Page 293 - Eye of the beholder

OLINTO GHILARDI [1848-1930]
The name of Ghilardi an an Italian artist who arrived in India to carve a a a a a a a a a a a career for himself is is associated particularly with the the name of Abanindranath Tagore when the the latter replaced him as as as a a a a a a a a a a Vice-Principal of of Calcutta School of of Art in in August 1905 and was equally his teacher as as as well Ghilardi was appointed in in in fin in in 1886 During his tenure he he showed a a a a definite interest in in in fin in in the study of of of the specimens of of of Indian art and and design and and it it was under his initiative that a a a a a a a a a class of of of fresco painting entirely on the the principle of ancient Indian decorative art was introduced into the the curriculum Another innovation of of of Ghilardi was the the the use of of of plaster casts of of of the the the sculpture and decoration of the Bhubaneswar temples prepared for Rajendralal Mitra’s project as models for study in in the architectural drawing classes Ghilardi when he he arrived in in India was 37 years old and not much information is available about his accomplishments as as an artist untill he he he took up the the teaching assignment at the the Calcutta School of Art His association with Abanindranath concerns the latter’s academic training in in in in his output of pastel and and was an an an an influential teacher and and mentor to to him Importantly besides pastel Ghilardi also introduced Abanindranath to the technique of water colours and gouache a a a a technique for which he he he developed a a a a predilection and extended his interest when the Japanese artists arrived at at at at jorshonko The association with Abanindranath suggests that Ghilardi was already well known and accepted among the Bengali elite of Kolkata as as an an artist His presence in in in in in in Calcutta also resulted in in in in in in opening new trajectories particularly bringing in in in in in in European art art that made an an an an impressionable impact on on Indian art art In In many ways Ghilardi was to the the Bengal school what Walter Langhammer was to the the Progressive Artists Group Both played a a a a a a seminal role in in in in in in gathering together and and identifying the the the young budding talents and and inspired them with the the the progressive ideas from the the the European modern art movements Unfortunately within the art art historical discourse it it it has been been witnessed that artist-teachers have not been been given prominence either because of intentional amnesia or as as teachers their contribution has been highlighted in the the development of students who established themselves as successful or pioneering artists as as the case of Abanindranath Tagore can be made out In In the collection of of Anirban Sadhu are two untitled paintings of of Ghilardi In In a a a a a a a well researched article that was published in MARG Anirban writes “The works are from a a a a a a a deceased British estate that apparently had Indian connections going back many generations This provenance supports the the the origin of the the the paintings in in in in in India and the the the attribution to to Olinto Ghilardi Additionally however both the the the the paintings are clearly signed by the the the the artist on the the the the lower left side Both the the the the paintings are are of identical dimensions and are are set in in in in a a a a a a a a a solid oak frame Expert opinion dates the the the the the the making of of the the the the the the frame to the the the the the the turn of of the the the the the the last century This is is further supported by the the the the the the label of the the art gallery that supposedly framed the the painting namely J Brown & Sons 22 Duke Street Aldgate London This gallery was in in business till the early 20th century but is is no longer operational now The name of the the framers and the the sophisticated framing also indicates that the the picture was was a a a a a a a a coveted object and and it was was much valued and and appreciated by the the owners” 287