Tamil Nadu - Museums of Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur Art Gallery Thanjavur Art Gallery
A gigantic tower, the arsenal, decorated with bands of arches form the external façade. One enters into a hall which is the sculpture gallery where examples of south Indian stone sculptures dating from the Pallava to the Nayak period are exhibited. Frescoes, painted a hundred years ago in the glass pianting style of Tanjore, adorn the walls of the Durbar Hall, while on a stage stands the marble statue of the Maratha king, Serfogi. From a magnificent bronze collection the earliest and smallest date to the Pallava period while the most important are Chola. Sixteen great Natarajas depict the various stages the cosmic dance. An outstanding piece is a 12th century Nataraja from Tiruviddaimandin. Timings: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm Closed on some festival days and government holidays.
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The former palace of the Nayaks of Thanjavur, once viceroys
of the Vijayanagara rulers and later hereditary rulers,
is a wonderful and extravagant piece of architecture, built in 1600. The
huge enclosed compound encompasses a complex which includes the Art Gallery,
the Saraswati Library and the Sangeetha Sabha
or Music Hall.