J P GANGOOLY

BEGINNINGS

He was born in Jorasanko Thakurbari, Calcutta, West Bengal. He had the rare mastery of painting scenerys in oil technique. 1905 Elected joint chair person, Bangiya Kala Samsad, Calcutta. 1907 Founding Fathers of the Indian Society of Oriental Art, Calcutta. 1936 Elected joint directors, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta. 1938 Chairperson, Bangiya Sahitya Sammelan, Krishnanagar. His paintings were a regular feature in Pradip, Bharati, Prabashi, Victorian India, Modern Review, Bharat Bharsho, Sachitra Shishir, Masik Basumati and journals of Academy of Fine Arts and Bishwa Bharati.

EDUCATION

• Studied in the Metropolitan Institution, Calcutta.
• City Collegiate School, Calcutta.
• Junior Cambridge, St. Xaviers School, Calcutta.
• He was tutored at home under Gangadhar Dey,
• Formal Training, Royal College of Art, London.
• Also studied under artist Charles Palmer.

EXHIBITIONS

• 1902 Simla Art Society Exhb., Simla.
• 1910 Annual Exhb., Bombay Art Society, Bombay.
• Exhb., Indian Society of Oriental Art, Calcutta.
• Exhb., The Society of Fine Arts, Madras.
• Exhb., Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta.
• 2003 Manifestations, organised by Delhi Art Gallery, World Trade Center, Mumbai and Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• 2004 Manifestations II, organised by Delhi Art Gallery, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai and Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• 2005 Manifestations III, organised by Delhi Art Gallery, Nehru Center, Mumbai and Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

COLLECTION

• Nawab of Rampur, Rampur.
• New York Gallery, New York.
• Royal Family, Jodhpur.
• Royal Family, Indore.
• Royal Family, Tripura.
• Royal Family, Cooch-Bihar.
• Royal Family, Bhopal.
• Royal Family, Darbhanga.
• Shri Bhavani Museum, Aundh.
• Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi.

AWARDS

• 1902 Award, Simla Art Society, Simla.
• Received award, Bombay Art Society Exhb., Bombay.
• 1908 Award, Indian Society of Oriental Art, Calcutta.
• 1910 Gold Medal, Bombay Art Society, Bombay.
• Conferred the `Cavalier to the Crown` by Victor Immanuel.
• Also known as `William Turner` of India.

STYLE

He usually worked with oil medium. No other painter in India possessed an oil applicability technique like Gangooly. He mastered the shifting gradations and variations of light, not just by studying nature but through the transience of the human face, captured with relation to changing light.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1916-28 After Abanindranath Tagore retired from the Govt. School of Art, Calcutta, Gangooly became Vice- Principal and held the position until his retirement.

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