'Miniature Worlds: Art from India'
A glimpse of seldom-seen watercolors, drawings, and sculpture spanning 500 years of Indian history will be available at the de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University from April 10 through May 25 in “Miniature Worlds: Art from India.” The artwork comes from the Leland C. and Paula Wyman Collection purchased for the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Mass., in the late 1960s. The exhibition is organized by Exhibits USA. A companion exhibition—“Small Wonders, Tiny Works”—will showcase an eclectic array of small pieces of various origins from the de Saisset’s extensive permanent collection.
India has a long tradition of miniature painting, amazing jewel-like creations with incredible details created by artists with painstaking patience using very fine brushes, says Karen Kienzle, curator of exhibits and collections at the de Saisset.
The detailed pictures typically measure around 18 inches by 14 inches. The religious themes of the Rajput watercolors display a native style with bold, flat colors. They illustrate sacred Hindu and Jain texts. The paintings of the Mughal dynasty depict more historical themes and portraiture.
“To really see them, it’s best to use a magnifying glass,” she says. “Because the exhibition provides a historical overview from the 15th to 19th centuries, it will provide a very good introduction to Indian art for those who might not be familiar with it. For people who are familiar with Indian art, it provides a great opportunity to see it first hand. Indian miniatures are not exhibited very often, so this exhibition provides a unique opportunity for the entire community.”
“Miniature Worlds” includes 65 works: 45 opaque watercolors and preliminary sketches on paper, and 20 sculptures of bronze, wood, brass, copper, and jade. One of the small three-dimensional works—the 20th-century bronze creation “Dancing Ganesha” (pictured above)—measures just 8 inches by 5 inches by 2 inches. The art will be organized around several central themes: the Hindu and Jain deities; love; history; heroes/battles/hunt; and portraiture.
Several special events are planned at the de Saisset Museum in conjunction with “Miniature Worlds,” including a lecture by an Indian art specialist and a Community Day. The latter will offer free food, dance performances, hands-on activities for kids, and docent-led tours.
For more information on the special events and the exhibit, visit the museum’s Web site. The museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and is closed Mondays. Admission is free.
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