Raja Ravi Varma Biography 
Raja Ravi Varma was one among the greatest painters of India. He was an artist from the princely state of Travancore who has popularized Indian paintings worldwide. His paintings on mythological figures and traditional Kerala women (sari clad) are famous throughout the world. He was one among those great painters of Kerala who put India’s name in the art map of the world. Many of his paintings still stand as big surprises and he is always regarded as a model of many artists to follow. His paintings are placed among the best in terms of fusion of Indian traditions with the techniques of European academic art. His exposure in the west came when he won the first prize in the Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873.
Raja Ravi Varma was born on April 29, 1948 in Kilimanur, Kerala. Ravi Varma Kochu Koil Thampuran, father of Chithira Thirunal, the last ruler of Travancore was his nephew. His father Ezhumavail Neelakanthan Bhattatiripad was an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayamba Thampuratti was a noted poet and writer. Her work, Parvati Swayamvaram was published by Raja Ravi Varma after her death.
He learned the basics of drawing in Madurai Chithirakara veddhi, water painting from Rama Swami Naidu and oil painting from Dutch portraitist Theodor Jenson. Raja Ravi Varma became popular worldwide soon after his win in Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873. His portrayal of sari clad Kerala women and goddesses of Hindu mythology earned him appreciation worldwide. Raja Ravi Varma's paintings were also sent to the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and he won two gold medals as well. He often modelled Hindu Goddesses on South Indian women, whom he considered beautiful. He travelled throughout India in search of subjects.
His most popular paintings are The Maharashtrian Lady, Galaxy of Musicians, Jadayu mauled by Ravana, Swan and Damayanthi, Shantanu and Malsa kanyaka and Arjuna and Subhadra. His paintings of Goddess Laxmi and Saraswathi were also immensely popular. In 1904, Viceroy Lord Curzon presented him Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal. Government of Kerala has instituted an award called Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram given to artists who show excellence in the field of art and culture.
Published: N/A
Updated: September 12, 2013
