Chandigarh, July 21, 2020: The Government Museum and Art Gallery has brought out a publication “Masterpieces” which features 60 iconic artworks of the museum from its rich collection. The book was released by Sh.Manoj Parida, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator in the presence of Harish Nayar, IAS, Special Secretary, Finance and Radhika Singh, HCS, Director Museum,today. The Adviser commended the efforts of the museum and suggested that the book should be made available at multiple tourist spots of the city to increase awareness about museum's rich collection.
The publication has coloured illustrations and each artwork is accompanied by a textual description highlighting the aesthetic and historical significance of the masterpiece. Among those featured are Gandhara sculptures; miniature paintings from the courts of erstwhile Pahari and Rajasthani kingdoms; modern and contemporary Indian works by artists like MF Husain, FN Souza, Satish Gujral; decorative art; rare manuscripts; coins dating back to Kushan and Gupta dynasties and some textiles. The text has been contributed by Vrinda Agrawal, Tagore National Research Scholar for Cultural Research at the museum and photography of the artworks has been done by Girish Nephade.
According to Director Museum, the selection was not an easy process as the museum has innumerable outstanding works. The selection was made on the basis of the significance of the object in the art historical context and also it being representative of the diversity of the collection of the museum.
The book will be available for sale at the museum souvenir shop once it reopens for the visitors