Divine and Princely Realms: Indian Art from the Permanent Collection
December 18, 2012 – April 28, 2013
Indian, Orissa, Krishna and Brahma, Late 19th/early 20th century, Folio from the tenth book of a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana, tempera and ink on wove paper. Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, Purchase, Gift of Mr. Harris J. Fishman through the Alumni Fund, 1974.62.
Traditional art from the Indian sub-continent reveals the region’s layers of history and unique racial, linguistic, and cultural diversity.
This exhibition presents a small yet incredibly diverse selection of Indian art from the Smart’s collection. Spanning the ages—from the third to the twentieth centuries—the nine works bring to light classic historic styles, regional variations, and the importance of secular and sacred literature.
Divine and Princely Realms also explores how India’s distinct art was molded over time by the region’s major religions—Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, and Jain faiths among others—and influenced by the patronage of its Mughal kings and Hindu princes.
RELATED EXHIBITION
The related exhibition The Sahmat Collective explores contemporary art and activism in India. On view February 14—June 9, 2013.