Nicholas Roerich was a Russian who settled down in
the beautiful hills of the Himalayas after the revolution of 1917. He
was a gifted painter, who dreamt of unifying the world through art.
Roerich Art Gallery is set amidst well-tended gardens and has the
perfect setting for the display of art. The whole ambience beautifully
captures the essence and beauty of Himalayas, just like the subtle
strokes of the brush by an expert.
The building that now houses the gallery once served as the residence
of N. K. Roerich and was turned into the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery by
his son Svyetoslav Roerich. Himachal Pradesh Government and Russian
Government have formed a trust, headed by the Prime Minister of India,
to run this art gallery as the Roerich Heritage Museum. The small room
on the ground floor of the museum displays paintings by the artist.
They highlight the mythological fiber of Himalayas from the eyes of a
Russian, its deep and bright colors being characteristic of his origin
country. There are also a few photos of Nicholas on display here, such
as the one in which he is posing in his front Lawn with Jawahar Lal
Nehru - in Chinese silk robes, Cossack boots and burly beard. The
original work of Roerich on the Himalayas, along with his quotations and
words of wisdom as well as those of the visitors and admirers of the
gallery, have also been put on display here.
