The museum was created on the initiative of King Rama V in 1874. The gallery's collection includes paintings by Thai artists from the 16th century to the present day. Works by members of the royal family, Rama VI and Rama IX, are presented separately.
The National Gallery of Art in Bangkok is intended to summarize all layers of the country's cultural heritage regardless of external factors. In a way, this museum's exposition is primarily for Thais and about Thais. That makes it all the more interesting for guests of the country to get acquainted with the gallery's authentic collections.
The fine arts of Thailand developed in a distinctive way throughout their centuries-long history. Traditional painting, both in the Middle Ages and in earlier periods, was mainly based on religion, so examples can most often be seen on monastery walls. The European style came to Southeast Asia at the end of the 19th century and served as an impetus for a shift in the priorities of Thailand's painters and sculptors.
The variety of artists' forms of self-expression is astonishing - there are ethnic motifs, modernism, and realism. The entire exposition is divided into three major exhibitions: the first two are permanent, showcasing art before and after 1932, and one is temporary, where you can see new works by Thai masters.
