RAJA RAVI VARMA AND HIS PAINTINGS

PRESENTED BY Nidhin

Indian painter and artist. Born: kilimanoor Travancore

(29 April 1848 – 2 October 1906)

considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art

RAJA RAVI VARMA KOIL THAMPURAN

He was born into an aristocratic family, where the men held the title of Koil Thampuran (sacred prince) and women held the title of Thampuratti (the female form of Thampuran)

Ravi Varma was the son of Ezhumavil Neelakanthan Bhattatiripad, a Brahmin gentleman

His mother, Uma Ambabayi Thampuratty

His works are best examples of the fusion of European techniques with a purely Indian sensibility.

While continuing the tradition and aesthetics of Indian art

Notable for making affordable lithographs of his paintings available to the public

His lithographs increased the involvement of common people with fine arts and defined artistic tastes among common people for several decades.

Depictions of Hindu deities and episodes from the epics and puranas have received profound acceptance from the public and are found,

He learned oil painting from kilimanoor palace painter rama swami naidu

Oil painting is learned from theoder Jhonson a dutch painer

Goddess Saraswathi - Classic painting of Goddess Saraswathi. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma dated 1896 - Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara (Baroda), Gujarat

Malayalee Lady - Picture of an elegant Keralite lady. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma - Collection of Ms Chamundeshwari Pranlal Bhogilal, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Sakunthala - Looks of Love - Sakunthala looking back at Dushyanthan acting as injured with a thorn. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma dated 1898 - Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

There Comes Papa - Painting of Mahaprabha Thampuratti of Mavelikara, Ravi Varma's daughter holding her daughter HH Sethu Lakshmi Bayi who became Maharani of Travancore. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma dated 1893 - Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Lady in Her Dressing Room - A Keralaite lady in dressing room adorning her hair with a garland of jasmine - Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma dated 1873 - Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The Maharashtrian Lady - Painting of a traditionally dressed lady of Maharashtra, India. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma - Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Seshasayi - Also known as 'Ananthasayanam' the picture shows Mahavishnu reclining upon Serpent Ananta who symbolizes eternity. Mahalakshmi and Brahma are also in the picture. Printed at Ravi Varma Press, Malavli near Lonavala, Maharashtra.

Lady Giving Alms - Painting of an aristocratic lady coming out from temple and giving alms. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma

Hamsa Damayanthi - Princess Damayanthi talking with Royal Swan about Nalan. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma dated 1899 - Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Episode from ramayana

Galaxy of Musicians - Indian women dressed in regional attires playing on a variety of musical instruments popular in different parts of the country. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma - Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka

Goddess Durga - Painting of Durga Devi. Oil painting on canvas by Raja Ravi Varma - Collection of Dr. M.A. Chidambaram, Chennai, Tamilnadu

Sreerama Durbar - Sreerama in his court with Seetha Devi, Sons Lavan and Kusan, Brothers, Hanuman etc. Print also known by the name 'Uthararamacharithru'. Printed at Ravi Varma Press, Malavli near Lonavala, Maharashtra

Riddhi Siddhi Ganapathi - Picture of Lord Ganapathi with his two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi. Printed around 1910 at Ravi Varma Press, Malavli near Lonavala, Maharashtra

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