At Balarama gate, stands a 60-year old oil painting portraying few historic structures – old wooden palace of Mysore and Bangalore palace besides others.
As the palace gears up for the world-famous dasara festivities to begin from September 28, the 60-year old paintings at entrance wall of Balarama gate is receiving a facelfit.
Team at work
Noted artist Ganjifa Raghuapthi Bhat and his team of artistes are working on the canvas on arch gate for more than a month now.
Interestingly, the paintings are given a new colouring touch after a gap of 34 years. Though, there is no changes done on original paintings, the artistes are giving the faded works a rich colour.
Palace board
The Palace Board has undertaken the restoration work and handed-over the job to Raghupathi Bhat.
Says Bhat, “The paintings are old and very rare. It was created by Madhugiri Hanumanthappa Ramu in 1950.
The artist has provided a well-balanced light and shades in these works.
As the paintings are exposed to sunlight and rain, it has shed its original brightness and colour using oil paints. We are adding the bright colours without altering the original painting, colour and shades.” Bhat is joined by his co-artistes Ravi, Purandara and Surendra, all three from Udupi district.
Works
The artistes have completed the old palace and Barachukki paintings and is working on Bangalore palace painting.
The work on restoring the paintings will be completed before dasara, Bhat told Deccan Herald. The huge size of the paintings require more time for restoration work, he adds. The painting comprises four sections where the wooden palace which was destroyed in a fire is depicted along with a canvas of Bangalore palace, the mounted police building of Mysore and Barachukki falls of Shimsha.
The renowned artist was brought to Mysore to paint the wall of the entrance arch by then Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar.
The paintings got a new lease of life in 1978 when another artist Hanumaiah restored it using acrylic colours, close to the original works.