jewellery
and other art objects. Also on sight are paintings
and wood carvings.
Location
: On Vaigai River |
|