It was a perfect setting for an appreciation of Art and Painting- Indian classical music played in the background, traditional diyas lit the foyers, soulful Indian food fare added a delectable flavor at the MFA inaugural of Domains of India: Masterworks of Indian Painting on September 18th, 2006. To mark the occasion, His Excellency, Ronen Sen, Ambassador of India, lit the traditional lamp and inaugurated the exhibition.  The Ambassador hoped that exhibitions like these were seen more often and applauded the Museum for bringing the exhibit to the Boston Public. Dr Taylor, Assistant Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art outlined the collection and explained how there are drawn from the Edwin Binney 3rd collection at the San Diego Museum of Art, which is the largest and most important holding of South Asian painting outside of India. He also thanked the Tata Group of Industries for their support.

Malcolm Rogers, Ann and Graham Gund Director of the MFA exclaimed that he has never seen such ‘a rich array of colors in one single place’ and was happy to see such an enthusiastic turnout. Guests included many distinguished Indian Americans, Art Connoisseurs and lovers of art

‘Vismaya’ or wonder did indeed reflect in the views of many who attended. Visitors described the display as ‘rich and colorful’ and ‘vibrant’. Some admitted that it transported them back into times in history and were amazed at how well the paintings were preserved.

The sheer magnitude of  one man’s collection Dr Binney, who amassed this for nearly three decades, was the highlight of this exhibit. Divided into eight sections, loosely grouped by chronology, with titles as varied as 'Rooted in Earth , Devotion, Passion and Heroism, Sultans and Mystics and Changing Tastes' each section aroused interest and study for a lover of the art form. The paintings revealed the great richness and diversity of cultures in the various regions of the sub continent. Ranging from the 14th to the 19th centuries, the images included devotional pictures, Imperial Moghul Portraits, Persian and Indian illustrations.

On sale was a full color catalogue published by the University of Washington with spectacular displays of the paintings and scholarly essays by Dr B.N.Goswamy, a noted Indian scholar and Dr Caron Smith, Chief Curator and Deputy Director of the Rubin Museum of Art.
 
Domains of Wonder will be on view in the MFA’s Torf Gallery through November 26th, 2006.
 

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