Modern Indian art

Surya Mandir at Modhera, Sass Bruner, Oil on Canvas

Location: Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Ph-I

Elizabeth Sass Brunner and Elizabeth Brunner, mother and daughter were two Hungarian artists who extensively travelled to India in search of spirituality in the 1920's. Landscapes and symbolic constructions, Himalayan scenes, flowering trees, village life and classic architecture formed core of Elizabeth Sass Brunner's paintings whereas Elizabeth Brunner's paintings included subjects such as portraits of leaders, intellectuals, artists, saints, village scenes, landscape and ancient Indian sculpture.

Elizabeth Sass Brunner was born in 1889 in Nagykanizsa, Hungary. Between 1933-1935 they painted several temples and other sacred monuments. This painting reveals the famous Sun temple at Modhera, Gujarat. It was built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty.

The temple is represented on a high Jagati reached through a flight of steps. A subtle background of blue sky and two lush green trees on either sides of the temple balance the composition. Following academic conventions, the architectural marvel is aptly placed in central plane of the painting and forms its main element. The Sabha Mandapa of the Surya temple has 52 intricately carved pillars representing 52 weeks in a year. It is open from all sides and the carvings portray the epics as well as the Krishna Lila.