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The uniqueness of Indo-Portuguese art at Christian Art Museum at Goa

When two artistic styles meet, there is every chance of one eclipsing the other but the art objects patronized by the Portuguese in Goa exhibit an amalgam of two cultures, a mutual synthesis of styles that existed from before they came, and those that they introduced. Now these arts were adapted and artists retrained to depict Christian themes. The results were extraordinary as Indian artists created new European symbols, giving them a Hindu or Mughal countenance.

Use of Wood

The artists of Goa knew woodcarving and delicate ivory work much before the Portuguese came.  Decorative items, exotic collectibles, furniture and objects for religious use were all made coping those made in Portugal but now with indigenous decoration. Images in wood of saints are common in most churches. The Museum of Christian Art possesses a wide collection of wooden objects used both for religious and decorative purpose.

Ivory Images

Local artists made masterpieces of Christian sculptures in Ivory with surprising richness and perfection. The Museum of Christian Art possesses some beautiful ivory images. The Good Shepard depicts Jesus as an allegorical Shepard watching his flock. He sits in a pensive posture on an elaborately carved rocky mountain. Beneath him are frolicking lambs, a fountain and St. Mary Magdalene lies in the front grotto, in what is described as a pose of Indian influence, studying the scriptures.
Other pieces include those of Our Lady and other images of Jesus. The use of ivory is also seen in sculpting the delicate faces and hands in wooden images and processional banners.

Textiles
In the field of ornamental needlework, many rich samples of vestments are found in every church. Gold thread embroidery was used lavishly in keeping with the Christian tradition. This art rose to high standards in the religious Convents in Goa thus producing liturgical vestments, like chasubles, stoles, maniples etc. The Museum of Christian Art possesses a beautiful collection of ornamental needlework including Chasubles, Dalmatics, Processional banners, Veils etc.

Silver and Gold

The Museum also has in its collection beautiful artifacts like the Pelican Monstrance based on the legend that in times of famine, the mother pelican plucks open her breast and feeds her young on her own blood. The artistic iconography explicitly suggests that the Holy Sacrament is the food for man’s salvation
The collection also includes rosaries and other items made of gold and precious stones. The famous Saint, Francis Xavier was a popular theme and is shown in silver plaques and on the panels of a silver casket. Image crowns and other ritual objects were also made in silver.

Paintings
The religious orders in Goa introduced the painting for the instruction and edification of the neo-converts on the great mysteries of the Christian faith and the passages of the Bible. Paintings on canvas or on wood of Baptism of Christ, His Passion, portraits of the Virgin, and that of the lives of saints etc, are found in the churches of Goa. A collection of such paintings is found in the Museum.