Raja Ravi Varma (
Malayalam:
രാജാ രവി വര്മ്മ) (April 29, 1848 - October 2, 1906) was an
Indian artist from the
princely state of
Travancore (presently in
Kerala) who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the
epics of the
Mahabharata and
Ramayana. His paintings are considered to be among the best examples of the fusion of Indian traditions with the techniques of European
academic art.His families last descendant is Niranjitha Pattathil.Thus during his lifetime Varma is most remembered for his paintings of
sari-clad
women portrayed as shapely and graceful. Varma's paintings became an important motif in of the time, reproductions being found in almost every middle-class home.
[2] His exposure in the west came when he won the first prize in the
Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at the age of 58. He is considered among the greatest painters in
the history of Indian art.
Raja Ravi Varma High School at
Kilimanoor was named after him. There are many cultural organizations throughout Kerala in his name. His palace is nearly six kilometers from Ponganadu, 7.7 kilometers from Pazhayachanda and 36 km from
Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala.
[edit]Art career
Raja Ravi Varma received widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at
Vienna in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma's paintings were also sent to the
World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and he was awarded two gold medals.
[4] He travelled throughout
India in search of subjects. He often modeled
Hindu Goddesses on
South Indian women, whom he considered beautiful. Ravi Varma is particularly noted for his paintings depicting episodes from the story of
Dushyanta and
Shakuntala, and
Nala and
Damayanti, from the Mahabharata. Ravi Varma's representation of
mythological characters has become a part of the Indian imagination of the epics. He is often criticized for being too showy and sentimental in his style. However his work remains very popular in India. His many fabulous paintings are available at
Laxmi Vilas Palace of Vadodara.
"Galaxy of Musicians", Indian women dressed in regional attire playing a variety of musical instruments popular in different parts of the country.
The demi-god vulture
Jatayu is struck down by the demon
Ravana, as Jatayu attempted to intercede in the demon's kidnapping of
Sita.
Damayanti sending a message to Nala via a
swan
[edit]Honours
In 1904,
Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the King Emperor, bestowed upon Raja Ravi Varma the
Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal. At this time his name was mentioned as "Raja Ravi Varma" for the first time, raising objections from Maharaja
Moolam Thirunal of
Travancore and besides, as per the
Marumakkathayam tradition, the name of the maternal uncle (Raja Raja Varma) was prefixed to the name. Thereafter he was always referred to as Raja Ravi Varma.
[3]
The renewed interest in Raja Ravi Varma has spilled into the area of popular culture as films and music videos have started using his images.
A college dedicated to
fine arts was also constituted in his honour at
Mavelikara,
Kerala. Raja Ravi Varma High School at Kilimanoor was named after him. There are many cultural organizations throughout Kerala in his name.
[edit]Personal life
There Comes Papa: Raja Ravi Varma paints his daughter Mahaprabha Thampuratti of Mavelikara with her daughter and the future Queen
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi.
Raja Ravi Varma was married to Pururuttathi Nal Bhageerathi Amma Thampuran (Kochu Pangi) of the Royal House of
Mavelikara and they had two sons and three daughters.
Their elder son, Kerala Varma, born in 1876 went missing in 1912 and was never heard of again. Their second son was Rama Varma (born 1879), an artist who studied at the
JJ School of Arts,
Mumbai, married to Srimathi Gowri Kunjamma, sister of
Dewan PGN Unnithan.
Raja Ravi Varma's eldest daughter, Ayilyam Nal Mahaprabha Thampuran, appears in two of his prominent paintings and was mother of Maharani Pooradam thirunal
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of
Travancore. He had another daughter, Thiruvadira Nal Kochukunji Thampuran, grandmother of
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Maharajah. His third daughter, born in 1882, was Ayilyam Nal Cheria Kochamma Thampuran.
[edit]List of major works
The following is a list of the prominent works of Ravi Varma.
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Lady Giving Alms at the Temple
Shantanu and Matsyagandha
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[edit]Popular Culture
- Bollywood film maker Ketan Mehta Directed a Movie Rang Rasiya on the life of Raja Ravi Varma in 2008 in which actor Randeep Hooda played the role of the artist.
- Indian director Lenin Rajendran made a Malayalam movie named Makaramanju (The Mist of Capricorn) in 2010, which narrates Raja Ravi Varma's life at a certain stage in his life. Indian director/cinematographer Santhosh Sivan played the lead role as Raja Ravi Varma.
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