Raja Ravi varma artist-death centenary on oct-6th

[padmanabha]

2. Raja Ravi Varma (this is the death centenary year of Raja Ravi Varma)
Ravi Varma is a pioneer artist, who had initiated a new era in the history of Indian painting. He adopted the techniques and methods of western school of painting and their scientific apparatus of perspective chiaroscuro, anatomy, proportion, and other aids of realistic and naturalistic painting alien to the history of Indian painting.
Born to Ezhumavil Bhattathiri and Uma Amba Thampuratti, on 29th April 1848, at Kilimanoor, Ravi Varma watched his artist uncle’s works, and learned the rudiments of paintings. Born in the family of artists, scholars, and musicians, he had his early raining from his uncle Raja Raja Varma. Like Rembrandt Ravi Varma made drawings on the walls and floors of his family mansion in charcoal. At the age of 13 the Maharaja extended the royal protégé right royally. He had the opportunity to watch Theodore Jenson an English artist at work on his commission to execute series of portrait for the Travancore royal family.
Ravi Varma, made his debut in the fine arts exhibition at Madras, in 1873. His work Nair Lady at her Toilette won him the Governor’s gold medal. This picture also fetched him the gold medal at the painting exhibition at Vienna. In the same year he married ……….of Mavelikkara Royal Family. She is the younger sister of the Senior Rani C I wedded to Kerala Varma C S I. Ravi Varma went to Madras and met Lord Hobart who eulogized him for his works and advised him make a name for himself. The first classical picture of interest was Sakuntala’s love epistle to King Dushyantha. The Sanskrit education he had enabled him to find congenial subjects in the great epics and puranas of India.
He fashioned the Gods and Goddess on the models of living man and woman in the society around him and clothe them in the costumes of contemporary life. Initially he had to face severe criticism. On the other hand the works provided valuable spiritual support to the illiterate and uneducated and an easy visual aid to remind them of the glorious teachings from myths and legends. Impressed by his works the Duke of Buckingham honored his with several assignments.
Sir T Madhava Rao, who happened to see Sita’s ordeal of banishment by Rama, purchasedit immediately and exhibited at the Poona Fine ARTS exhibition and it won the artist the Gaekward gold medal. He was invited to Baroda to undertake some important works. In 1885 he was invited to Mysore by Maharaja Sir. Chama Rajendra Wodeyar. Three years later His Highness Gaekward invited him to paint 14 pictures to adorn his new palace. He visited all over India.
As per Madhava Rao’s suggestion he established an oleo graphic press and printed his works, which were in great demand. His ten works were taken to Chicago, in 1892, and exhibited at the World Religious Conference.
He became of diabetic patient. The demise of his artist brother Raja Raja Varma, really upset him. He reached Kilimanoor and gradually retired form his profession. His sister Mangala Bayi Thampuratti is also a renowned artist. His son Rama Varma, was also a painter of repute. On 9th October he passed away. Powerful combination of inherent genius, fertile imagination, and untiring endeavor, contributed to his unprecedented success. He conceived them in flesh and blood. All the puranic characters appeared in flesh and blood. His water color works like the milk maid, the head peon, and a sword man are irresistible. Accuracy of form, bold outlines, disposition of drapery, is amazing. One can feel the satiny surface of the skin. He has no equals. 596 words