________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Maharaja Fateshingh Museum, Baroda
Haben Dave The Maharaja Fatesingh MUSEUM Trust's collection is housed in the scho building situated in the Laxmi Vilas Palace compound, formerly known as the Motibi School where the late Maharaja Sir Pratapsinghrao and later the Founder of this Tru: Maharaja Fatosinghrao Gaekwad and other members of the Royal Family completi their schooling.
After appropriately redesigning the existing school building to house the a treasures. Dr. H. Goetz, a renowned muscum director and cxpert Art Historian wi engaged to arrange the display of this muscum in the country. Today the lush Laxr Vilas gardens add grcatly to the quiet and serene atmosphere of the muscum.
The Museum was opened to the public in the month of April 1961 by the the Governor of Gujarat, the late Nawab Mehdi Nawaz Jung.
The collection consists of objects d'arts collected by lato Sir Sayajirao Gaekwa Ill (1875-1939), the Maker of Baroda City. It is during his rcign that Baroda mac grcat strides in all round development and was recognised as one of the foremost most progressive States of India.
This great Ruler though knowledgeable in the Fine Arts employed and cor sulted various renowned artists of india and Europe to choose art pieces to decorate th: various Palaces in Baroda and other Palaces in India.
It is his cfforts and interest that inspired the late Maharaja Fatesinghrao to crcat this Trust so that it might be open to the public for its plcasure and education.
Thc Versatile Venetian artist, Felici, was employed by Maharaja Sayajirao in th Court to advise in the purchase of western objects d'art and to create some for th various Palaces. Fclici created many bronzes, marbles and oils, some of which ar exhibited in this outstanding museum. Raja Ravi Varma, a prince form the Travancor State, who was the first Indian to use thc oil medium, was brought to Baroda and som of his outstanding paintings on Mythological subjccts and commissioned portraits o the Baroda Royal Family give an idea of the time spertt in Baroda, by this Artist. Othe Artists who spent time at Baroda were Fyzce Rchaman, a disciplc of the English Artis Sir John S. Scrgcant, and the Sculptor, Phanindranath Bose whose work was appre ciated by the noted sculptor Rodin. There are copies of paintings and sculptures by th greatest Masters of the Italian Renaissance (15th-16th century) one of the key period of Occidental Civilization.
The collection has a very interesting section of Chinese and Japanese porcelai to which an cntire section of the gallery is given. Besides that, there are som wedgewood, Doulton and other wares of exquisite tiffany, Lalique and Orrefors glasses
The two decorated rooms on the first floor are a good representation of the Roccoco period with some very finc original pieces on display. * Incharge Publication Officer, Dept. of Archaeology, Govt. of Gujarat
a. lulzais - Bilsel.--.- ., 2001. 44
For Private and Personal Use Only
