Raja Ravi Rama Raja Ravi Rama VarmaVarma

PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BY N.VENU GOUDN.VENU GOUD

Raja Ravi Rama Raja Ravi Rama VarmaVarma

Born :April 29, 1848 Born :April 29, 1848 KilimanoorKilimanoor

Died :October 2, 1906Died :October 2, 1906 KilimanoorKilimanoor Occupation : PainterOccupation : Painter Signature :Signature :

Early lifeEarly lifeRaja Ravi Varma was born as Ravi Varma Koil ThampuranRaja Ravi Varma was born as Ravi Varma Koil ThampuranOf Kilimanoor palace. His father Ezhumavail Bhattatiripad Of Kilimanoor palace. His father Ezhumavail Bhattatiripad was an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayamba was an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayamba Thampuratti was a poet and writer whose work Thampuratti was a poet and writer whose work ParvatiParvatiSwayamwaram Swayamwaram was published bywas published by Raja Ravi Varma after Raja Ravi Varma after her death. He was trained in water painting by her death. He was trained in water painting by Rama Rama Swami Naidu Swami Naidu and later in oil painting by and later in oil painting by Theodor Jenson. Theodor Jenson. All were impressed by his amazing talent to draw. His All were impressed by his amazing talent to draw. His father gave him support and trained him under famous father gave him support and trained him under famous artists. As a boy of five, he filled the walls of his house withartists. As a boy of five, he filled the walls of his house withpictures of animals and illustrations from everyday life.pictures of animals and illustrations from everyday life.

His uncle the artist Raja Raja Varma recognized his talentsHis uncle the artist Raja Raja Varma recognized his talentsand gave him elementary art lessons. He was taken to and gave him elementary art lessons. He was taken to Thiruvanathapuram in his fourteenth year to stay in the Thiruvanathapuram in his fourteenth year to stay in the royal palace and learn oil painting. During these formative royal palace and learn oil painting. During these formative years the young Ravi Varma had many opportunities toyears the young Ravi Varma had many opportunities todiscover and learn new techniques and media in the field ofdiscover and learn new techniques and media in the field ofpainting. His later years spent in Mysore, Baroda and otherpainting. His later years spent in Mysore, Baroda and otherparts of the country enabled him to sharpen and expand hisparts of the country enabled him to sharpen and expand hisskills and blossom into a mature and complete painter. skills and blossom into a mature and complete painter.

Personal lifePersonal lifeRaja Ravi Varma was married to Pururuttathi Nal Raja Ravi Varma was married to Pururuttathi Nal Bhageerathi Amma Thampuratti of the Royal House of Bhageerathi Amma Thampuratti of the Royal House of Mavelikara and they had two sons and three daughters.Mavelikara and they had two sons and three daughters.Their eldest son, Kerala Varma, went missing in 1912. RajaTheir eldest son, Kerala Varma, went missing in 1912. RajaRavi Varma’s eldest daughter, Ravi Varma’s eldest daughter, MahaprabhaMahaprabha, appears in two, appears in twoof his prominent paintings. Many films had released of his prominent paintings. Many films had released showing his life. Renjith Desai, a Marathi novelist had showing his life. Renjith Desai, a Marathi novelist had written his biography in the form of novel in Marathi written his biography in the form of novel in Marathi language.language.

Varma’s daughter Varma’s daughter

Ravi Varma’s daughter Ravi Varma’s daughter

Art careerArt careerRaja Ravi Varma received widespread acclaim after he Raja Ravi Varma received widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna inwon an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna in1873. Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings were also sent to the 1873. Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings were also sent to the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 andWorld’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 andhe was awarded two gold medals. He travelled throughout he was awarded two gold medals. He travelled throughout India in search of subjects. He often modeled Hindu India in search of subjects. He often modeled Hindu Goddesses on south Indian women, whom he considered Goddesses on south Indian women, whom he considered beautiful. Ravi Varma is particularly noted for his paintingsbeautiful. Ravi Varma is particularly noted for his paintingsdepicting episodes from the story of depicting episodes from the story of DushyantaDushyanta and and Shakuntala, Shakuntala, and and NalaNala and and Damayanti, Damayanti, from Mahabharata.from Mahabharata.

Ravi Varma’s representation of mythological characters Ravi Varma’s representation of mythological characters has become a part of the Indian imagination of the epics. has become a part of the Indian imagination of the epics. He is often criticized for being too showy and sentimentalHe is often criticized for being too showy and sentimentalin his style. However his work remains very popular in in his style. However his work remains very popular in India. His many fabulous paintings are available at India. His many fabulous paintings are available at LakshmiLakshmiVilas Palace of Vadodara.Vilas Palace of Vadodara. During his time Varma is most During his time Varma is mostfamous for his paintings of sari-clad women portrayed asfamous for his paintings of sari-clad women portrayed asshapely and graceful. Varma’s paintings became anshapely and graceful. Varma’s paintings became animportant motif in of the time, reproductions being found inimportant motif in of the time, reproductions being found inalmost every middle-class home. His exposure in the west almost every middle-class home. His exposure in the west came when he won the first prize in the Vienna Art came when he won the first prize in the Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at the Exhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at the age of 58. He is considered among the greatest paintersage of 58. He is considered among the greatest painters

Lakshmi Vilas PalaceLakshmi Vilas Palace

Lakshmi Vilas Palace of Vadodara

in the history of Indian art. Many of his oil paintings are in the history of Indian art. Many of his oil paintings are classic and his unique Indian style has later influenced classic and his unique Indian style has later influenced artists and designers worldwide. artists and designers worldwide. Raja Ravi Varma owed his success to a systematic trainingRaja Ravi Varma owed his success to a systematic training, first in the traditional art of Thanjavoor, and then in , first in the traditional art of Thanjavoor, and then in European art. His paintings can be broadly classified into:European art. His paintings can be broadly classified into:1.1. Portraits,Portraits,2.2. Portrait-based compositions,Portrait-based compositions,3.3. Theatrical compositions based on myths and legends Theatrical compositions based on myths and legends Though the artist’s immense popularity lay in the third Though the artist’s immense popularity lay in the third category, the first two types of works prove his merit as an category, the first two types of works prove his merit as an exceedingly sensitive and competent artist. No other exceedingly sensitive and competent artist. No other painter till today has been able to supersede Ravi Varma inpainter till today has been able to supersede Ravi Varma in

portraiture in the oil medium.portraiture in the oil medium.Ravi Varma is considered as modern among traditionalistsRavi Varma is considered as modern among traditionalistsand a rationalist among moderns. He provided a vital linkand a rationalist among moderns. He provided a vital linkbetween the traditional art and the contemporary, between between the traditional art and the contemporary, between the Thanjavoor School and Western Academic realism. the Thanjavoor School and Western Academic realism. He bought Indian painting to the attention of the larger He bought Indian painting to the attention of the larger world. The glittering career of Raja Ravi Varma is aworld. The glittering career of Raja Ravi Varma is astriking case study of academic art in India. In the year striking case study of academic art in India. In the year following his death, the ‘Modern Review’ described him as following his death, the ‘Modern Review’ described him as the greatest artist of modern India, a national builder whothe greatest artist of modern India, a national builder whoshowed the moral courage of a gifted ‘high-born’ in takingshowed the moral courage of a gifted ‘high-born’ in takingup the ‘degrading profession of painting’. He was courted up the ‘degrading profession of painting’. He was courted assiduously by the British Empire as well as by the Indianassiduously by the British Empire as well as by the Indian

Maharajas. His less expensive prints of his Hindu deities Maharajas. His less expensive prints of his Hindu deities hung in every home.hung in every home.

Galaxy of Musician

HonoursHonoursIn 1904 Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the King In 1904 Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the King Emperor bestowed upon Raja Ravi Varma the Kaiser-i-Emperor bestowed upon Raja Ravi Varma the Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal. At this time his name was mentioned as Hind Gold Medal. At this time his name was mentioned as ““Raja Ravi Varma” for the first time, raising objections fromRaja Ravi Varma” for the first time, raising objections fromMaharajah Moolam Thirunal of Travancore and besides, asMaharajah Moolam Thirunal of Travancore and besides, asper the Marumakkathayam tradition, the name of the per the Marumakkathayam tradition, the name of the maternal uncle was prefixed to the name. Thereafter he maternal uncle was prefixed to the name. Thereafter he always referred to as Raja Ravi Varma.always referred to as Raja Ravi Varma.In 1993, art critic Rupika Chawla and artist A RamachandraIn 1993, art critic Rupika Chawla and artist A Ramachandran jointly curated a large exhibition of Raja Ravi Varma’sn jointly curated a large exhibition of Raja Ravi Varma’s

works at the National Museum, New Delhi. Considering hisworks at the National Museum, New Delhi. Considering hisvast contribution to Indian art, the Government of Kerala vast contribution to Indian art, the Government of Kerala has instituted an award called has instituted an award called Raja Ravi Varma Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram.Puraskaram.

Raja Ravi Varma with Gold Medal

Artist in makingArtist in makingWith the influence of the west, at seeing the Italian With the influence of the west, at seeing the Italian Paintings with three dimensional appearance which werePaintings with three dimensional appearance which werequite different from the Native Mural paintings on the walls quite different from the Native Mural paintings on the walls of the Hindu Temples and after observing the Dutch painterof the Hindu Temples and after observing the Dutch painterTheodor Jensen’s paintings for about a month’s time atTheodor Jensen’s paintings for about a month’s time atThiruvanathapuram, he adopted new techniques in paintingThiruvanathapuram, he adopted new techniques in painting. But the art of mixing colors was kept a secret which he . But the art of mixing colors was kept a secret which he learnt all by himself after continued trial and errors. Hislearnt all by himself after continued trial and errors. Hispaintings had a blend of European techniques of light and paintings had a blend of European techniques of light and shade and the Indian traditional contexts. Ravi Varma’s shade and the Indian traditional contexts. Ravi Varma’s

Theodor Jensen’s paintingTheodor Jensen’s painting

Theodor Jensen’s paintingTheodor Jensen’s painting

multi-faced subjects running into many hundreads of multi-faced subjects running into many hundreads of paintings include Mythology, Epics, Puranas, Sanskrit paintings include Mythology, Epics, Puranas, Sanskrit literature, History, Personal Portraits, and Animal Life. His literature, History, Personal Portraits, and Animal Life. His subjects also included the rustic, common rural folk of subjects also included the rustic, common rural folk of divergent backdrops. divergent backdrops.

Major WorksMajor Works Village Belle Lady Lost in Thought Damayanti Talking to a Swan The Orchestra Arjuna and Subhadra The heartbroken Swarbat Player Shakuntala Lord Krishna as Ambassador

Victory of Indrajit A Family of Beggars A Lady Playing Swarbat Lady Giving Alms at the Temple Lord Rama Conquers Varuna Nair Woman Romancing Couple Draupadi Dreading to Meet Kichaka Shantanu and Matsyagandha Shakuntala Composing a Love Letter to King Dushyanta Girl in Sage Kanwa's Hermitage (Rishi-Kanya)

Video by Aslam