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1. NATIONAL
MUSEUM DELHI
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Dept. of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology
Banaras Hindu University

3. Beginning
• An Exhibition of Indian Art, was organized by the
Royal Academy, London with the cooperation of
Government of India and Britain in 1947-48.
• It was decided to display the same collection in Delhi,
before the return of exhibits to their respective
museums.
• An exhibition was organized in the the Rashtrapati
Bhavan in 1949, which turned out to be a great
success.
• This event proved responsible for the creation of the
National Museum.

4. Set-up of National Museum
• The National Museum was formally inaugurated by Shri.
C. Rajagopalachari, the Governor General of India, in 15th
August 1949.
• Till a permanent building for the National Museum was
constructed, the Museum was functioned in the
Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, laid the foundation of the
present building, on the 12 May 1955, and the first phase
was completed by June 1960.
• The first phase of the National Museum building was
formally inaugurated by Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, on
December 18, 1960 and open to public.
• The second phase of the building was completed in 1989.

5. Collection
• State Governments, Museum authorities and private
donors, who had participated in the British exhibition,
were approached for the gift or loan of artefacts.
• The Museum continued to grow in its collections year
after the year and it received several gifts.
• Major artifacts were acquired mainly through its Art
Purchase Committee.
• The Museum presently holds approximately 2,00,000
objects of a diverse nature.
• The objects cover a time span of more than 5,000
years of Indian cultural heritage.
• Collection is displayed in several galleries.

6. Galleries
1. Harappan Civilization
2. Sunga, Satavahana Art
3. Kushan (Gandhara & Mathura) including Ikshavaku Art
4. Gupta Art
5. Early Medieval Art
6. Bronzes
7. Late Medieval Art
8. Buddhist Art
9. Indian Miniature Paintings
10. Epigraphy and Numismatics
11. Decorative Arts-II
12. Central Asian Antiquities-I
13. Maritime Heritage
14. Decorative Arts and Textiles
15. Pre-Columbian & Western Art
16. Tribal Life Style in North-East
17. Arms & Armour
18. Textile
19. Manuscript
20. Paintings
21. Wood Carving Gallery
22. Tradition, Art and Continuity

8. Pre-History & Archaeology
• It Shows tools belonging to Prehistoric man
• Tools of Lower Palaeolithic period to the Neolithic
age
• Palaeolithic tools from Various sites
• Copper hoard objects are also in display.
• The Museum possesses about 200 copper hoard
ranging between 2000 BCE. to 1200 BCE.,

9. Harappan Gallery
• Artefacts from excavations of
Indus Valley Civilization
• Dancing girl, buffalo, steatite
seals depicting Pashupati from
Mohenjodaro are important.
• Harappan pottery, storage jars,
few copper and clay utensils,
pots.
• Copper and bronze implements
belongs to Harappa and
Mohenjodaro.
• Steatite seals, beads, skeletons
etc.

11. Maurya-Sunga-Satavahana Gallery
• This Gallery shows stone sculptures and terracotta's belonging to
Maurya, Sunga and Satavahana art (3rd Cen. BCE. to 1-2nd Cen.
CE).
• The sculptures of Stupas at Bodh Gaya, Bharhut, Sanchi etc. and life
events of Buddha, Jataka Stories etc..
• Yaksha, Yakshini, Salabhanjika etc are also form important items
of Sunga art.
• Sculptures of Gateway of Sanchi Stupa.

12. Maurya-Sunga-Satavahana Gallery

13. Kushana, Mathura, Gandhara and Ikshvaku
Gallery
• The art of the Kushana, Mathura, Gandhara and
Ikshvaku.
• Among the Gandhara sculptures, Buddha and
Maitreya images, stucco images of Graeco-Roman
influence.
• In Mathura sculptures, a Chaturmukha Linga, pot
bellied Kubera from Ahichchatra are some of the
noteworthy examples of Mathura art.
• Jaina sculptures, Ayagapata from Mathura,
• Among the Ikshvaku art, depicting four scenes from
the life of Buddha are significant.

14. Kushana, Mathura, Gandhara and
Ikshvaku Gallery

15. Gupta Art Gallery
• Beautiful sculptures of Gupta period
are in display .
• A Nataraja from Nachana appears to
be the earliest image of dancing Siva.
• Ekamukha Sivalinga from Khoh,
• Chaturmukha Surya representing
Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and Surya.
• A Vishnu image from Mathura are
the master pieces of this Gallery.
• Several Buddhist sculptures from
Saranath, panels from Ramayana and
Mahabharata from Deogarh are the
other exhibits.

16. Gupta Art Gallery

18. Early Medieval Gallery
• Sculptures from the reign of Palas,
Maitrakas, Vardhanas, Pratiharas of North
• Pallavas, Cholas, and Chalukyas in the
South.
• Period: 700 CE-1000 CE
• Presents the representative examples of
various art styles
• Vishvarup of Vishnu of the Maitrakas,
• A lintel from Chittorgarh depicting the
Navagrahas in wood of Pratiharas,
• An image of the Ganga, standing on a
crocodile representing the Rashtrakuta art
from Ellora Caves,
• Siva as Bhikshtana murthy,
• Somaskanda, and Vishnu sculptures of the
Pallava and Chola period are the best and
superb specimen in this Gallery.

19. Early Medieval Gallery

20. Late Medieval Gallery
• This gallery represents the finest sculpture of various
dynasties of North and South India
• The Hoyasalas, Cholas, Vijayanagar rulers, and Nayakas
in the South
• The Gahadavalas, Paramaras and Chandellas in the
North
• Sculptures of sun temple Konarak,
• Vishnu in Yogasana of Chandela art from Khajuraho
• Durga of Paramara art,
• Vajra Tara of Gahadavala art are the excellent examples
of this period.
• A few of the sculptures of Pala and Sena rulers in dark
basalt.
• The most famous marble image of Saraswati from
Bikaner belonging to Chahmanas.
• The rare sculptures of Hoyasalas, Krishna as
Kaliyamardhana
• Jaina Parsvanatha,
• A few sculptures belonging to Vijayanagara period have
also been exhibited.

21. Late Medieval Gallery

22. Bronze Gallery
• The bronzes were mainly religious
in character.
• A number of images belonged to
Sunga, Kushana and Ikshvaku
periods from 200 BCE. to 200 CE.
• Two Buddha images from
Phophnar.
• Jaina Tirthamkaras from
Rajasthan, Gujarat.
• Pala bronzes from Nalanda.
• Chola bronzes in Nataraja form are
superb examples

24. Buddhist Art Gallery
• Sculptures of three major
Schools of Buddhism-
Hinayana, Mahayana and
Vajrayana.
• Representation of various
Buddhist deities
• Sculptures ranging from 2nd
Cen. BCE. to 12th Cen. CE.
• Relics of Buddha in the two
relic caskets found in
excavatations from
Piprahwa in Basti district of
U.P.

25. Manuscripts
• The National Museum has
acquired about 14,000
manuscripts in various
languages and scripts.
• It shows history, literature,
miniature paintings, art of
calligraphy, philosophy,
science, biography, geography,
genealogy, archaeology,
medicines, religions etc
representing various schools
and provinces.
• Manuscript of museum covers a
long period more than one
thousand years.

26. Numismatics and Epigraphy
• The collection comprises 1,18,000
coins.
• Coins of gold, silver, copper and of
the alloys billon, potin and lead.
• Period: 600 BCE- 1900 CE
• Display: 1669 coins
• It has almost all Indian coins
• A few specimens of Gupta coins of
Bayana hoard.
• Half of the collection represents the
coins of Northern India from the
earliest times to present day.
• It also has 310 copper plates with
inscriptions of different periods.

27. Coin Gallery

29. Paintings
• The Museum has paintings of over 17000.
• Paintings belongs to:
• Mughal
• Rajasthani
• Pahadi
• Deccani paintings.
• Tibetan
• Nepal Tankas,
• Tanjore and
• Mysore paintings,
• Ganjifa cards drawings, cloth paintings and scrolls
covering a period from 1600-1900

30. Paintings Gallery

31. Textile Gallery
• The collection of Indian traditional textiles
• Period: Later Mughal period.
• Material: Cotton, Silk and Woollen textiles

32. Arms and Armour
• The Museum has a fine collection
of about 7000 Indian weapons.
• Period: Pre-historic period to 19th
century
• Category: various weapons, armour
for men, ornamental, sacrificial,
and ritual weapons and fire arms
and war accessories.
• Bow and arrows made of cane,
bamboo
• Weapons decorated with ivory,
gold and silver
• The inscribed bow of Bahadur
Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler is
also on view in this Gallery.
• Personal swords of Aurangazeb,
Tipu Sultan, etc are remarkable.

33. Decorative Arts Galley 1 & 2
1
• Decorative arts of wood,
ivory, jade carvings,
Bidri ware and carvings
on glass.
• Beautifully carved
pillared and doors from a
Sun temple at Konark.
• The Gallery also has two
interesting themes –
1. Thrones of India, and
2. Games and Leisure in
the Past.
2
• This gallery has artifacts
from the proto-historic
period to the present
day.
• This gallery exhibits
Metalware, Jewellery
and Wooden objects.
Most notable among
the wooden objects are
the Vahana on display.

34. Decorative Arts Gallery 1

35. Decorative Arts Gallery 2

36. Central Asian Antiquities
• Museum has more than 11,000
objects from Sinkiang region of
Chinese Turkestan, discovered
by Sir Aurel Stein.
• These include murals, paintings
on silk, ramie, paper and wood,
terracotta's, stuccos, wooden
objects, Kharosthi documents,
textiles.
• Period: 300 CE to 1200 CE.
• Chinese bronze image of seated
Buddha of Ming dynasty is
significant.

37. Pre-Columbian & Western Arts Gallery

38. Pre-Columbian & Western Arts Gallery
• The collection of Pre-Columbian art donated to the
National Museum by Mr. & Mrs. Heeramaneck.
• It is of high quality and represents all the principal
cultures of Pre-Columbian world.
• The collection includes pieces of art from
1. Mexico,
2. Peru,
3. Argentina,
4. Costa Rica,
5. Nicaragua
6. Other countries of South America.

39. Wood Carving Gallery
• Wooden Items of India,
Nepal, Tibet
• Period: 1700 – 1900 CE
• Decorative and
utilitarian objects
• Architectural elements
• Sculptures.

40. Wood Carving Gallery

41. Tribal Lifestyle of North East India Gallery
• Anthropological
collection of the
Museum includes
nearly 10,000 rare
objects.
• Objects from The
Eight States of North
East
• This gallery exhibits
traditional artefacts
such as dresses,
apparels, headgears,
ornaments, paintings,
basketry, wood
carvings, smoking
pipes and articles of
personal adornments
of various tribal
groups.

42. Tradition, Art and Continuity
• It displayed over 200 objects.
• Objects belongs to wide geographical and tribal
community
1. Santhal
2. Phulkaries
3. Bastar

43. Sharan Rani Bakliwal
Musical Instruments
Gallery
• Musical Instrument
Gallery was donated
to the museum by
Padamshree (Late)
Mrs. Sharan Rani
Backliwal.
• She was India's
Sarod Maestro.
• Collection of
musical instruments
in tribal, folk and
classical groups

44. Administration
• The National Museum, New Delhi, is directly
under the administrative control of the
Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• The Museum is financed by the Union
Government of India.

45. Education
• National Museum Institute of History of Art,
Conservation and Museology (a deemed university)
was established in 1989 as an autonomous
organization affiliated to the National Museum.
• It is imparting higher education in related fields to
students and professionals alike across the Asia-
Pacific region.

46. Vision and Mission
• To collect art objects of Historical, Cultural and
Artistic significance for the purpose to display,
protection, preservation and interpretation
(research).
• To spread knowledge of history, culture and artistic
excellence and achievements.
• To serve as cultural centre for enjoyment
• Increase interaction of the people in artistic and
cultural activity.
• To serve as epitome of national identity.

47. Other works
1. Public Relations :
2. Publication :
3. Conservation Laboratory:
4. Anubhav: A Tactile Experience: Set-up new
permanent gallery for Persons with Disabilities in
the year 2015 which features tactile replicas of 22
objects.
5. Auditorium: Beside the galleries, the museum also
has an auditorium with a seating capacity of 250
people.
6. JATAN: Digitization of Museum Collections
7. Google Art Project : National Museum Collections
on the Google Art Project

48. Any Questions ?