DAG and Goa Tourism Unveil Landmark Exhibition Showcasing Rare Company Paintings

DAG and Goa Tourism Unveil Landmark Exhibition Showcasing Rare Company Paintings

Panaji, Goa  Dec 16:-Reaffirming its commitment to recognising the largely unknown Indian masters commissioned by the East India Company in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, DAG India’s premier art company presents A Treasury of Life: Indian Company Paintings, c. 1790–1835. Drawn entirely from the DAG collection and curated by Giles Tillotson, Senior Vice President, DAG, the exhibition examines how Indian artists responded to European patronage by creating entirely new artistic templates that bridged indigenous traditions with Western visual systems.

Featuring over 200 works, A Treasury of Life is the largest exhibition in India dedicated to Company Paintings, showcasing the extraordinary diversity and technical brilliance of Indian painters from this period. The exhibition opens in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, with a private viewing held on 1 December 2025 at the Aguad Port and Jail Complex, Goa, and remains open to the public until 14 January 2026.

Long positioned on the margins of Indian art history arriving too late to belong to classical court traditions and too early to be framed within modernism Company Paintings are re-evaluated in A Treasury of Life as a critical precursor to Indian modernism. The exhibition reveals how Indian artists actively negotiated shifting patronage, materials, and techniques, resulting in one of the most dynamic and innovative phases of Indian art.

The exhibition is structured around three principal themes: natural history, documenting India’s flora and fauna with scientific precision and artistic sensitivity; architecture, capturing cityscapes and historic sites through a fusion of Indian and European visual idioms; and Indian manners and customs, portraying traders, artisans, religious figures, and sacred icons with remarkable detail. Together, these works reflect both European impulses to document an unfamiliar land and the ingenuity of Indian artists who adapted their practices to new audiences and formats.

Beyond their aesthetic value, these paintings serve as vital historical records of ecosystems, architectural heritage, and social practices that have since transformed or disappeared due to urbanisation and environmental change. From delicate renderings of now-endangered plant species to detailed depictions of wildlife and landscapes, the exhibition offers rare visual insights into worlds that no longer exist in their original form.

 Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, noted;

“A Treasury of Life brings to Goa an extraordinary era of Indian artistic brilliance that deserves national and global attention. Hosting this landmark exhibition reinforces our commitment to positioning Goa as a centre for meaningful, heritage-driven experiences. It also reflects the state’s growing role in facilitating high-calibre cultural collaborations.”

Ashish Anand, CEO and Managing Director, DAG, added;

“We are delighted to present A Treasury of Life in Goa as part of our long-standing commitment to championing pre-modern and hybrid art practices that laid the foundation for Indian modernism. From sponsoring Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company at the Wallace Collection in 2019 the first major UK exhibition on Company Paintings to our Birds of India exhibition across three Indian cities, DAG has consistently sought to expand awareness of this important genre. A Treasury of Life represents the most comprehensive exploration of Company Painting to date.”

Shri Kedar Naik, Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, stated;

“This exhibition is a significant addition to Goa’s cultural calendar and strengthens our efforts to promote meaningful tourism rooted in heritage and learning. By bringing this exceptional collection to Aguad, we are enabling visitors to experience art as a powerful storyteller of India’s past.”

Shri Kuldeep Arolkar, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, commented;

“A Treasury of Life enriches Goa’s cultural landscape and offers visitors a deeply engaging artistic experience. Initiatives such as this encourage a more thoughtful engagement with heritage and creativity.”

Shri Savio Mathias, Vice President  Operations and Business Development, Aguad Port and Jail Complex, said;

“Hosting A Treasury of Life at the Aguad Port and Jail Complex is deeply meaningful for us. Presenting an exhibition of this calibre at this historic site reflects our ongoing commitment to transforming Aguad into a destination for culture, dialogue, and heritage-led experiences.”