Draft:Promode Gopal Chatterjee


Promode Gopal Chatterjee

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Promode Gopal Chatterjee
 
Born20 April 1910
Senhati, Khulna District (Now in Bangladesh)
Died16 November 1988
Calcutta (Now Kolkata)
OccupationSculptor
Years active1940-1987
SpousePuspa Chatterjee (Niece of Bhukailash Rajbari Khidirpur)
ChildrenSons: Amal Kumar Chatterjee, Late Ashok Kumar Chatterjee Daughters: Mondira Banerjee, Tapasi Banerjee, Manashi Mukherjee
Parents
  • Nibaran Chandra Chatterjee (father)
  • Bhagabati Debi (Chatterjee) (mother)

Promode Gopal Chatterjee (20 April 1910 – 16 November 1988) was a reputed Bengali sculptor from West Bengal, India.

Early Life

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Promode Gopal Chatterjee was born on April 20, 1910 at Senhati in Khulna District (Now in Bangladesh). His father was a Post Master of Khulna District Post Office. After retirement in the year 1930, his entire family shifted to Calcutta and finally settled at Gobinda Ghoshal Lane, Bhawanipur.

Career

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He was a Student of Government College of Art and Craft Calcutta, where he had also taught for some time. He was a recipient of Prize Money for his creation "STUDY IN BRONZE" from Academy of Fine Arts Calcutta in 1940.

He was acquainted with Her Highness 108 Maharani Sahiba (Senior) of Patiala Estate, she was attracted with his sculptures and offered him to create "LORD KRISHNA" with Belgium Kosthi Stone, for her Art Gallery, after completion of the work, Her Highness was highly satisfied and pleased with this "MASTER PIECE" and vastly appreciated to the sculptor in the year 1940.[1]

He sculpted numerous classic sculptures of different Indian Native Estate till 1945. He was one of the Members in the General Committee, Fine Arts Section of the " ALL INDIA EXHIBITION" held at the Eden Garden's Calcutta 1948. He received "SCHOLARSHIP" from Academy of Fine Arts Calcutta in 1950. His sculptures were immensely appreciated by the erstwhile Indian Native Estate like− Patiala, Balangir, Manjusha Dhenkanal and Seraikella.

All his sculptures mainly medium with the Bronze (Lost Wax Casting) Makrana Marble, Belgium Kosthi Stone, Italian Marble and Plaster of Paris. He created Bronze Statue of Prafulla Chandra Roy installed in his birthplace at Bangladesh in the year 1950. He received an invitation from chairman International sculpture competition (LONDON) to join, where almost thirty-five countries and over three hundred sculptors participated in that competition in the year 1952. His creation of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's marble Statue (Bust) was installed at Vidyasagar's birthplace at Ghatal Birsingha Village in 1952.

 
Marble Horse, Compared with RODIN

His Marble work at the Exhibition of Indian Art and Craft, sponsored by the Government of India, were sent to the United States of America at "GALLERY GAZER" where his creation "MARBLE HORSE" had been much appreciated and spoken highly of by the Press and Art Critics, of Washington D.C. compared his sculpture Marble Horse with "RODIN" the great sculptor of the Continent. The marble horse executed by him, had been published by the Government of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in it's publication "INDIAN ART through the ages" in 1952.

He was a visiting lecturer in the Architecture Section of the Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur, Howrah. Former chief minister, Government of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was a great admirer of his sculptures. Dr. Roy appeared on "Live Sitting" for his self-portrait in his chamber at Writer's Building in 1954.

 
Bronze Relief of " GALILEO" Installed in ITALY Year 1965

He created statue of Vidyasagar praised by the "SECOND ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ARTS" New Delhi commented as a "STRIKING PIECE OF WORK" 1954. His creation Dr. Santosh Kumar Basu's marble Bust installed at Dr. B.C.Roy Polio Clinic at Baliaghata Calcutta 1959. Life size Statue of an" ONGE" installed at Anthropology Department in "INDIAN MUSEUM" Calcutta.[2] Created by him 1959. The Statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore installed at Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs INDIA New Delhi 1963. The Bronze Relief of "GALILEO" created by him was, installed at the "INDIAN AMBASSADOR HOUSE" in ITALY. 1965. Marble Bust of Dr. Kumud Shankar Roy was installed at Administrative Block National Medical College, Calcutta in 1965.

 
Life size marble statue (sitting posture) Vidyasagar installed at Sanskrit College Kolkata 1977

His creation of life size Marble Statue (Sitting Posture) of Vidyasagar was installed at Sanskrit College at Kolkata,1977.

A 14 feet Bronze Statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, created by him in 1983, was installed at Brigade Parade Ground Kolkata. (Due to unavoidable reasons Bronze Pieces Welding by someone else not under his supervision).[3]

 
Creation of Rabindranath Tagore installed at Allahabad 1987

His last Creation in his Artistic Career is the Statue of Rabindranath Tagore installed at the Allahabad 1987. He had created numerous classic sculptures of common people including statues of Labour, Hermit, Bairagi and Dhunuri.

Notable Creations

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Portrait of Labour
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Portrait of Labour
Portrait of Dhunuri
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Portrait of Dhunuri
Portrait of Hermit
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Portrait of Hermit
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Promode Gopal Chatterjee at Blogpost