National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi

National Gallery Of Modern Art, Delhi Overview

India is a country of art lovers, and National Gallery of Modern Arts (NGMA) is no less than heaven for them. Following its motto of delivering an excellent world of art to its visitors, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, preserves paintings and other artistic pieces dating back to 1850s. NGMA at Delhi is the main museum located in the Jaipur House. It was established on March 29, 1954, by the Indian Government. Covering an area of 12,000 metres square, it is the largest when compared to its subsequent branches in Mumbai and Bangalore. The gallery helps people to connect the works of modern art with their vital passions of the human spirit.

The Gallery houses a collection of more than 14,000 artworks which includes work that is as old as a hundred and fifty years. As you visit the modern art museum, you get a chance to witness the creativity of Thomas Daniell, Abanindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Verma, Gaganendranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, and many other foreign sculptors and artists. It showcases a perfect blend of modern and contemporary arts in the form of visual galleries and different exhibitions. So, head towards it and let the artist within you cherish the beautiful world of innovation.

Virtual Galleries at National Gallery Of Modern Arts

Established with the motive of popularising modern art in India, NGMA has a collection that is not only amazing but eclectic. The building is lavished with both contemporary and modern works. The Virtual Galleries here includes-

1. A.A. Almelkar's work
2. Miniature Painting- The earliest surviving miniature painting on palm leaves dates back to 10th century and that of on paper to the 14th century.
3. Tanjore (done on cloth) and Mysore (done on paper) paintings
4. Works of European Traveller Artists (John Zoffany, Tilly Kettle, William Hodges, Emily Eden and others)
5. Kalighat Painting
6. Artworks by Amrita Sher-Gil, Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, and Gaganendranath Tagore
7. Art Movements of the 1960s
8. Art Movements in the 1970s
9. Contemporaries and Modern Sculptures
10. Print Making and Photography

Collections at National Gallery Of Modern Art

The collection at NGMA is of more than 17,000 artists. It is unique, and each has its own significant meaning. These are not only a representation of glorious and rich past but also a tribute to the enlightened present.

History of National Gallery Of Modern Arts

The idea of national art gallery germinated in 1949 and was nurtured by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, bureaucrats like Humayun Kabir and an active art community. Finally, on March 29, 1954, Dr Radhakrishnan, the Vice-President, inaugurated the National Gallery of Modern Art in the presence of Pandit Nehru. Sir Arthur Bloomfield built this butterfly-shaped building in 1936 as a place of residence for the Maharaja of Jaipur, hence given the name of Jaipur House. The concept of central hexagon devoted by the maker of Delhi, Sir Edwin Lutyens was used in the styling of this building. The famous architect gave the building distinctive features of harmony.

The National Gallery Of Modern Art in Delhi started its operations with the displaying of sculptures. The prominent sculptors of that time such as Ramkinkar Baij, Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, Sarbari Roy Chowdhury, Sankho Chaudhuri, and Dhanraj Bhagat, actively took part in this exhibition. Gallery's first curator Herman Goetz later added more facilities like Art Restoration Services, and art reference Documentation Centre and Library. Since then, the gallery hasn't looked back and have presented with world's best paintworks and sculptors. Later, two branches were added to NGMA in Mumbai and Bangalore respectively.

In 2009, a new wing of the NGMA was set to operate. It added almost six times space to the existing gallery making it larger than before. At present, it includes a new auditorium, conservation laboratory, a preview theatre, cafeteria, library and academic section and museum shop.

How To Reach National Gallery Of Modern Art, Delhi

The nearest metro station to the National Gallery of Modern Art is the Central Secretariat station. It is easily accessible by local transport as well. Moreover, cabs are always available at your service.