THE INTRODUCTION OF WESTERN PAINTINGS

The acceptance of Macaulay's education policy by the East India Company, opened the floodgates of European education in India. Thus entered science and technology which was followed by the influx of western art and paintings which influenced Calcutta to a great extent. This was patronized by both the Bengali and European scholars. The Mechanical Institution was established in Calcutta in 1839 to teach work education to the European and Indian scholars. The 'Society for promotion of Industrial Art' was founded under the patronage of the Bethune Society. This body played the pivotal role in founding 'The school of Industrial Art' which was literally the 'Maidan School of Arts' in Calcutta. Monsieur Rigo and Monsieur Agiere were appointed as teachers of Modelling and Fine Arts respectively. Ten years later, this school was undertaken by the government. But this was conditional. Accordingly, Henry Hover Locke, a renowned artiste and ex-student of 'London School of Design' in Kensington, which was conducted by the British Royal Academy, came to Calcutta as the principal of the institution. During his steermanship from 1864 to 1885, the high ideals of South Kensington and the conventional western academic norms were established in Calcutta. The institution was rechristened as 'The Government School of Art & Craft'. During the Swadeshi Movement, the Thakurs of Jorasanko patronized the birth of 'Bangiya Kala Samsad'. Annada Prasad Bagchi who was trained in the Art College was appointed as its Chairman while Abanindranath Thakur became the secretary. Annada Prasad was quite adept in making oil paintings and portraits. He is regarded as the first esteemed oriental artiste who was a genuine product of the occidental school of art.