Jantar Mantar through the eyes of a brit, 200 years back

And other rare works wait to be viewed at an exhibition that opens a western window into Indian life

And other rare works wait to be viewed at an exhibition that opens a western window into Indian life

We've been there, done that.u00a0Chronicled ancient India in pictures, that is. But while we were at it, keen viewers from the West, too, were painting their own picture of our world. More than two hundred years later, it has come alive in the capital, thanks to the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). Here's unveiling a rare collection of art from Victoria And Albert Museum, London, titled Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists.

Observatory, indeed: An Eighteenth century painting by William Simpson of Britain

Holding the four
The exhibition is about interesting watercolours, sketches, aqua tints, lithographs and engravings by European artists who visited India between the Eighteenth and Twentieth centuries. It is divided into four sections that depict the various schools of art prevalent in those times. The exhibit begins with a tour of India through dramatic pictures of splendid forts, temples and palaces. The second section showcases works by amateur artists who were captivated by the landscape and architecture of the then land of snake-charmers. The third section is dedicated to Romanticism, and characterised by decorative paintings that stemu00a0 entirely from the imagination.
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Finally, the fourth section includes realism as indulged in, through figure drawing.

Timeless: The Taj Mahal by William Simpson

As they saw it
Imagination is the mother of all art, and ancient artists seemed to believe in the principle quite strongly. "It is interesting to know that earlier, only imagination led to paintings and drawings, even those of an unseen land.

It was only after professional European artists began to travel to India that they painted, for the first time, scenes based on direct observation. Their passionate interest led to the creation of a comprehensive pictorial record of India in that era,"u00a0 stresses Prof Rajeev Lochan, director, NGMA. Reason enough for a see?

Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists
When: Tomorrow to December 6
Where: National Gallery of Modernu00a0 Art, Jaipur House
Timings: 10 amu00a0to 5 pm
Ring: 23386111