The Hindu : Front Page : New life for Mattancherry museum

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Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008
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New life for Mattancherry museum

T.S. Subramanian

Royal portraits from the 19th century in Kochi get a better deal thanks to ASI’s efforts

— Photo Courtesy: ASI

NEW LOOK: The reorganised portrait gallery at the Mattancherry Palace.

CHENNAI: The Archaeological Survey of India has reorganised the Mattancherry Palace Museum near Kochi, providing lighting of international standards in the gallery that features life-size portraits of the 19th century kings of Kochi, made on canvas by local artists. A new gallery on Kerala’s history has been set up.

M. Nambirajan, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Thrissur Circle, who led the work, said the eastern wing would be conserved in the next phase. In the third phase, the Ramayana gallery with murals would be conserved.

When the Portuguese held sway over Kochi, they built a palace at Mattancherry and presented it to the Raja of Kochi, Vira Kerala Varma (1537-1565), around A.D. 1555. Subsequently, the Dutch renovated the palace and hence it is popularly called the Dutch palace. It has both European and local architectural features. The palace is a single-storeyed quadrangular structure built in the “nalukettu” style, with an open courtyard in the middle and rooms on the four sides. The central courtyard on the ground floor has a temple of the royal family, devoted to Pazhayannur Bhagawati.

The first floor is a protected monument, maintained by the ASI. A museum was established here in 1985. It consisted of six galleries — a coronation hall, a hall with murals on Ramayana scenes, a gallery with pictures and maps of the Dutch forts in India, and maps of Kochi of the Dutch period, a dining hall, a women’s chamber and a staircase room. The northern wing was used as an ASI office and to organise exhibitions.

Mr. Nambirajan said no major development work had been done at the museum since it was established, and the display, lighting and labels were poor. The first floor originally had wooden flooring but cement concrete was laid out over it . The concrete has been removed and the wood exposed.

The reorganisation work began in May 2006. The office block was converted into a portrait gallery. “The display is of international standard. Light-emitting diode lighting which will not have any negative impact on the paintings is provided. Information has been provided on the kings and their achievements. Photographs of their family members are displayed,” Mr. Nambirajan said.

The important portraits include those of Rama Varma (1790-1805), Rama Varma (1805-1809), Veera Kerala Varma (1809-1828), Rama Varma (1828-1837) and Kerala Varma (194-43), popularly called “the Wise King.” Information on landmarks during their rule is provided.

A new gallery on Kerala’s history has panels on the story of Parasuraman, and the archaeology and history of Kerala, Kochi’s in particular.

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