Lucknow hidden gem: A forgotten treasure of art, heritage | Lucknow News
Lucknow, the City of Nawabs, is known for its unique culture and heritage since times immemorial. Its monuments, cuisine, culture, art and history have been attracting people from across the world.
However, the city also has many lesser-known symbols of heritage which are waiting to be explored and renovated.
One such gem, the Municipal Art Gallery, stands in the heart of the city. It is one of the few art galleries of the country which are maintained by a municipal corporation as a tribute to rich artistic traditions. According to official records, the gallery traces its origins back to 1949 when the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), under the leadership of the then municipality president, BD Sanwal, organised an art exhibition.
The event was managed by renowned artist Madan Lal Nagar with a modest budget of Rs 500.
The exhibition featured prominent artists such as Lalit Mohan Sen, Veereshwar Sen, Kshitindra Mohan Sen, Randhava Vakil, Pranayanjan Mukherjee, Ishwar Das, and VN Jizza. Each participating artist was asked to Photos: Manoj Chhabra donate one piece, while another was acquired by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC). This initiative resulted in a collection of about 90 artworks — including paintings and sculptures — with a total expenditure of Rs 11,300.
This initiative eventually led to the establishment of the Municipal Art Gallery, a dedicated space which shows Lucknow’s cultural and artistic richness.
Vision & preservation
Under Madan Lal Nagar’s supervision, the collected artworks were framed using durable materials to ensure their long-term preservation. This reflected a unique vision for a civic body, traditionally known for infrastructure, sanitation, and planning. However, despite the cultural foresight, the initiative lacked regular institutional support and remained sporadic.
The setback of 1980-81
The gallery suffered a major blow in 1980-81 due to poor storage conditions and heavy rainfall over two days. Many artworks stored improperly were damaged. A committee, headed by Prof KN Kakkar, with Lalit Kala Akademi president Kunwar Kohli and the then secretary (name mentioned in records as Siddiqui) as its members, confirmed damage to nine artworks. These included works by Madan Lal Nagar, BN Jizza, AP Dubey, Sudhir Khastgir, PN Bhargava, Panna Lal, RP Sathi, and Kripal Singh Shekhawat.
Revival efforts
Media reports, particularly by The Times of India journalist Shrawan Shukla in 1995, highlighted the deteriorating condition of the gallery. This prompted renewed efforts for revival. Senior municipal officer Rekha Gupta, in consultation with Prof KN Kakkar, spearheaded restoration work.
The gallery was formally reopened on Aug 15, 1997, with the support from LMC officials and Lalit Kala Akademi. While this was seen as a positive step, concerns about long-term sustainability remained.
Present condition
Currently, work is on to catalogue the entire collection, and a souvenir booklet has been prepared. It includes brief profiles of artists and descriptions of the mediums used— ranging from water colours and oil paintings to sculptures.
Some paintings have been restored by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), and new frames have been introduced to enhance preservation. Despite these efforts, the gallery remains largely underappreciated. On most days, it attracts only a couple of visitors. The false ceiling is damaged, and the overall environment lacks the upkeep expected of a public cultural space.
Valuable collection
Over the years, the gallery has welcomed visitors from cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai, as well as international guests from Germany. Some have shared their impressions in a visitors’ register once maintained by caretaker Deepa Saxena.
Thanks to officials like former municipal commissioner RK Singh and IAS officer Vishal Bhardwaj, major repairs were carried out in 2010. The gallery is now a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in early 20th-century North Indian art.
A new chapter ahead
Former municipal commissioner Inderjit Singh said, “Since the new municipal corporation building is already under construction, the current century-old structure will be converted into a museum. In that setting, this art gallery will become a centre of attraction and a key cultural highlight of the city.”
Additional municipal commissioner Lalit Kumar said, “We are committed to not only preserving this valuable collection but also making the gallery more accessible and engaging for the public. If any shortcomings are found in the preservation or display of the gallery’s artworks, we will take immediate steps for improvement.”
