Maharaja Fatesingh Museum Vadodara

About the location: Located within the sprawling Lukshmi Vilas Palace Estate, the museum showcases art pieces that belong to the illustrious Maratha family. European Renaissance and Rococo paintings, portraits, marble busts, and a collection of portraiture by Raja Ravi Verma (more than 30 original paintings) are part of the collection. Much of this art was commissioned by the Maharaja himself. Artefacts from different countries are spread over two floors and a fully functional toy train (world’s smallest locomotive engine) for the prince in the garden outside are worth your while.

Brief History:  Set amidst the Lukshmi Vilas Palace Estate, the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum is housed in the former Motibaug School, where Gaekwad princes once studied. The building was later adapted into a museum under the guidance of renowned art historian Dr. Hermann Goetz and inaugurated in April 1961 by the Governor of Gujarat, Nawab Mehdi Nawaz Jung.

The museum’s treasures were largely collected by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III (1875–1939), a progressive ruler whose vision for art and education transformed Baroda into one of India’s most enlightened princely states. His discerning taste, combined with expert advice, brought together an exceptional collection of Indian and European art. One of his close advisors, Augusto Felici, a Venetian artist, not only guided him in acquiring Western works but also created striking marble and bronze sculptures now on display. The celebrated painter Raja Ravi Varma was invited to Baroda, where he produced mythological themes and royal portraits that remain highlights of the museum. Other notable artists include Fyzee Rahamin, a disciple of Sir John Singer Sargent, and Phanindranath Bose, whose sculptures were admired by Rodin. The collection also includes remarkable copies of works by the great Italian Renaissance masters (15th–16th century), alongside a prized selection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, as well as Wedgwood, Doulton, Tiffany, Lalique, and Orrefors glassware. On the first floor, a beautifully decorated French Rococo-style period room offers a glimpse of European grandeur.

In recent years, the museum has added a distinctive gallery showcasing the headgear collection of Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, further enriching its diverse holdings. Today, the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum stands as a living testament to the Gaekwads’ patronage of art and culture, preserving a legacy of creativity, refinement, and global exchange.