Maharashtra Museums
Prince of Wales Museum of Western India
Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, Bombay The Prince of Wales
Museum was established to commemorate the Crown Prince's visit to Bombay in
1905. The future George V laid the foundation stone and work began on the building
which was designed and built to represent the ancient and medieval architectural
styles of western India. The basalt stone structure with its large central dome
inspired by the Bijapur domes and beautiful gardens are set in a crescent shaped
piece of land.
The major endeavour of the Art section at the museum was to develop its collection
of Indian paintings so that it represents the different styles and phases. Consequently
the collection presents the evolution of painting in India, ranging between
11
th and 12
th century illustrated palm leaf manuscripts
to early 19
th century Pahari paintings.
Exquisite examples of all the main schools of miniature painting are on view,
Rajput, Mughal, Pahari, and Deccani Each school with its characteristic style
has its own delicacy of form and colour. Looking at the different paintings
it is obvious that the fine excellence of the Mughal and Rajasthani schools,
from 16
th to 19
th century, only emerged out of past influences,
indigenous Indian as well as Persian, Turkish and central Asian. This has been
conceived according to the Museum's policy, to make it an important cultural
and educational centre.
Prince of Wales Museum of Western India
Mahatma Gandhi Road
Fort, Bombay 400 023
Timing: 10.15 am to 5.00 pm
Closed on Mondays, 26 January and 15 August.
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