Madras School

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The Madras School is art of the Madras area since British colonial rule.

During British rule in India, the crown found that Madras had some of the most talented and intellectual artistic minds in the world. As the British had also established a huge settlement in and around Madras, Georgetown was chosen to establish an institute that would cater to the artistic expectations of the royals in London. At first traditional artists were employed to produce exquisite varieties of furniture, metalwork, and curios, and their work was sent to the royal palaces of the Queen. In a very short time, this institute established itself as the first school of art in India. It predates even Madras University. Today this institute can be found in Periamet, Chennai. It is now named the Government College of Fine Arts.

Most of the famous painters, sculptors and craftsmen of India are either products of this college or influenced by it. The stamp of this college can be found in each and every painting or sculpture that is being produced in India.

Unlike the Bengal School where 'copying' is the norm of teaching, the Madras School flourishes on 'creating' new styles, arguments and trends.

The most prominent artists to come from this school lately (apart from numerous other fields that this college has influenced) are Santhanaraj (painting and sculpture), Munusamy (painting), Adimoolam (drawing and painting), R.B.Bhaskaran (drawing, painting and print making), Chandrasekar (painting and sculpture), Roy Choudry (sculpture), KCS Paniker, Kanniappan (sculpture), S.Dhanapal (sculpture), Palaniappan (printing), Adhiveerapandian(painting), Michaelirudayaraj (painting), and numerous other artists who are spread all over the world.

R.B.Bhaskaran is actually the current chairman of the lalit kala academy (National Academy of Art, India)

References:

R B Bhaskaran is Lalit Kala Akademi chief