Rare Indian paintings, textiles on display in US museum

A wide spectrum of rare Indian paintings from the royal courts, intricate woven textiles by a northeastern ethnic group and works of contemporary photographers set in India are on display at a prestigious museum in the US.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is holding an exhibition 'Drawn from Courtly India', which showcases rare and masterful drawings created in the workshops of royal Indian courts between the 1500s and 1800s.
The collection, amassed by artist Conley Harris and architectural designer Howard Truelove, features a wide range of sketches, preparatory studies and compositional drawings that vividly depict mythological themes, landscapes and architectural settings, portraits of prominent rulers, and scenes from the lives of Indian nobility.

The museum acquired these important works in 2013, many as a gift, and is presenting the collection in this exhibition for the first time, the museum said in a statement.
Many of the works to which the two collectors were drawn were created during the 18th century in the Hindu courts of western India and the Himalayan foothills, an area including the present-day states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu-Kashmir.
"This collection adds a new and important dimension to our holdings of Indian art, which is one of the most important in the country. It also enables us to bring to a broader audience this fascinating and delightful aspect of South Asia's artistic heritage," museum CEO Timothy Rub said.

Another exhibit 'Picture This' that will run through April features the work of four contemporary photographers for whom India is an important subject or setting - Gauri Gill, Sunil Gupta, Max Pinckers, and Pamela Singh.

"Diverse in nationality and place of residence, each of these artists brings a cosmopolitan perspective to his or her work. Whether photographing in rural Rajasthan or major cities like Mumbai or New York, they offer points of view that do not fit easily into categories of 'insider' or 'outsider'," the museum said.
The third exhibit is titled 'Art of the Zo: Textiles from Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh,' offering a look at rare woven textiles of the Zo people of Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.

Running through March, it spotlights traditional weavings worn for daily life and ceremonial occasions, such as weddings, funerals, and feasts of merit.
"Patterns, techniques and local variations are closely examined, revealing the extraordinary beauty and craftsmanship of these distinctive creations," it said.
In addition to tunics, wrap skirts, mantles, loincloths, capes, and blankets, the exhibition includes a loom with a partially woven cloth next to a finished example from the Museum's collection.
A video presentation, photographic details of selected works, and graphics of specific weave structures further demonstrate the virtuosic skill of Zo weavers.