Art originally is a medium of expression for the people, but the arrival of Raja Ravi Varma, the Indian painter, made it accessible to all Indians. He is one of the very prominent artists in India. He is referred to today as the ‘father of modern Indian art’. Raja Ravi Varma was born on 29 April 1848, in Kilimanoor, Travancore state, to a family of creative and aristocratic people. He developed an interest in artistic ingenuity from a tender age and sustained it. In 1862, at 14, he was moved to Thiruvananthapuram with the help of his uncle, the ruling king, who personally gave him some education and training alongside the palace painter.
Ravi Varma was able to study the paintings in the palace drawn in the Italian Renaissance style and also learn other painters’ painting techniques and styles. As a result, he became versatile haven been trained by several professionals. Ultimately, he became a seasoned Indian painter who excelled in depicting scenes from Indian literature and epics. Raja Ravi met the love of his life at age 18 and married her. He was six years older than his wife, Pooruruttati Nal Bhageerathi Bayi Thampuratty of Mavelikkara Royal House; their marriage was blessed with five children. Ravi had a great time and exposure as an artist touring around Indian cities. This broadened his perspective and improved his skills, giving him an edge over other painters of his day as he mastered the art of fusing European techniques with Indian tradition. Raja had a life well spent, making impacts and impressions. He died at age 58 on October 5, 1906. His family continued his artistic legacy. His youngest son took after him and went on to become an artist, While his daughters served as his inspiration for his paintings and continued his artistic creativity through their children.
Style and Medium of Work | Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma understood the art of lithographic reproduction of his work. He used oil paints more often. He introduced European perspective and art composition techniques and adapted them to Indian subjects, styles, and themes. Most of his works have elaborate and ornamented clothes and jewellery on the characters in the paintings.
Ravi Varma achieved the three-dimensional visual effect with in-depth utilisation of colour. He mastered the Oil on Canvas medium of painting.
Between 1870 to 1878, he painted several portraits of influential Indian aristocracy and British officials. In 1894, Varma set up a printing press in Mumbai to make copies of his work accessible to the people. This endeavour took his depictions, gods, and goddesses beyond expensive canvases to many working-class homes. Ravi was a man of diverse artistic intentions. He did not restrict his paintings to a single subject or two. Instead, he rather explored India in search of exciting themes. He sustained inspiration from the religious text and the beauty of South Indian women. The paintings of Raja Ravi Varma can be classified into three categories. They are portraits, portrait-based, and theatrical compositions based on myths and legends. He is most renowned for his theatrical works.
Selected Artwork
Raja Ravi Varma was a prolific painter; he painted many portraits of both Indian and British-Indian characters, in addition to incidents in Hindu mythologies.
He painted:
- The royal family’s portraits
- The nine Puranic pictures for the Mysore Palace
- The narration of the Hindu epic Mahabharata story
- Damayanti Talking to a Swan.
- The story of Shakuntala.
- Jatayu (bird’s devotee of Lord Rama)
- Mullappoo Choodiya Nair Sthree
- The sorry state of Indian economics.
- Shakunthala
- Tamizh Mahilayude Sangeethalapanam
- A Lady Playing Swarbat
Awards and Recognition | Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma’s fame rose in 1873 when he secured the first prize in a painting exhibition in Chennai. The same painting was awarded another prize at an exhibition held in Vienna, Austria.
In 1874, he received again another prize in Chennai for “Tamizh Mahilayude Sangeethalapanam,” a painting work he drew. This painting is now on display at Sri Chitra Art Gallery in Thiruvananthapuram, titled “Daridryam” (Poverty).
In 1876, The beautiful pictorial interpretation of a moment in Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntalam, he captured titled Shakunthala, received a prize at the exhibition held in Chennai. This work was used on the front cover of the Shakuntalam translation published by Monien Williams, the British orientalist.
In 1893, he was given three gold medals for his work of art at the World’s Columbian Exposition.
In 1904, he was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal on behalf of the King-Emperor, Viceroy Lord Curzon.
The Government of Kerala instituted an award in his name known as the ‘Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram’; the award is given to individuals who show considerable promise in art and culture. This was done in his honour for his outstanding contributions to India’s arts and cultural value. Many movies have been made to capture Raja Ravi’s life in his days. Many institutions and cultural organisations have been named after him to promote and sustain India’s art and cultural influence. Raja Ravi Varma’s works remain one of the best produced in fine art, and we respect the legacy left behind by this legendary Artist.
References: Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma(2023) https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art-design -the-indian-painter-who-made-art-accessible-to-the-masses/ (Date Accessed 21 March 2023)
Master Artist Raja Ravi Varma (2023) https://www.artzolo.com/blog (Date Accessed 21 March 2023)
Profiles of Raja Ravi Varma(2023) https://www.thefamouspeople.com/ 407.php (Date Accessed 21 March 2023)
Indian Art Painters (2023) https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-art/painters/raja-ravi-varma.html (Date Accessed 23 March 2023)
