Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur

Government Central Museum

Description

The Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur, Rajasthan was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, Chief Engineer of the Jaipur State and advisor to the Maharaja of Jaipur. It was named in honor of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, who laid its foundation stone on his visit to Jaipur in 1876. Interestingly, upon its inception in 1876, Sawai Ram Singh II intended the building to be a town hall, and it was only in 1880, that his successor Sawai Madho Singh II decided it would be a museum which would display the arts of local craftsmen. Completed in 1887, the museum became a permanent home for exhibits and artifacts collected from various parts of India.The Albert Hall at Jaipur is an example of exquisite Indo – Saracenic architecture. It combines Indo – Islamic architectural elements inspired by the Mughal monuments in Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, with traditional Rajput elements prevalent in its context and realized in the locally available stone.The museum has an extensive collection of various types of indigenous art and crafts - Industrial (Metal) Art, Arms and Armor, Sculptures, International Art, Pottery, Miniature Paintings, In-Situ Paintings, ivory, jewelry, Musical Instruments, Furniture and Woodwork, coins, Garments and Textiles, Clay Models and Masks and carpets.Murals based on various themes – depicting scenes from the Ramayana, reproductions of paintings from illustrations in the Persian Razmnama made for the Mughal emperor Akbar, European, Egyptian, Chinese, Greek and Babylonian civilizations among others forming an integral part of the building fabric and are an exhibit themselves.

Founded, 1876

Foundation stone laid by Prince of Wales, Albert Edward on his visit to Jaipur in 1876 in whose honor the building was named. Interestingly, upon its inception in 1876, the Albert Hall was intended to be a town hall by the then Maharaja, Sawai Ram Singh II.

Converted, 1880

Sawai Ram Singh II’s successor, Sawai Madho Singh II decided it would be a museum which would display the arts of local craftsmen.

Completed, 1887

Completed, the museum became a permanent home for exhibits and artifacts collected from various parts of India. This building which exemplifies the transition of Jaipur into the modern age was visualized by the former Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Ram Singh, and realized by his successor Sawai Madho Singh in 1887.

Restoration, 2017

Detailed Project Report on the ‘Conservation, Restoration, Development and Upgradation of Central Museum, Albert Hall’ by DRONAH.


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