Lucknow: As part of the ongoing five-day lecture series under the Art Appreciation Course, a session focused on the “Key Features of Ancient Indian Painting” was held today at the State Museum, Lucknow. The series is jointly organized by the Department of Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, State Museum Lucknow, Lucknow Public Schools & Colleges, and Fluorescence Art Gallery, Lucknow.
The program began with the arrival of Prof. Shailendra Nath Kapoor, former Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, University of Lucknow, who served as the chief guest and keynote speaker. The session was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Meenakshi Khemka, Assistant Director and program in-charge, who reiterated the importance of the lecture series and its connection to promoting art awareness.
Dr. Srishti Dhawan, Director of the State Museum, welcomed the chief guest and encouraged participants to actively engage with the session to deepen their understanding of Indian art.
In his lecture, Prof. Kapoor emphasized that art is a reflection of our vibrant past and an effective medium of reaching the masses. He highlighted the “Chitrasutram”, found in chapters 35 to 43 of the third part of the Vishnudharmottara Purana, written in the 7th century CE. This section covers detailed knowledge on painting, music, dance, sculpture, and architecture. He elaborated on how the sage Markandeya explains intricate aspects of art through a dialogue with King Vajra, particularly focusing on the subtle nuances of painting.
Prof. Kapoor also discussed prehistoric paintings and their emotional portrayal of folk life. Referencing ancient texts, he remarked that painting is considered supreme among the arts and is believed to support Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation). He specifically mentioned the body proportion guidelines for painting as described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana.
Prominent attendees included Dr. Meenakshi Khemka, Alshaz Fatmi, Dr. Anita Chaurasia, Pramod Kumar Singh, Preeti Sahni, Shashikala Rai, Gayatri Gupta, Rahul Saini, Anurag Dwivedi, and Poonam Singh, among others. Officials and staff from the Directorate of Museums, Uttar Pradesh, and State Museum, Lucknow, were also present at the event.
The lecture offered valuable insights into the philosophical and technical dimensions of ancient Indian painting, contributing significantly to the appreciation of India’s artistic heritage.
