{{Short description|Gallery in Thiruvananthapuram, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}} [[File:Raja Ravi Varma, The Milkmaid (1904).jpg|thumb|Raja Ravi Varma, ''The Milkmaid'' (1904)]] '''Sree Chitra Art Gallery''' is an art gallery in Thiruvananthapuram, India, established in 1935.<ref name="Kerala Tourism">{{cite web|title=Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/sree-chithra-art-galler-trivandrum/225/|publisher=Kerala Tourism}}</ref> It is located in the northern grounds of the Napier Museum. It was inaugurated by Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.<ref name="Kerala Tourism" /> The gallery features a unique collection of traditional and contemporary paintings, including the works of Raja Ravi Varma, Nicholas Roerich, Svetoslav Roerich, Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, V. S. Valiathan, C. Raja Raja Varma, and K. C. S. Paniker.<ref name=KT>{{cite web|title=Sree Chitra Arts Gallery|url=http://www.kerala-tourism.org/kerala-museums/sree-chitra-arts-gallery.html|publisher=kerala-tourism.org}}</ref><ref name=DustTH/> There are approximately 1100 paintings at the gallery.<ref name=DustTH>{{cite news|title=Dust throws a blanket over prized paintings|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/dust-throws-a-blanket-over-prized-paintings/article4639568.ece|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

==Overview== The art gallery has on display works from the Mughal, Rajput, Bengal, Rajastani, and Tanjore schools of art.<ref name="Kerala Tourism" /><ref name=KT /> It also has an oriental collection of Chinese, Japanese, and Balinese paintings, Tibetan Thangka, and unique collections of Indian mural paintings from pre-historic times.<ref name="Kerala Tourism" /><ref name=GoK>{{cite web|title=Sree Chitra Art Gallery|url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&id=1855:museums-a-zoos-department-museums-azoos&Itemid=2257|publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref> Other items of interest include miniatures from different parts of the world, reproductions of murals of Ajanta, Bagh, Sigiriya, and Sittannavasal, and manuscripts of archival importance.<ref name="GoK" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Tourist Guide to Kerala|publisher=Motilal (UK) Books of India|isbn=8174781641}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Fodor's Essential India: with Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Kerala|publisher=Fodor's}}</ref> The gallery houses 400-year-old Tanjore miniature paintings.<ref name="GoK" />

The gallery has 15 original works by the Roerichs<ref name=Manorama1 /> and 43 original works by Raja Ravi Varma.<ref name=TH>{{cite news|title=Different views on Sri Chithra Art Gallery’s renovation|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/different-views-on-sri-chithra-art-gallerys-renovation/article5280489.ece|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> Ravi Varma's rare pencil sketches are also displayed at the gallery.<ref name=TH/> The paintings of Ravi Varma which were earlier kept at ''Chithralaya'' in Kilimanoor were given to the art gallery by the Kilimanoor Palace as a permanent loan in 1941.<ref name=FishyIE>{{cite news|title=Something fishy, feels Kilimanoor Palace Trust|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article201094.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235946/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article201094.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 December 2013|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The palace originally handed over 70 Ravi Varma paintings but some of them are not on display at the art gallery due to space constraints.<ref name=FishyIE /><ref name=Manorama1>{{cite news|title=രവിവര്‍മ്മ ചിത്രങ്ങളുടെ അമൂല്യ കലവറയില്‍ തീപിടിത്തം|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/mmonline.dll/portal/ep/manoramahome/content/printArticle.jsp?tabId=16&contentOID=7668675&language=english&BV_ID=@@@|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=Manorama Online}}</ref> The Kerala government undertook the restoration of Ravi Varma paintings in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=Restoring works of art|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/19/stories/2005071900840200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312041826/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/19/stories/2005071900840200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 March 2007|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2005-07-19|accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref> Ravi Varma's masterpiece paintings ''Shakuntala'' and ''Damayanti Talking to a Swan'' are displayed at the gallery.

In 2010, the gallery was closed for renovation as fire broke out due to a short circuit.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fire at Sree Chitra Art Gallery; Closed for renovation|url=http://www.trivandrum.co.in/2010/08/fire-at-sree-chitra-art-gallery-closed.html|publisher=Trivandrum.co.in}}</ref> In 2013, some paintings of C. Raja Raja Varma were reported damaged due to moisture.<ref name=Manorama1 /> This included the paintings ''Secundarabad Lake'', ''Local Toddy Shop'', and ''Himalaya''.<ref name=Manorama1 /> Nine oil paintings and one water colour painting of Ravi Varma are dumped in the store room for lack of space.<ref name=Manorama1 /> This included the paintings ''Lady Swinging'', ''Mysore Khedda'', ''Sreerama Break the Bow'', ''Two Horses'', ''Procession'', ''Portrait Study'', and ''Butterfly''.<ref name=Manorama1 /> The Kilimanoor Palace had lodged an official complaint that some of the paintings it handed over to the art gallery were missing.<ref name=Manorama1 /><ref>{{cite news|title=Directive to ASI over Ravi Varma paintings|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/29/stories/2011012966521900.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203075723/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/29/stories/2011012966521900.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2011|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2011-01-29|accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref> Due to the space constraint, a new building was proposed for the gallery and foundation stone was laid in 1985, but the work did not progress.<ref name=Manorama1 />

==References== {{reflist}}

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== External links == *[http://tripyourdays.com/attractions/Sree-Chitra-Enclave About Sree Chitra Enclave] * {{Wikivoyage-inline}}

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Category:Art museums and galleries in India Category:Tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram Category:Art museums and galleries established in 1935 Category:1935 establishments in India Category:Arts of Kerala