Chandigarh: The Hubris foundation has unveiled a collection of exquisite paintings titled “Sikhs: an occidental romance” by eminent artists from all over the world. This rare exhibition depicting the Sikh community in all its glory and grandeur encompasses 80 museum archival replicas of paintings by Western artists from the 19th and 20th century. The Exhibition showcases beautiful artworks from globally renowned artists such as Alfred De Dreux, Emily Eden, Rudolf Swoboda, Edwin Lord Weeks, Prince Alexis Soltykoff, August Schoefft, William Carpenter and others. This wide Compilation of exquisite artworks by globally renowned artist is being showcased for the first time to art lovers in Chandigarh at Sobha Singh Art Gallery, Punjab Art Council, Sector 16B Chandigarh, between 21st-23rd May 2019.
Venue of the Exhibition: Sobha Singh Art Gallery, Punjab Art Council, Sector 16B Chandigarh
This collection of paintings has been painstakingly put together by The Hubris Foundation who have been collecting works of art from Europe and USA for over two decades. Elaborating on the exhibition Gautam Srivastava, Founder, The Hubris Foundation, says, in my 20 year fascination with occidental artists who painted India and its people, I have often wondered why the Sikhs receive near universal admiration from these magnificent wielders of the paint brush. I believe it comes from, that most beautiful of all intoxicants, Romance. I’m delighted that The Hubris Foundation has been able to compile an exhaustive collection of Sikh paintings by illustrious western artists which will be displayed for the first time under one roof to art enthusiasts in Punjab, it has been our endeavor to showcase these spectacular works of art to the people of Punjab and I am sure it will be an eye opener for many”.
Gautam Srivastava (3rd from Left) and Gurpreet Singh (Extreme Left) and others addressing media persons at Sobha Singh Art Gallery, Punjab Arts Council in Sector 16-B, Chandigarh
Addressing media persons at the venue of the exhibition during a press conference held today, Gautam Srivastva said that the formation of Sikh Kingdom and its glory might have attracted the world artists to paint the Sikhs.
One the paintings that are being displayed in the exhibition
The Sikh an occidental romance presents the most comprehensive collection of western Sikh paintings ever assembled. On display in Chandigarh, are 80 remarkable artworks that includes the portrait of battle hardened Ranjit Singh in reverential tranquility by Emily Eden, Edwin Lord weeks’s iconic painting of the Darbar SAhib and Rudolf Swoboda‘s portrait of a Sikh under commission by Queen Victoria. View the works by August Schoefft Sher Singh’s court painter who painted a credulous Akali ensnared by the thugs of central India, The Russian prince Alexis Soltykoff ‘s “Ladies of Pleasure”, a rendition of the grandeur Of Lahore during the Sikh Empire and Charles Harding son of Viscount Harding, the Governor General of India, who painted the infamous Gulab Singh of Kashmir –
Akali – one of the paintings that are being displayed in the exhibition
Accused of betraying the Sikh Empire. Alfred De Dreux who was commissioned by an Italian General painted Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s portrait which was presented to the king of France and a portrait of The Charming Prince Duleep Singh by Franz Winter Halter – Painted under Queen Victoria’s Commission are some of the exquisite paintings that will be showcased. The exhibition also displays incredible works of art that depict The Anglo Sikh Wars, Viscount Hardinge, the charming cities of Amritsar and Lahore, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and The Princess Bamba Collection.
A painting of the Darbar Sahib complex
The Hubris Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that exhibits Western art free of charge to India The Hubris Foundation attributes this exhibition to Baba Nanak for having founded the Sikh Community, The Sikhs for having enchanted the western artist and the enchanted western artists for having painted this glorious collection. Visit the Punjab Art Council, Gallery in Chandigarh between May 21st-23rd 2019 and participate in this occidental romance of the Sikhs.
One of the paintings that are being displayed in the exhibition
S. Gurpreet Singh, president of Institute of Sikh Studies, said that they would make the efforts to take this exhibition to various places in Punjab.
A painting of Maharaja Duleep Singh by Franz Winterhalter
Some renowned Artists whose paintings are included in the Exhibition – The Sikh an Occidental Romance:
• Alfred De Dreux
• Valentine Prinsep
• Rudolf Swoboda
• William Bartlett
• Frank Salisbury
• Sydney Hall
• George Landseer
• Philip de Laszio
• Lucien Dhumer
• Emily Eden
• Charles Hardinge
• Francis Grant
• Alexis Soltykoff
• August Schoefft
• Edwin Lord Weeks
• William carpenter
• Lockwood Kipling
• Franz Winterhalter
• Hiroshi Yoshida
• William Simpson
• Colesworthy Grant
• Horace Van Ruith
Informational boards are placed to extend information about the paintings being displayed in the exhibition
Another painting that is also included in the exhibition