The Indian Museum, the oldest museum in India (est. 1814), houses a variety of treasures ranging from sculptures to mummies. It also boasts a collection of paintings from across the country. Aside from illustrated Jain manuscripts (from the 12th century CE) and Indian miniatures, the museum houses paintings that trace the trajectory of modern Indian art. From the Company School of Painting to Rabindranath Tagore’s expressionist artworks, these works greatly shaped the history of Indian art. The museum is beside the Government College of Art and Craft, one of the oldest art colleges in the subcontinent. This walk will explore the history of Indian art, tracing its roots from the Barendrabhumi miniatures to the development of the Bengal School of Painting and the respective artistic traditions that facilitated it. The history of the Government College of Art and Craft and the Indian Museum will also be discussed.
This guided tour is free.