In theory, the expression “Indian art” spans the impressive variety of artistic styles, and richness of shapes, images and religious ideas on the Indian subcontinent. From the Indus Valley to the Aryo-Indian period, from the Middle Ages to Mughal Indo-Islamic domination.

Islamic art evolved through contact between elements of Arab, Syriac, Byzantine, Persian-Sassanid, Turkish and Mongol-Chinese tradition, and comprises art forms produced in countries of Islamic culture from 7th century to the present day.

Buddhist art is essentially a narrative art form with highly developed iconography. Originally from the Indian subcontinent after the life of Gautama Buddha, from 6th to 10th centuries b.c. it spread through the contact between different cultures in central Asia and the Far East.

India aroused interest in European missionaries in the 16th century, becoming the very first test-bed for Catholic evangelisation in Asia. As a result, a new form of artistic and cultural expression flourished on a subcontinent which had been tied to classical Indian tradition until then.

The photographic reserve contains thousands of glass plates. Produced between the 19th and early 20th centuries, they are a wealth of fine historical, artistic and documentary value. Professional prints are produced using ancient artisan techniques.

Some works of the most interesting, leading figures of modern and contemporary Indian art. A quick look at the present, is a further contribution to the knowledge of Indian culture.