->Aavindraa: clarify location

2021-07-09T08:19:05Z

clarify location

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
[[File:Raja Ravi Varma, The Milkmaid (1904).jpg|thumb|[[Raja Ravi Varma]], ''The Milkmaid'' (1904)]]
'''Sree Chitra Art Gallery''' is an [[art gallery]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[India]], established in 1935.<ref name="Kerala Tourism">{{cite web|title=Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/sree-chithra-art-galler-trivandrum/225/|publisher=Kerala Tourism}}</ref> It is located in the northern grounds of the [[Napier Museum]]. It was inaugurated by [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]].<ref name="Kerala Tourism" /> The gallery features a unique collection of traditional and contemporary paintings, including the works of [[Raja Ravi Varma]], [[Nicholas Roerich]], [[Svetoslav Roerich]], [[Jamini Roy]], [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[V. S. Valiathan]], [[C. Raja Raja Varma]], and [[K. C. S. Paniker]].<ref name=KT>{{cite web|title=Sree Chitra Arts Gallery|url=http://www.kerala-tourism.org/kerala-museums/sree-chitra-arts-gallery.html|publisher=kerala-tourism.org}}</ref><ref name=DustTH/> There are approximately 1100 paintings at the gallery.<ref name=DustTH>{{cite news|title=Dust throws a blanket over prized paintings|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/dust-throws-a-blanket-over-prized-paintings/article4639568.ece|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

The art gallery has on display works from the Mughal, Rajput, Bengal, Rajastani, and Tanjore schools of art.<ref name="Kerala Tourism" /><ref name=KT /> It also has an oriental collection of [[China|Chinese]], [[Japan]]ese, and [[Bali]]nese paintings, [[Tibet]]an [[Thangka]], and unique collections of Indian [[mural painting]]s from pre-historic times.<ref name="Kerala Tourism" /><ref name=GoK>{{cite web|title=Sree Chitra Art Gallery|url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&id=1855:museums-a-zoos-department-museums-azoos&Itemid=2257|publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref> Other items of interest include miniatures from different parts of the world, reproductions of murals of [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]], [[Bagh, Dhar|Bagh]], [[Sigiriya]], and Sittannavasal, and [[manuscript]]s of archival importance.<ref name="GoK" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Tourist Guide to Kerala|publisher=Motilal (UK) Books of India|isbn=8174781641}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Fodor's Essential India: with Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Kerala|publisher=Fodor's}}</ref> The gallery houses 400-year-old [[Tanjore painting|Tanjore miniature paintings]].<ref name="GoK" />

The gallery has 15 original works by the Roerichs<ref name=Manorama1 /> and 43 original works by Raja Ravi Varma.<ref name=TH>{{cite news|title=Different views on Sri Chithra Art Gallery’s renovation|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/different-views-on-sri-chithra-art-gallerys-renovation/article5280489.ece|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> Ravi Varma's rare pencil sketches are also displayed at the gallery.<ref name=TH/> The paintings of Ravi Varma which were earlier kept at ''Chithralaya'' in [[Kilimanoor]] were given to the art gallery by the [[Kilimanoor Palace]] as a permanent loan in 1941.<ref name=FishyIE>{{cite news|title=Something fishy, feels Kilimanoor Palace Trust|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article201094.ece|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The palace originally handed over 70 Ravi Varma paintings but some of them are not on display at the art gallery due to space constraints.<ref name=FishyIE /><ref name=Manorama1>{{cite news|title=രവിവര്‍മ്മ ചിത്രങ്ങളുടെ അമൂല്യ കലവറയില്‍ തീപിടിത്തം|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/mmonline.dll/portal/ep/manoramahome/content/printArticle.jsp?tabId=16&contentOID=7668675&language=english&BV_ID=@@@|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=Manorama Online}}</ref> The Kerala government undertook the restoration of Ravi Varma paintings in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=Restoring works of art|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/19/stories/2005071900840200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312041826/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/19/stories/2005071900840200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 March 2007|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2005-07-19|accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref> Ravi Varma's masterpiece paintings [[Shakuntala (Raja Ravi Varma)|''Shakuntala'']] and ''Damayanti Talking to a Swan'' are displayed at the gallery.

In 2010, the gallery was closed for renovation as fire broke out due to a [[short circuit]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Fire at Sree Chitra Art Gallery; Closed for renovation|url=http://www.trivandrum.co.in/2010/08/fire-at-sree-chitra-art-gallery-closed.html|publisher=Trivandrum.co.in}}</ref> In 2013, some paintings of C. Raja Raja Varma were reported damaged due to moisture.<ref name=Manorama1 /> This included the paintings ''Secundarabad Lake'', ''Local Toddy Shop'', and ''Himalaya''.<ref name=Manorama1 /> Nine oil paintings and one water colour painting of Ravi Varma are dumped in the store room for lack of space.<ref name=Manorama1 /> This included the paintings ''Lady Swinging'', ''Mysore Khedda'', ''Sreerama Break the Bow'', ''Two Horses'', ''Procession'', ''Portrait Study'', and ''Butterfly''.<ref name=Manorama1 /> The Kilimanoor Palace had lodged an official complaint that some of the paintings it handed over to the art gallery were missing.<ref name=Manorama1 /><ref>{{cite news|title=Directive to ASI over Ravi Varma paintings|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/29/stories/2011012966521900.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203075723/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/29/stories/2011012966521900.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2011-01-29|accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref> Due to the space constraint, a new building was proposed for the gallery and foundation stone was laid in 1985, but the work did not progress.<ref name=Manorama1 />

==References==
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== External links ==
*[http://tripyourdays.com/attractions/Sree-Chitra-Enclave About Sree Chitra Enclave]
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}

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[[Category:Art museums and galleries in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Art museums established in 1935]]
[[Category:1935 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Art galleries established in 1935]]
[[Category:Arts of Kerala]]

Sree Chitra Art Gallery - Revision history

->Aavindraa: clarify location