"The Way of the Master – The Great Artists of India, 1100–1900" @ Museum Rietberg in Zurich

Self-Portrait and Portraits of Artists (detail) By Daulat, Mughal, c. 1610 © Golestan Palace Library, Tehran. Photo: Davood Sadeghsa

800 years of Indian painting, about 200 masterpieces by more than 40 artists – and all this at a glance. Never before has it been possible in the West to acquaint oneself with the entire history of Indian painting at a single exhibition.

The inventiveness and colour sense of artists such as Abd al-Samad, Farrukh Beg or Nainsukh are as impressive as their names are exotic. Acclaimed by their contemporaries as “wonders of the age”, they can without hesitation be compared to Dürer, Michelangelo or Vermeer. It therefore comes as no surprise that Rembrandt also assembled a collection of Indian miniatures.

Supported by Novartis and the Schwyzer Foundation

From September 2011, this exhibition will be on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

1 May – 21 August 2011. Museum Rietberg Zurich

Akbar Presents a Painting to His Father Humayun. By ‘Abd al-Samad. Mughal, probably Kabul, c. 1550–1556. © Golestan Palace Library, Tehran. Photo: Davood Sadeghsa

Self-Portrait and Portraits of Artists By Daulat, Mughal, c. 1610 © Golestan Palace Library, Tehran. Photo: Davood Sadeghsa

Prince Salim Enthroned. By Manohar (Portrait) and Mansur (Throne). Mughal, dated 1600/01 © The Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 2011

Krishna playing Blindman’s Bluff. By Manaku. Pahari region, Guler, c. 1750 © The Kronos Collections

Dialectica. By Abu’l Hasan. Overpainted engraving by Marten des Vos, after Jan Sadeler. Mughal, c. 1602/03 © The Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 2011

Ram Singh I of Kota Pursuing a Rhinoceros. Attributed to a Kota master. Rajasthan, Kota, c. 1700 © Private Collection

Rawat Gokul Das at a Hunting Party. By Bagta. Rajasthan, Mewar, Devgarh, dated 1808 © Trustees, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai (Formerly Prince of Wales Museum of Western India)

Shiva, Solicitous of his Other Half. By Devidasa. Pahari region, Basohli, dated 1695 © San Diego Museum of Art

Rupmati and Baz Bahadur Hunting. Attributed to the First Bahu Master. Pahari region, Bahu, c. 1700 © Museum Rietberg Zürich, long-term loan Barbara and Eberhard Fischer. Photo: Rainer Wolfsberger

Chameleon. By Mansur. Mughal, c. 1595–1600. Royal Collection © 2011 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Raja Balwant Singh of Jasrota Contemplating a Painting with the Painter Nainsukh. Attributed to Nainsukh. Pahari region, Jasrota, c. 1745–1750 © Museum Rietberg Zürich. Photo: Rainer Wolfsberger

Ascetics in the Dandaka Forrest. Master of the First Generation after Nainsukh and Manaku. Pahari region, Kangra/Guler, c. 1780 © Museum Rietberg Zürich, Collection Danielle Porret. Photo: Rainer Wolfsberger

Comments

[Atul Dodiya]

I am artist from India and would like to buy the book "The Way of the Master - The Great Artists of India, 1100-1900". Can you please tell us where can I get it.

Thanks,
Atul Dodiya