Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Fine Arts

Chapter

The Modern Indian Art

Question:

Which statement about the artistic technique used by Benode Behari Mukherjee in the creation of Mural "The Lives of Medieval Saints" is incorrect?

Options:

The mural employs the technique of fresco buono.

Compositional sketches were used by the artist during the creation of the mural.

The artist realized the potential of a mural to become public art.

None of the above

Correct Answer:

Compositional sketches were used by the artist during the creation of the mural.

Explanation:

Incorrect Statement:  Compositional sketches were used by the artist during the creation of the mural.
Despite his poor eyesight, Benode Behari Mukherjee sketched directly on the walls without compositional sketches.

The Lives of Medieval Saints, a mural in Hindi Bhavana, Shantiniketan, was created by Benode Behari Mukherjee around the eve of India’s Independence from Colonial rule, during 1946–1947. The mural employs the technique of fresco buono and covers almost 23 metre of the entire upper half of the three walls of the room. Mukherjee skillfully reminds us of the syncretic and tolerant tradition of Indian life as found in the teachings of great Bhakti poets like Ramanuja, Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas and others. Despite his poor eyesight, the artist sketched directly on the walls without compositional sketches. The Lives of Medieval Saints was painted in modern style, where each figure is created with bare minimum lines. At the same time, each figure relates with its neighbour by way of rhythmic network of lines. In some ways, the mural reminds us of a painted woven tapestry, a profession that many of these saints belonged to. He was one of the earliest artists in modern India to realise the potential of a mural to become public art.