Jagdish Mittal’s journey as an art collector began in 1946 when he bought a Kantha embroidered quilt (which can be dated to the late 19th century) from a fisherman. He and his wife, Kamala Mittal, have curated a plethora of artworks and artefacts over the years. Subsequently, in 1976, they set up the Jagdish and Kamala Mittal Museum Of Indian Art, a public trust, to make their collection accessible to those interested in the history of Indian art.

With over 2000 pieces from various historical periods and traditions, their collection includes folk art along with paintings from the classical traditions. The Museum is particularly rich in Indian miniature paintings, with representative examples spanning a period from about 1200 A.D. to the end of the 19th century. They include all the important schools like the Western Indian or Gujarati, Rajasthani, Mughal, Pahadi (Punjab Hill States), Central Indian, Deccani, South Indian, Bengali, Orissan, as well as the Company period and Folk styles [1]. The museum has over 250 drawings from the Mughal, Deccani, Rajsthani and Pahari schools of art. Paintings from their collection have been part of temporary exhibits at the Festival of India exhibitions in London, USA and France [2]. The collection also includes manuscripts, Islamic calligraphy, folk and classical bronzes, terracottas, wood carving, ivory, glass, jade, metalware (in bronze, brass, copper, silver, bidri), arms, weaponry and textiles. There are also some Nepali and Tibetan tankas and metal images [3]. One of the samples in terracotta is of a seventh century female head from Akhnoor, the mouth and chin of the lady moulded with a slight smile that is reminiscent of a Botticelli Venus as well as a Buddhist Tara [4].

The museum which currently functions from the couple’s residence has been of significant importance to scholars and artists.