Rare paintings capturing the 18th century landscape, people and culture of this erstwhile Danish colony are on display at a week-long exhibition here.
Copies of the original paintings by then Danish Governor Peter Anker, preserved now at the National Art Museum at Oslo in Norway, are being showcased at the exhibition at the Indo-Danish Cultural Centre here in Nagapattinam district.
Inaugurating the exhibition, president of Denmark-based Tranquebar Association Poul Petersen said the ‘rare’ paintings had been meticulously copied from the Oslo museum after obtaining due permission.
Tarangambadi, then known as Tranquebar, remained under Danish rule between 1620 AD and 1845 AD and was governed by Danish Governors, he said. Anker, who was posted in Tarangambadi between 1786 and 1808, was a skilled artist, he added.
“The Governor created several intricate paintings of Tarangambadi, its landscape, people and culture during his tenure... We thought people of Tarangambadi would be thrilled to see the paintings,” Petersen said.
Petersen added that in addition to the paintings, the Tranquebar Association, a voluntary organisation, had set up a theatre at the Indo-Danish cultural centre.
“Documentaries on the history of Tarangambadi and Indo-Danish cultural ties created by the Danish School of Museum would be screened at the theatre on Saturdays and Sundays every week,” he said.
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