Two exhibitions and a new book have launched the Fitzwilliam Museum's celebration of the听70th anniversary of Indian Independence. 探花直播displays celebrate Cambridge鈥檚 past and present links with Indian culture with examples from the Museum鈥檚 world-class holdings of coins and its rarely-seen collection of Indian miniature painting.
Two exhibitions and a new book have launched the Fitzwilliam Museum's celebration of the听70th anniversary of Indian Independence. 探花直播displays celebrate Cambridge鈥檚 past and present links with Indian culture with examples from the Museum鈥檚 world-class holdings of coins and its rarely-seen collection of Indian miniature painting.
Many of these exquisite, finely detailed works are going on display for the first time.
Tim Knox
2017 is the UK-India Year of Culture, a year of events to celebrate UK鈥檚 cultural ties with India. 探花直播two exhibitions are part of the 探花直播 of Cambridge Museums鈥 India Unboxed series, affiliated to the UK/India 2017 programme run by the British Council.
From Kabul to Kolkata: Highlights of Indian painting in the Fitzwilliam Museum, showcases a selection of Indian miniature paintings and drawings from the 16th to 19th centuries. Works produced under the patronage of the Mughal dynasty and other princely rulers are included, as well as several acquired by early British patrons and collectors in India.
Religious epic and myth, history, royal portraiture, natural history, music and architecture听are all included in the themes of the paintings and drawings on show. A new catalogue exploring the themes of the exhibition has been written by Marcus Fraser, Honorary Keeper of Islamic and Indian Manuscripts and Miniatures at the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Elephants, Deities and Ashoka鈥檚 Pillar: Coins of India from antiquity to the present explores the history of India through coins produced from the 4th century BC until recent times. Cultural, religious, economic and political developments are richly illustrated by the coins on show. They focus on representative periods of India鈥檚 history, ending with a display of banknotes and coins produced since India became independent in 1947.
探花直播exhibitions are accompanied by a full programme of public events, including handling sessions of historic coins, lunchtime talks, art workshops and family events.
探花直播Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Tim Knox, said: 鈥 探花直播Fitzwilliam Museum has a significant collection of Indian miniature paintings and drawings, the majority unpublished and little known. Many of these exquisite, finely detailed works are going on display for the first time. Our coin and medal听collections are internationally celebrated and听we are delighted to join this important year of Indian culture with some of our finest Indian treasures.鈥
From Kabul to Kolkata: Highlights of Indian painting in the Fitzwilliam Museum听is on听show until September 3, 2017 in the听Shiba Gallery.听Elephants, Deities and Ashoka鈥檚 Pillar: Coins of India from antiquity to the present听is on show until October 1, 2017 in the Octagon Gallery. Entry to the Fitzwilliam Museum is free.
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