The Royal Palaces of India and The Art of the Divine: Hindu Gods & Goddesses

India’s royal palaces are magnificent, historic residences reflecting a blend of Rajput, Mughal and European architectural styles. Our first lecture takes you inside numerous stunning examples, including the incomparable Laxmi Villas Palace in Baroda (the largest private residence in the world) and the striking art deco Umaid Bhawan. As well as exploring the sublime architecture of the buildings and the beautiful works of art they contain, the lecture also looks at the historical contexts of their construction and the fascinating lives of their most notable residents.

Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion in the world. For at least 4,000 years, artists have striven to create works of art that capture the beauty, power and personalities of its numerous gods and goddesses. The second lecture explores a variety of exquisite works of religious art created by famous Indian artists working in a variety of mediums. It also explores the myths, legends, traditions and philosophies surrounding the most fascinating gods and goddesses that inhabit the Hindu divine pantheon.

About: Dr John Stevens

John Stevens is head of the London Bangla Academy, an online school that teaches the Bengali language to students across the world. He gained his PhD in History from UCL, before going on to teach British Imperial History, Indian History and Bengali Language at SOAS, University of London. His biography of the Indian guru Keshab Chandra Sen – Keshab: Bengal’s Forgotten Prophet - was published by Hurst and Oxford University Press. He is a regular visitor to India and Bangladesh and has lectured at numerous Indian universities. He also works as a consultant on Indian affairs. He has appeared many times in the Indian media and was a guest on BBC Radio Four’s In Our Time, discussing the poet and artist Rabindranath Tagore.