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Fort St. George Museum:Fort St.George was established by the East India Company some 350 years ago and was the centre of British influence in India until the Company moved its headquarters to Calcutta. Within the Fort, St. Mary's Church is one of its oldest structures. It was here that Robert Clive got married, the register still bears the record with the original signatures. The museum displays collection of portraits and paintings of former governors of Madras as well as of English royally. There is a fine collection of early prints by Thomas and William Daniell as well as other 18th century view's of Fort Si George and other important '.nes in Madras and Tamil Nadu. Among the other objects on view are weapons, coins, porcelain and the communion vessels of the church. |
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Government State Museum:he Government State Museum in Madras is best known for two important collections: sculpture from Amaravati and its Bronze Gallery. The Amaravati Collection has panels, pillars, carved railings and Buddha statues of milky white marble from a Buddhist stupa excavated at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Believed to be erected by Ashoka around 2nd century BC, the sculpture reveal contemporary architecture, costumes and ordinary occupations of people. Most famous are the Taming of the Elephant Nalagiri, Dream of the Buddha's mother Maya, episodes of the Buddha's life andjataka stories. There are also sculpture from the later PaUava, Chola, Hoysala and Chalukya periods. The Bronze Gallery is housed in a separate building. |
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Madurai Government Museum:Government Museum, established in 1980, is located at Gandhi Museum Campus in Madurai. It has a large collection of bronzes, sculptures, musical instruments and paintings. The museum also showcases an assortment of specimens relating to botany, zoology and geology. The museum conducts training programs on Thanjavur paintings, Batik art, taxidermy and screen printing. Besides, it operates special summer training camps on Tamil music, bharatanatyam, karate, yoga, varmakkalai, photography, glass painting, fabric painting and doll making. |