Raja Ravi Varma

He is generally considered He is generally considered as one among the greatestas one among the greatest painters in the history of painters in the history of Indian art. Indian art. His paintings are considered His paintings are considered to be among the best to be among the best examples of the fusion examples of the fusion of Indian traditions withof Indian traditions with the techniquesthe techniquesof European academic art.of European academic art.

His exposure in the west came when he won His exposure in the west came when he won the first prize in the first prize in

Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873.Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873. He learnt oil painting from a British painter, He learnt oil painting from a British painter,

Theodor Jenson. Whose techniques he Theodor Jenson. Whose techniques he used in his paintings. used in his paintings.

The feminine emotions being the central The feminine emotions being the central theme, he is the first one who brought about theme, he is the first one who brought about a momentous turn in the art of India.a momentous turn in the art of India.

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He is the first artist to cast the Indian Gods He is the first artist to cast the Indian Gods and mythological characters in natural and mythological characters in natural earthy surroundings using a European earthy surroundings using a European realism ……realism ……

From Ramayana.From Ramayana.

From Mahabaratha.From Mahabaratha.

Krishna leela.Krishna leela.

Damayanthi and hamsa.Damayanthi and hamsa.

Kalidas’s ShakunthalaKalidas’s Shakunthala

Portrait of a KingPortrait of a King

A woman prisoner with daggerA woman prisoner with dagger

Regional art. (Orissa)Regional art. (Orissa)

Lady with lamp.Lady with lamp.

MoonlightMoonlight

Lady playing musicLady playing music

The royal ladies playing a dice The royal ladies playing a dice game.game.

(Feeding) Mother and child.(Feeding) Mother and child.

Milk maid.Milk maid.

Raja Ravi Varma died of diabetes

on October 2, 1906, in his Kilimanoor

Palace home overflowing with friends,

relatives,dignitaries and the media.

Yet, the rich heritage of the fragrance of his

paintings continues to charm and influence

the art of India…….