About Museum of Christian Art
The Museum of Christian Art is located within the 17th-century Convent of Santa Monica in Old Goa, Goa. Established in 1994 as the first museum of its kind in Asia, it showcases Indo-Portuguese Christian art spanning from the 17th to the mid-20th century. The collection includes liturgical objects, ivory carvings, paintings, and vestments created by local Hindu artisans under Portuguese patronage. It serves as a significant repository of Goa’s unique cultural and religious artistic heritage.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore a curated collection of Indo-Portuguese Christian art housed in a historic convent setting. Exhibits include intricately embroidered vestments, ivory sculptures such as the 17th-century Good Shepherd, paintings like St. Ursula, and liturgical metalwork. The museum offers guided tours, a shop, and a cafe. Photography is prohibited inside. The adjacent Church of Santa Monica and MoCA Shop are accessible with free admission.
Key highlights
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First museum of Christian art in Asia, established in 1994
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Housed in the 17th-century Convent of Santa Monica on Holy Hill
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Collection spans 500 years of Indo-Portuguese Christian art
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Features 17th-century ivory statue of Jesus, the Good Shepherd
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Includes painting of St. Ursula formerly in Se Cathedral
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Showcases art created by Hindu artisans during Portuguese colonial era
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Reopened in May 2022 after extensive renovation
History of Museum of Christian Art
Established in 1994 by INTACH with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Archdiocese of Goa, it was originally at Rachol Seminary before moving to the Convent of Santa Monica. The museum preserves artifacts reflecting the fusion of Indian and Portuguese artistic traditions during colonial rule. It underwent major renovation from 2017 to 2020 and reopened on May 23, 2022.
Culture & Context
The museum documents the unique Indo-Portuguese artistic synthesis where Hindu artisans adapted their techniques to create Christian religious art. This resulted in distinct stylistic elements blending Indian aesthetics with Christian iconography, representing Goa's syncretic cultural identity and colonial history.