The Mattancheri palace at Kochi has an excellent location with the panorama of the backwaters on the east and the tall synagogue of the Jews on the south.It was built by the Portuguese in AD 1557 for the use of the Raja of Cochin. A century later, it underwent extensive renovation in the hands of the Dutch.That was why the building was also known as the Dutch palace.
The double-storeyed building with a quadrangular plan aligned around the palayannur Bhagavati temple in the centre, follows mainly the plan of nalukettus ('four buildings') with a courtyard in the centre, a plan common in the domestic architechure of Kerala. Besides the Bhagavati temple in the centre, there is another temple-complex dedicated to Vishnu and siva to the South of the palace can also be seen.The entire structural complex is enclosed by a height wall pierced on the east and the west by an entrance
The importance of this monument lies in its painting ranging in date for about three hundred years and showing the stylistic evolution of kerala painting from its heights to its lows.The most remarkable series found in the large hall are illustrations of ramayana starting from Putrakameshi Yajna to Ramapattabhishekam.The continuity of Ramayana story is interrupted by two panles of iconic images of vishnu and Venugopala. There are also representations of Ganesha puja and Krishnalila on the small wall space above the doors. Unfortunately,much of this quality has been lost because of the protective coating given to the walls in recent years.
Once we move down to two rooms on the ground floor,a perceptible change is noticed in the stylistic evolution of Kerala murals.An element of realism,which was totally absent in the earlier period,begins to appear in the conventional pictorial style.
The importance of this monument lies in its painting ranging in date for about three hundred years and showing the stylistic evolution of kerala painting from its heights to its lows.The most remarkable series found in the large hall are illustrations of ramayana starting from Putrakameshi Yajna to Ramapattabhishekam.The continuity of Ramayana story is interrupted by two panles of iconic images of vishnu and Venugopala. There are also representations of Ganesha puja and Krishnalila on the small wall space above the doors. Unfortunately,much of this quality has been lost because of the protective coating given to the walls in recent years.
Once we move down to two rooms on the ground floor,a perceptible change is noticed in the stylistic evolution of Kerala murals.An element of realism,which was totally absent in the earlier period,begins to appear in the conventional pictorial style.
No comments:
Post a Comment