A step to interpret history through art and imagination
Kolkata: Authorities of Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) have decided to rearrange the exhibits in its galleries in a sequence to enhance the visual appeal of the artworks. The existing display pattern of the artworks is random and authorities have started the task of arranging them properly in sequence. "Artworks on the major turning points of history will be put on display one after the other so that the visitors can easily understand them. The present display pattern focuses on British royal personalities, which will now see a thematic change in the new display pattern," said Jayanta Sengupta, secretary and curator of Victoria Memorial Hall.
The Calcutta Gallery that displays the history and development of the city from the beginning till 1911 when the imperial capital was shifted to Delhi will also see a facelift later this year, with more emphasis on visual element and
short and catchy descriptive text. More details about the exhibits will be available on the website. The Calcutta Gallery is known for its life-size diorama of a zamindari house in north Calcutta, around Chitpur Road, which was the epicentre of business in the 19th century. The Royal Gallery and the Portrait Gallery are located on the ground floor, which is currently closed due to renovation, will also be reopened this year.
The Royal Gallery that was closed in the 1990s will be opened for the visitors after nearly 25 years sometime during the summer while the upper-floor housing Indian art will be unveiled in winter.
Before its closure in the 1990s, the Royal Gallery had several oil paintings about different episodes in the life of Queen Victoria.
The world's second largest oil painting titled 'The Jaipur Procession', a masterpiece by the Russian artist Vassili Verestchagin, showing the entry of King Edward VII, the then Prince of Wales, in Jaipur in 1876 is the prime attraction of this gallery. Once these two galleries are unveiled, the Durbar Hall Gallery and the Calcutta Gallery that are at present open for the visitors will be temporarily closed for renovation.
The Victoria Memorial Hall in partnership with Google
had earlier launched a 360-degree walkthrough of its galleries. The garden will also be brought under the same purview.
"We have set a target to cover the most attractive spots of the sprawling 57-acre campus under the 360-degree walkthrough. Work is on to develop an app with highlights of the collection of the Victoria Memorial Hall," a senior Victoria Memorial Hall official said.
