FONSECA'S TRAIL OF NATIONALISM AND DEVOTION GOES OUT ON DISPLAY AT PILAR By Frederick Noronha
PANAJI (Goa), Nov 9: In colonial times, his colours were obviously out of tune with themes prevailing then. But after that too, Indian Christian artist Agnelo da Fonseca faded away into oblivion with his potential hardly be realised till he died in 1967 of meningitis. Finally, an exhibition of this under-recognised Goan artist, whose birth centenary will be celebrated in December 2002, will go out on display this week for almost a month at the religious centre of Pilar, in central Goa, some 10 kms from here soon. Angelo da Fonseca's eighty odd paintings and other creations be put up for public viewing around three scenic larger-than-life stained glass windows in the Pilar seminary chapel, a training centre for Catholic priests. These stained-glass creations -- virtually the only ones of their kind in a formerly Portuguese-rule Goa where this art form was not popular -- were created by Angelo da Fonseca and are today a tourist attractions in Goa. Fonseca (b. 1902) on the scenic isles of Santo Estevao, was the youngest of 17 children. He studied in Pune, and then Grant Medical College in Mumbai, scoring a sensational 100% in anatomy during his two years in medical studies. Obviously, his talent lay elsewhere, and he gave up the sthescope for the paint-brush. He applied for an agriculture course in Pune, but then join the Sir J J School of Arts in Bombay. Living as a Goan emigrant in Bombay at a time when the Indian freedom movement was at its peak, he was imbued with the spirit of a new India", says Pilar Theological College professor Dr. Seby Mascarenhas, who is the co-ordinator for his exhibition. Feeling that the JJ School of Arts "still had an European principal", Fonseca went over to Shantiniketan in Bengal, and became a pupil of A.N.Tagore. His art is also believed to have impressed Rabindranath Tagore, India's first Nobel laureate, and founder of Shantiniketan. He studied art under Abandindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose in Santiniketan. On completion of training, Abindranath is said to have told him: "Go back, young man, and paint churches!" Fonseca commented in his writing: "I belong to the neo-Bengal School of painting which is a revival of the old famous Indian school of painting." But, on his return to his native Goa in 1931, still then a Portuguese colony, Fonseca had to face severe criticism in Goa for his art style. He painted Christian themes in Indian settings, a very revolutionary step at that time. His argument was simple: "Why could not the Catholic Church find herself a home in India since she is Catholic i.e. is really universal. Indian in India as she is European in Europe?" Despite criticism he continued painting religious themes in this style. "When Mary shows herself, she appears in the style of the place', he said. Referring to Indian art form and the trend of copying western styles, he had then commented: "I hope in the future we shall learn to treasure what is our birthright." He left Goa and found a supportive place in the Khrist Prem Seva Ashram in Pune, where he started his early productive work. He lived and painted here for 17 years, till he married in 1951. Angelo speciality was water colours using the wash technique developed in Santiniketan. Before painting and after completing the picture he would dampen the picture with water of various colours. The effect of this is to make the colours homogenous with the paper and is similar to the result obtained in Italian fresco work. He produced over 1000 water colours. He also painted about 50 oils. But he also carved on wood and slate, painted scrolls, made paper cuttings, pencil sketches, wax drawings, stained glass and baked clay. He designed chalices, altars, helped design church. Fonseca mainly painted Christian themes, but he also has delightful portraits of his family, watercolour and pencil scenes of Goa and other places he visited. His murals and paintings adorn the St. Xavier Church, Pune, the KPS Ashram, the De Nobili College, Pune, Rachol Seminary in Goa and other places. A collection of his paintings is in the Missio Musuem in Aachen, Germany. The three stained glass windows in the Pilar Seminary, Goa, with their stunning colours, serene visages and indigenous elements evoke awe and wonder and are today a tourist attraction. True to his love for the region, Angelo mixed his own colours using the soils of his native Goa. "The fresh looking murals, even after forty years, are testimony to his skill at using natural colours," says exhibition coordinator Dr Mascarenhas. "His paintings have a deep spiritual character in true Indian tradition where art springs from spirituality. He used fine lines and sedate colours to evoke peace and calm in the beholder. Angelo was a deeply religious person," said Mascarenhas. Fonseca received world-wide recognition for his daring style at the time when he made a tour of Europe towards the end of 1948 till early 1950. He had exhibitions in Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, England, Ireland and USA. (ENDS) NOTE: This article is based on inputs from Dr Seby Mascarenhas. Venue: Society of Pilar, Pilar, Goa 403203 Tel: 218553 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Open: November 10 to December 8, 2002. 9 am -12.30 pm, 3.30 to 6.30 pm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ To unsubscribe from Goanews Send a mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: 'unsubscribe goanews'
