Art: Indian Skies at the Met Delights and Awes

Indian Skies: The Howard Hodgkin Collection of Indian Court Painting

We are almost half way through a New York winter – so what can be better than taking a walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and enjoying the warmth of Indian Skies? This exhibition of Indian court art is from the collection of British artist Howard Hodgkin (British, London 1932–2017 London) whose collection of Indian paintings and drawings that is recognized as one of the finest of its kind. A highly regarded painter and printmaker, Hodgkin collected works from the Mughal, Deccani, Rajput, and Pahari courts dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries that reflect his personal passion for Indian art. This exhibition presents over 120 of these works, many of which The Met recently acquired, alongside loans from The Howard Hodgkin Indian Collection Trust. The exhibition is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Exhibitions and the Friends of Islamic Art.

You can see the exhibition from February 6 to June 9, 2024. There 120 paintings take you into a miniature world of opulence, power, romance and drama – all evoked by famous artists of the period. For those who love elephants there is a special joy in seeing the wonderful images of them at work and play; the grandeur of wedding processions shows that weddings were always important and not much has changed in buoyancy and crowds, even in modern day India! And some ambitious bridegrooms try to still bring the elephant in!

Divinity is woven into the fabric of India and whether it is Krishna dancing on the head of Kaliya, or it is a dramatic portrait of Bhadrakali, the destroyer of the Universe, these images are bound to draw you into a fascinating world.

Finally as you leave, there’s a delightful portrait of two pigeons – so much still a part of our contemporary world. Walk outside the Metropolitan Museum and you will find the pigeons strolling on the handsome steps or gathered near the park benches in Central Park, still there for aspiring artists to sketch and capture!

 

Tour the Exhibit with the Experts – a Free Tour with Registration

Join Museum experts, including curators, conservators, scientists, and scholars, for a deep dive into a selection of exhibition objects in the galleries. Hear new insights and untold stories from Met insiders and take a closer look at the works of art. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions.

Tuesday, February 13, 3 pm:
Yana van Dyke, Conservator, Department of Paper Conservation, The Met

Thursday, March 7, 3 pm:
John Guy, Florence and Herbert Irving Curator of the Arts of South and Southeast Asian Art, Department of Asian Art, The Met

Tuesday, April 2, 3 pm:
Navina Haidar, Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah Curator in Charge, Department of Islamic Art, The Met

 

Indian Skies: The Howard Hodgkin Collection of Indian Court Painting

The exhibition also includes the work of  Howard Hodgkin which was inspired by the Indian art he collected. It is titled Small Indian Sky, – it is the Gift of Antony Peattie, in memory of his partner, Howard Hodgkin.

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