Raja Ravi Varma paintings are world famous for their portrayal of Hindu epic stories in colorful form. The characters of Raja Ravi Varma are from the Hindu classics and with his unique Indian style he influenced many artists around the world. Most of these paintings are oil on canvas and they have a good reputation among the art lovers.

The Raja Ravi Varma paintings belong to the 19^th century. He had an interest in drawing since his childhood days and his drawings started on the wall with the help of charcoal. He got lessons in painting from his uncle. During the later period he learnt to draw from the painter of Travancore palace named Rama Swamy Naidu.

He captured the realistic images of the scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. He used the modern western techniques to draw paintings of Indian traditions. He portrays Indian women as graceful as possible. He is talented in reproducing the scenes of the middle class homes also.

He was born in Kilimanoor and his parents were Umamba Thampuratti and Ezhumavil Neelakandan Bhattathiripad. He was highly creative from his younger days. He was patronized by Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore. Initially his paintings were of water color. He learnt to draw water painting from Rama Swami Naidu and then a Dutch portraitist named Theodor Jenson taught him the art of drawing oil painting. The Raja Ravi Varma paintings came to limelight when he was awarded first prize for his work in 1873 at the Vienna Art Exhibition.

He traveled to many places in India. He saw the goddesses in the face of the Indian women. According to him the South Indian women are the most beautiful ladies in the world. Many of the Raja Ravi Varma paintings are based on the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala. He represented the mythological characters from Ramayana such as Nala and Damayanthi.

Raja Ravi Varma paintings are indeed too sentimental but still he got many fans in India. Some of his paintings are placed at the Laxmi Vilas Palace at Vadodara. He received Kaiser i Hind Gold Medal from the Viceroy Lord Curzon. Some of his works include the milkmaid, the suckling child, Sakuntala, Yesoda with Krishna, Jatayu Vadha, the lady with a mirror, Lady at Ball Game, Arjuna and Subhadra, A family of beggars, Lady giving alms at the temple, romancing couple, Draupadi dreading to meet Kichaka, girl in Sage Kanwa’s hermitage, Shakuntala writing a love letter to king Dushyanta, etc.

Raja Ravi Varma paintings are displayed in a big exhibition at the National Museum at New Delhi by Rupika Chawla and A Ramachandran in 1993. Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram award is given to the talented persons in art and culture by the government of Kerala.

Article Posted By : Sumazla  On December 19, 2011lView All Articles

Suhaina Mazhar is a freelance content writer and blogger with five years experience in content writing. http://sumazla.blogspot.com is her blog.

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Raja Ravi Varma Paintings , indian paintings , raja ravi varma