Published Paper Details:

Painting, sculpture, and various other art forms have existed in Tamil Nadu for many centuries. After the establishment of British rule, specialized art schools were founded in several parts of India to provide formal training in the arts. Among them, the Madras School of Arts played a particularly significant role -- it was, in fact, the first art school in India. The British who ruled Chennai established this school both to meet their own needs and because they were deeply impressed by Tamil Nadu's traditional arts. They engaged local students to produce various artworks, which were used by the British themselves and also exported to many other countries. Many of the artworks created in this school are still displayed in renowned museums around the world today. Seeing these works reveals that Tamil Nadu was home to many exceptional artists, skilled in diverse forms of art. Furthermore, the British introduced their own artistic practices and techniques into this school's curriculum. This study examines the circumstances and developments that arose from the curriculum implemented between 1850 and 1950, during which these cross-cultural exchanges and artistic transformations took place