N. S. Bendre, Painter
Painter

N. S. Bendre

Born 21 August 1910 · Madhya Pradesh — Died 19 February 1992

Co-founded the Baroda Group, shaping modern Indian landscape painting.

Narayan Shridhar Bendre was an Indian artist and one of the founding members of Baroda Group Born in Indore, he was known for his landscape artistry. In 1992, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan.

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A detail that
surprised us

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In 1941, Bendre won the Bombay Art Society’s gold medal, an award that had once almost gone to Amrita Sher-Gil, highlighting the intense artistic rivalries of the era.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1934, N. S. Bendre won the Silver Medal from the Bombay Art Society just a year after completing his Government Diploma in Art from Bombay, marking early acclaim in the competitive Indian art scene.
2
From 1945, Bendre spent time as artist-in-residence at Santiniketan, where he interacted with luminaries like Nandalal Bose and Jamini Roy, experiences that deeply influenced his evolving style.
3✈️ In 1948, Bendre held a solo exhibition at New York’s Windermere Gallery, making a rare international appearance for an Indian painter of his time and absorbing European modernist influences on his return journey.
4By 1950, he became the first Reader and Head of the Department of Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda, where he pioneered integration of Cubist and Expressionist styles with Indian themes, notably in works like "Thorn" (1955).

🏅 Awards & Honours

1969
Padma Shri
1992
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1934, shortly after graduating, Bendre received the Silver Medal from the Bombay Art Society, a stepping stone to winning the prestigious gold medal in 1941, a rare distinction for Indian artists of the period.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Narayan Shridhar Bendre was born into a Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin family, beginning his life in a culturally rich environment.
1910
📚
Education
Completed Government Diploma in Art, Bombay
Bendre graduated from Bombay’s art school, stepping into the Indian art world with formal credentials.
1933
🏅
Award
Won Silver Medal, Bombay Art Society
Awarded early recognition for his landscape paintings, a key moment in his emerging career.
1934
🏅
Award
Received Gold Medal, Bombay Art Society
Achieved the highest honor from the Bombay Art Society, underscoring his growing stature as a landscape artist.
1941
⚡
Career
Artist-in-residence at Santiniketan
Spent significant time at Santiniketan, interacting with pioneers of Indian modern art and expanding his artistic network.
1945
⚡
Career
Solo exhibition in New York City
Held a solo show at Windermere Gallery, introducing Indian landscapes to an international audience.
1948
⚡
Career
Joined Baroda Faculty of Fine Arts
Became the first Reader and Head of Painting, playing a foundational role in the institution’s modern art curriculum.
1950
🏅
Award
"Thorn" wins National Award
His painting "Thorn" earned a National Award, highlighting his experimentation with Cubist and abstract styles.
1955
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Shri
Received one of India’s prestigious civilian honors in recognition of his artistic contributions.
1969
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Mumbai
Bendre died at age 81, the same year he was posthumously honored with the Padma Bhushan.
1992
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 06
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Bendre's time at Santiniketan in 1945 put him in direct contact with icons like Ramkinkar Baij and Binode Behari Mukherjee, connecting him to the heart of the Bengal School’s legacy.

02 / 06
👤PERSONAL

Despite his modernist style, Bendre maintained a deep spiritual approach to his art, often treating painting as a meditative practice rather than merely aesthetic creation.

03 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Bendre’s paintings such as "Thorn" (1955) won National Awards and reflected his experiments with Cubism, an uncommon style among Indian artists at that time.

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🌱 What changed because of them

N. S. Bendre’s leadership at the Baroda Faculty of Fine Arts established a training ground where Indian modernism flourished, notably through the Baroda Group which he helped found in 1956. His synthesis of Cubist and Expressionist techniques with Indian themes created new artistic vocabularies, influencing artists like Jeram Patel and Ghulammohammed Sheikh. His efforts also contributed to the foundation of the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi, shaping institutional support for modern Indian art.

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