great personality

1. Raja Ravi RamaRaja Ravi Rama
VarmaVarma
PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BY
N.VENU GOUDN.VENU GOUD

2. Raja Ravi RamaRaja Ravi Rama
VarmaVarma
Born :April 29, 1848Born :April 29, 1848
KilimanoorKilimanoor
Died :October 2, 1906Died :October 2, 1906
KilimanoorKilimanoor
Occupation : PainterOccupation : Painter
Signature :Signature :

3. Early lifeEarly life
Raja Ravi Varma was born as Ravi Varma Koil ThampuranRaja Ravi Varma was born as Ravi Varma Koil Thampuran
Of Kilimanoor palace. His father Ezhumavail BhattatiripadOf Kilimanoor palace. His father Ezhumavail Bhattatiripad
was an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayambawas an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayamba
Thampuratti was a poet and writer whose workThampuratti was a poet and writer whose work ParvatiParvati
SwayamwaramSwayamwaram was published bywas published by Raja Ravi Varma afterRaja Ravi Varma after
her death. He was trained in water painting byher death. He was trained in water painting by RamaRama
Swami NaiduSwami Naidu and later in oil painting byand later in oil painting by Theodor Jenson.Theodor Jenson.
All were impressed by his amazing talent to draw. HisAll were impressed by his amazing talent to draw. His
father gave him support and trained him under famousfather gave him support and trained him under famous
artists. As a boy of five, he filled the walls of his house withartists. As a boy of five, he filled the walls of his house with
pictures of animals and illustrations from everyday life.pictures of animals and illustrations from everyday life.

4. His uncle the artist Raja Raja Varma recognized his talentsHis uncle the artist Raja Raja Varma recognized his talents
and gave him elementary art lessons. He was taken toand gave him elementary art lessons. He was taken to
Thiruvanathapuram in his fourteenth year to stay in theThiruvanathapuram in his fourteenth year to stay in the
royal palace and learn oil painting. During these formativeroyal palace and learn oil painting. During these formative
years the young Ravi Varma had many opportunities toyears the young Ravi Varma had many opportunities to
discover and learn new techniques and media in the field ofdiscover and learn new techniques and media in the field of
painting. His later years spent in Mysore, Baroda and otherpainting. His later years spent in Mysore, Baroda and other
parts of the country enabled him to sharpen and expand hisparts of the country enabled him to sharpen and expand his
skills and blossom into a mature and complete painter.skills and blossom into a mature and complete painter.

5. Personal lifePersonal life
Raja Ravi Varma was married to Pururuttathi NalRaja Ravi Varma was married to Pururuttathi Nal
Bhageerathi Amma Thampuratti of the Royal House ofBhageerathi Amma Thampuratti of the Royal House of
Mavelikara and they had two sons and three daughters.Mavelikara and they had two sons and three daughters.
Their eldest son, Kerala Varma, went missing in 1912. RajaTheir eldest son, Kerala Varma, went missing in 1912. Raja
Ravi Varma’s eldest daughter,Ravi Varma’s eldest daughter, MahaprabhaMahaprabha, appears in two, appears in two
of his prominent paintings. Many films had releasedof his prominent paintings. Many films had released
showing his life. Renjith Desai, a Marathi novelist hadshowing his life. Renjith Desai, a Marathi novelist had
written his biography in the form of novel in Marathiwritten his biography in the form of novel in Marathi
language.language.

6. Varma’s daughterVarma’s daughter
Ravi Varma’s daughterRavi Varma’s daughter

7. Art careerArt career
Raja Ravi Varma received widespread acclaim after heRaja Ravi Varma received widespread acclaim after he
won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna inwon an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna in
1873. Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings were also sent to the1873. Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings were also sent to the
World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 andWorld’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and
he was awarded two gold medals. He travelled throughouthe was awarded two gold medals. He travelled throughout
India in search of subjects. He often modeled HinduIndia in search of subjects. He often modeled Hindu
Goddesses on south Indian women, whom he consideredGoddesses on south Indian women, whom he considered
beautiful. Ravi Varma is particularly noted for his paintingsbeautiful. Ravi Varma is particularly noted for his paintings
depicting episodes from the story ofdepicting episodes from the story of DushyantaDushyanta andand
Shakuntala,Shakuntala, andand NalaNala andand Damayanti,Damayanti, from Mahabharata.from Mahabharata.

8. Ravi Varma’s representation of mythological charactersRavi Varma’s representation of mythological characters
has become a part of the Indian imagination of the epics.has become a part of the Indian imagination of the epics.
He is often criticized for being too showy and sentimentalHe is often criticized for being too showy and sentimental
in his style. However his work remains very popular inin his style. However his work remains very popular in
India. His many fabulous paintings are available atIndia. His many fabulous paintings are available at LakshmiLakshmi
Vilas Palace of Vadodara.Vilas Palace of Vadodara. During his time Varma is mostDuring his time Varma is most
famous for his paintings of sari-clad women portrayed asfamous for his paintings of sari-clad women portrayed as
shapely and graceful. Varma’s paintings became anshapely and graceful. Varma’s paintings became an
important motif in of the time, reproductions being found inimportant motif in of the time, reproductions being found in
almost every middle-class home. His exposure in the westalmost every middle-class home. His exposure in the west
came when he won the first prize in the Vienna Artcame when he won the first prize in the Vienna Art
Exhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at theExhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at the
age of 58. He is considered among the greatest paintersage of 58. He is considered among the greatest painters

9. Lakshmi Vilas PalaceLakshmi Vilas Palace
Lakshmi Vilas Palace of Vadodara

10. in the history of Indian art. Many of his oil paintings arein the history of Indian art. Many of his oil paintings are
classic and his unique Indian style has later influencedclassic and his unique Indian style has later influenced
artists and designers worldwide.artists and designers worldwide.
Raja Ravi Varma owed his success to a systematic trainingRaja Ravi Varma owed his success to a systematic training
, first in the traditional art of Thanjavoor, and then in, first in the traditional art of Thanjavoor, and then in
European art. His paintings can be broadly classified into:European art. His paintings can be broadly classified into:
1.1. Portraits,Portraits,
2.2. Portrait-based compositions,Portrait-based compositions,
3.3. Theatrical compositions based on myths and legendsTheatrical compositions based on myths and legends
Though the artist’s immense popularity lay in the thirdThough the artist’s immense popularity lay in the third
category, the first two types of works prove his merit as ancategory, the first two types of works prove his merit as an
exceedingly sensitive and competent artist. No otherexceedingly sensitive and competent artist. No other
painter till today has been able to supersede Ravi Varma inpainter till today has been able to supersede Ravi Varma in

11. portraiture in the oil medium.portraiture in the oil medium.
Ravi Varma is considered as modern among traditionalistsRavi Varma is considered as modern among traditionalists
and a rationalist among moderns. He provided a vital linkand a rationalist among moderns. He provided a vital link
between the traditional art and the contemporary, betweenbetween the traditional art and the contemporary, between
the Thanjavoor School and Western Academic realism.the Thanjavoor School and Western Academic realism.
He bought Indian painting to the attention of the largerHe bought Indian painting to the attention of the larger
world. The glittering career of Raja Ravi Varma is aworld. The glittering career of Raja Ravi Varma is a
striking case study of academic art in India. In the yearstriking case study of academic art in India. In the year
following his death, the ‘Modern Review’ described him asfollowing his death, the ‘Modern Review’ described him as
the greatest artist of modern India, a national builder whothe greatest artist of modern India, a national builder who
showed the moral courage of a gifted ‘high-born’ in takingshowed the moral courage of a gifted ‘high-born’ in taking
up the ‘degrading profession of painting’. He was courtedup the ‘degrading profession of painting’. He was courted
assiduously by the British Empire as well as by the Indianassiduously by the British Empire as well as by the Indian

12. Maharajas. His less expensive prints of his Hindu deitiesMaharajas. His less expensive prints of his Hindu deities
hung in every home.hung in every home.
Galaxy of Musician

13. HonoursHonours
In 1904 Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the KingIn 1904 Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the King
Emperor bestowed upon Raja Ravi Varma the Kaiser-i-Emperor bestowed upon Raja Ravi Varma the Kaiser-i-
Hind Gold Medal. At this time his name was mentioned asHind Gold Medal. At this time his name was mentioned as
““Raja Ravi Varma” for the first time, raising objections fromRaja Ravi Varma” for the first time, raising objections from
Maharajah Moolam Thirunal of Travancore and besides, asMaharajah Moolam Thirunal of Travancore and besides, as
per the Marumakkathayam tradition, the name of theper the Marumakkathayam tradition, the name of the
maternal uncle was prefixed to the name. Thereafter hematernal uncle was prefixed to the name. Thereafter he
always referred to as Raja Ravi Varma.always referred to as Raja Ravi Varma.
In 1993, art critic Rupika Chawla and artist A RamachandraIn 1993, art critic Rupika Chawla and artist A Ramachandra
n jointly curated a large exhibition of Raja Ravi Varma’sn jointly curated a large exhibition of Raja Ravi Varma’s

14. works at the National Museum, New Delhi. Considering hisworks at the National Museum, New Delhi. Considering his
vast contribution to Indian art, the Government of Keralavast contribution to Indian art, the Government of Kerala
has instituted an award calledhas instituted an award called Raja Ravi VarmaRaja Ravi Varma
Puraskaram.Puraskaram.
Raja Ravi Varma
with Gold Medal

15. Artist in makingArtist in making
With the influence of the west, at seeing the ItalianWith the influence of the west, at seeing the Italian
Paintings with three dimensional appearance which werePaintings with three dimensional appearance which were
quite different from the Native Mural paintings on the wallsquite different from the Native Mural paintings on the walls
of the Hindu Temples and after observing the Dutch painterof the Hindu Temples and after observing the Dutch painter
Theodor Jensen’s paintings for about a month’s time atTheodor Jensen’s paintings for about a month’s time at
Thiruvanathapuram, he adopted new techniques in paintingThiruvanathapuram, he adopted new techniques in painting
. But the art of mixing colors was kept a secret which he. But the art of mixing colors was kept a secret which he
learnt all by himself after continued trial and errors. Hislearnt all by himself after continued trial and errors. His
paintings had a blend of European techniques of light andpaintings had a blend of European techniques of light and
shade and the Indian traditional contexts. Ravi Varma’sshade and the Indian traditional contexts. Ravi Varma’s

16. Theodor Jensen’s paintingTheodor Jensen’s painting
Theodor Jensen’s paintingTheodor Jensen’s painting

17. multi-faced subjects running into many hundreads ofmulti-faced subjects running into many hundreads of
paintings include Mythology, Epics, Puranas, Sanskritpaintings include Mythology, Epics, Puranas, Sanskrit
literature, History, Personal Portraits, and Animal Life. Hisliterature, History, Personal Portraits, and Animal Life. His
subjects also included the rustic, common rural folk ofsubjects also included the rustic, common rural folk of
divergent backdrops.divergent backdrops.

18. Major WorksMajor Works
 Village Belle
 Lady Lost in Thought
 Damayanti Talking to a Swan
 The Orchestra
 Arjuna and Subhadra
 The heartbroken
 Swarbat Player
 Shakuntala
 Lord Krishna as Ambassador

19.  Victory of Indrajit
 A Family of Beggars
 A Lady Playing Swarbat
 Lady Giving Alms at the Temple
 Lord Rama Conquers Varuna
 Nair Woman
 Romancing Couple
 Draupadi Dreading to Meet Kichaka
 Shantanu and Matsyagandha
 Shakuntala Composing a Love Letter to King Dushyanta
 Girl in Sage Kanwa's Hermitage (Rishi-Kanya)

21. Video by Aslam