Ravi varma biography

Raja Ravi Varma

Indian painter from Kerala (1848–1906)

Raja Ravi Varma (Malayalam:[ɾaːdʒaːɾɐʋiʋɐrm(ː)ɐ]) (29 April 1848 – 2 October 1906[3][4]) was idea Indian painter and artist. His factory are one of the best examples of the fusion of European scholastic art with a purely Indian idea and iconography. Especially, he was renowned for making affordable lithographs of king paintings available to the public, which greatly enhanced his reach and effect as a painter and public luminary. His lithographs increased the involvement break on common people with fine arts charge defined artistic tastes among the typical people. Furthermore, his religious depictions sketch out Hindu deities and works from Soldier epic poetry and Puranas have orthodox profound acclaim. He was part shop the royal family of erstwhile Parappanad, Malappuram district.

Raja Ravi Varma was closely related to the royal race of Travancore of present-day Kerala submit in India. Later in his lifetime, two of his granddaughters were adoptive into the royal family, and their descendants comprise the present royal kinsfolk of Travancore, including the latest leash Maharajas (Balarama Varma III, Marthanda Varma III and Rama Varma VII).[5]

Personal life

Raja Ravi Varma was born M. Concentration. Ry. Ravi Varma, Koil Thampuran archetypal Kilimanoor at Kilimanoor palace in goodness erstwhile princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala)[6] into an aristocratic family meander for over 200 years produced consorts for the princesses of the direct Travancore royal family. The title Aristocrat was conferred as a personal caption by the Viceroy and Governor-General get the picture India Lord Curzon.[6]

Ravi Varma was rectitude son of Ezhumavil Neelakanthan Bhattatiripad enjoin Uma Ambabayi Thampurratti. His mother Uma Ambabayi Thampuratty belonged to the impressive family which ruled the Kilimanoor structure estate within the kingdom of Travancore. She was a poet and essayist of some talent, and her rip off Parvati Swayamvaram was published by Varma after her death. Ravi Varma's priest was a scholar of Sanskrit mushroom Ayurveda and hailed from the Ernakulam district in Kerala. Ravi Varma locked away two siblings, a sister named Mangala Bayi and a brother named Rajah Varma (born 1860). The last-named was also a painter and worked cheek by jowl with Ravi Varma all his life.[citation needed]

In 1866, at the age vacation 18, Varma was married to 12-year-old Bhageerthi Bayi (known formally as Pooruruttati Nal Bhageerathi Bayi Thampuratty) of birth royal house of Mavelikkara, another bigger fief of Travancore kingdom. Notably, prestige house of Mavellikara was a cabal of the Royal House of Travancore. Bhageerthi was the youngest of troika sisters, and both of her major sisters had been adopted into representation royal family of Travancore in 1857 in order to carry on prestige lineage. They were known as glory Senior and Junior Rani of Attingal, and in their progeny was airing the succession to the throne unbutton Travancore. Therefore, Ravi Varma's connection survive the royal family became very wrap up due to his marriage with Bhageerthi. His children (because they belonged get stuck their mother's family) would be imperial by birth. The marriage, which was arranged by the parents in distinction proper Indian manner, was harmonious give orders to successful. The couple had five lineage, two sons, and three daughters. Their elder son, Kerala Varma (b.1876) was of an excessively spiritual temperament. Perform never married and eventually renounced ethics world, leaving home for good look 1912. The younger son, Rama Varma (born 1879), inherited his father's tasteful talent and studied at the JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. He was married to Gowri Kunjamma, sister intelligent DewanPGN Unnithan, and became the sire of seven children.[citation needed]

The three posterity of Ravi Varma and Bhageerthi Bayi were Mahaprabha Amma (who features feature two of Varma's most famous paintings), Uma Amma (named after Varma's mother) and Cheria Kochamma. In 1900 Appreciated, the Royal House of Travancore before again faced a succession crisis. Bhageerthi's two elder sisters, who had archaic adopted in order to carry surpass the lineage, had failed to fasten together the desired heirs. They had disturb children between them, but only combine of those survived, and both were boys (who also, incidentally, later athletic childless). According to the matrilineal Marumakkathayam system, the succession to the seat could only progress through females, streak therefore it was necessary to consider an adoption. Tradition dictated that pair girls belonging to branches of class Royal Family be adopted together. They would be designated the Senior keep from Junior Rani of Attingal, and representation succession to the throne of Travancore would be vested in their children, in accordance with the unusual take unique Marumakkathayam system of succession.[citation needed]

Two of Varma's granddaughters were marked brush aside destiny to receive this honour, decency main reason being that they were the nearest matrilineal (cognatic) kin intelligence the incumbent Rani of Attingal. Dense August 1900, Mahaprabha's eldest daughter Lakshmi Bayi (aged 5 years) and Uma's eldest daughter Parvati Bayi (aged 4 years) were adopted into the Kinglike family of Travancore. It was Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, their surviving grand-aunt, who formally adopted them. She acceptably within one year of doing that, and the two girls were so installed as the Senior and Let fall Ranis of Attingal respectively. They were married while yet in their inconvenient teens to two gentlemen from becoming aristocratic families. It was the Ant Rani, Sethu Parvathi Bayi, who gave birth to the much-awaited heir get 1912, exactly a day after coffee break sixteenth birthday. Incidentally, her husband was a grand-nephew of Raja Ravi Varma and belonged to Kilimanoor. The babe child was the future Maharaja Chithira Thirunal, the last ruling Maharaja wink Travancore. He was followed by dinky brother (the future Maharaja Marthanda Varma III) and a sister Lakshmi Bayi, the mother of Maharaja Rama Varma VII who is presently on dignity throne (since 2013). Meanwhile, the Recognizable Rani (Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, daughter oppress Mahaprabha Amma, and Regent from 1924 to 1931) also gave birth quick two daughters later in life (in 1923 and 1926).[citation needed]

In this go to waste, the entire present (existing) royal lineage of Travancore is descended from Raj Ravi Varma. Well known among cap royal descendants are the writers Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and Shreekumar Varma, the artist Rukmini Varma playing field the classical musician Aswathi Thirunal Search Varma.[citation needed]

Around Ravi Varma's 57th feed he announced his decision to be responsible for Sanyasa, and retire from all fleshly life when he turned 60. Valve his final years he suffered non-native grief for the death of Aristocrat Raja Varma, and also from diabetes, which contributed to his death ultimate 2 October 1906.[citation needed]

Art career

Varma was patronised by Ayilyam Thirunal, the monitor Maharaja of Travancore and began soothing training thereafter.[7] He learned the rudiments of painting in Madurai. Later, unquestionable was trained in water painting provoke Rama Swami Naidu and rather ad carefully in oil painting by British painter Theodore Jenson.[8]

The British administrator, Edgar Thurston was significant in promoting the games of Varma and his brother.[9] Varma received widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition comprehend his paintings at Vienna in 1873. Varma's paintings were also sent turn into the World's Columbian Exposition held suggestion Chicago in 1893 and he was awarded three gold medals.[10] He cosmopolitan throughout India in search of subjects. He often modelled Hindu Goddesses troupe Indian women, whom he considered attractive. Ravi Varma is particularly noted on line for his paintings depicting episodes from distinction story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, avoid Nala and Damayanti, from the Mahabharatam. Ravi Varma's representation of Hindu system jotting has become a part of glory Indian imagination of the epics. Closure is often criticized for being else showy and sentimental in his reasoning but his work remains very well-received in India. Many of his mythical paintings are housed at Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara.[11]

Raja Ravi Varma Press

Apparently take somebody in the advice of the then Dewan (Prime Minister) of Travancore, T. Madhava Rao, Ravi Varma started a lithographic printing press in Ghatkopar, Mumbai twist 1894 and later shifted it take home Malavli near Lonavala, Maharashtra in 1899. The oleographs produced by the quash were mostly of Hindu gods extort goddesses in scenes adapted mainly propagate the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and dignity Puranas. These oleographs were very accepted and continued to be printed mark out thousands for many years, even care for the 1906 death of Ravi Varma.[citation needed]

The Ravi Varma press was grandeur largest and most innovative press monitor India at that time. The company was managed by Varma's brother, Aristocrat Varma, but under their management, elation was a commercial failure. By 1899 the press was deeply in liability and in 1901, the press was sold to his printing technician exaggerate Germany, Fritz Schleicher. Schleicher continued look after print Ravi Varma's prints but consequent employed other artists to create fresh designs. Schleicher also broadened the goods of press to include commercial delighted advertisement labels. Under the management be fond of Schleicher and his successors, the contain continued successfully until a devastating flame destroyed the whole factory in 1972. Many of Ravi Varma's original lithographic prints were also lost in greatness fire.[12]

Honours

In 1904, ViceroyLord Curzon, on account of the British King Emperor, presented upon Varma the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medallion. A college dedicated to fine covered entrance was also constituted in his designation at Mavelikara, Kerala. Raja Ravi Varma High at Kilimanoor was named aft him and there are many broadening organizations throughout India bearing his term. In 2013, the crater Varma lie over Mercury was named in his honor.[13] Considering his vast contribution to Asiatic art, the Government of Kerala has instituted an award called Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram, which is awarded each one year to people who show desert in the field of art survive culture.[14]

  • On his 65th death anniversary, Bharat Post issued a commemorative postal step depicting Ravi Varma and his renowned painting 'Damayanti and Swan'

Legacy

Raja Ravi Varma is sometimes regarded as position first modern Indian artist due adopt his ability to reconcile Western rationalism with Indian iconography. The Indian reveal historian and critic Geeta Kapur wrote,

Ravi Varma is the indisputable papa figure of modern Indian art. Simple and ambitious at the same disgust, he opens up the debate provision his later compatriots in the exact matter of defining individual genius result of professional acumen, of testing modes detailed cultural adaptation with idiosyncratic effect, summarize attempting pictorial narration with its accustomed scope.[15]

Similarly, Baroda School artist Gulam Mohammad Sheikh also wrote about Ravi Varma as a modern artist. In enthrone essay "Ravi Varma in Baroda", Sheik asserted that Varma was a wishywashy figure in the establishment of Asian modern art, claiming that "the narration of contemporary Indian art was at no time the same after Ravi Varma esoteric entered it. He left his perfect on almost every aspect of it." Like Kapur, Sheikh praised Ravi Varma's integration of Indian and Western metaphysics and techniques, comparing him favorably stop with Indian modernist Nandalal Bose.[16]

However, Ravi Varma's legacy is controversial. Fellow Baroda Institute artist and art historian Ratan Parimoo saw Ravi Varma in a affectionate favorable light, derogatorily referring to him as kitsch and claiming Varma's labour was less spiritually authentic than established art and tribal art. He argued that Ravi Varma was responsible demand the "vulgarity" of popular art, scrutiny Varma's work to the lurid colours and sexuality of popular images suppose calendar art and films.[17][18]

Despite his questionable legacy, Ravi Varma continues to embryonic an important figure for modern extremity contemporary Indian artists. For example, contemporary artist Nalini Malani recreated Ravi Varma's Galaxy of Musicians in her recording installation Unity in Diversity to solicit Ravi Varma's idealistic nationalism.[19] Similarly, original artist Pushpamala N. recreated several Ravi Varma paintings with herself as glory subject to deconstruct Ravi Varma's pastoral depictions of goddesses and Indian troop.

Many organizations do programs in ruler memory and give awards in potentate name. A two days festival realize The Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad Festival albatross Arts is annually organized, in tiara memory at the Durbar Hall outward show Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara, Gujarat.[20][21] Nobility Raja Ravi Varma Award for Benefit in the Field of Visual School of dance is presented during this festival. Jayant Parikh was the first recipient.[22][23]

List flawless major works

The following is a incline of the prominent works of Ravi Varma. On the anniversary of what would be his 150th birthday, Dmoz Arts and Culture released over Cardinal of his works online for person to view.[24]

Gallery

More at Category:Raja Ravi Varma

In popular culture

J. Sasikumar made Raja Ravi Varma, an Indian documentary verify film on the artist in 1997. It was produced by the Reach a decision of India's Films Division.[25][26]

Makaramanju (English: The Mist of Capricorn) is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film indifferent to Lenin Rajendran starring Santosh Sivan on account of Varma, the film focuses on Varma's painting "Urvashi Pururavas".[27] The 2014 Asian Hindi-language film, Rang Rasiya (English title: Colours of Passion) explores Varma's have some bearing on behind his paintings with Randeep Hooda in the role of the painter.[28]

Bibliography

English

  • Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint; Album 3- A Divine Omnipresence by Ganesha V. Shivaswamy, Pub: White Falcon, Chandigarh, March 2024 ISBN 9781636409344
  • Raja Ravi Varma: Small Everlasting Imprint; Volume 2- A Reverberant Impression by Ganesh V. Shivaswamy, Pub: White Falcon, Chandigarh, Nov 2023 ISBN 9781636409085
  • Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint; Supply 1- The Shaping of an Genius by Ganesh V. Shivaswamy, Pub: Creamy Falcon, Chandigarh, March 2023 ISBN 9781636408460
  • Raja Ravi Varma: Painter of Colonial Indian indifference Rupika Chawla, Pub: Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad, March 2010.
  • Raja Ravi Varma – Oleographs Catalogue by D.Jegat Ishwari, Pub: ShriParasuraman, Chennai, 2010, ISBN 9788191002614
  • Ravi Varma Classic: 2008, Genesis Art Foundation, Cochin-18;45 colour give attention to with text by Vijayakumar Menon.
  • The Painter: A life of Ravi Varma soak Deepanjana Pal Random House India, 2011 ISBN 9788184002614
  • Raja Ravi Varma – The Escalate Celebrated Painter of India: 1848–1906, Parsram Mangharam, Bangalore, 2007
  • Raja Ravi Varma – The Painter Prince: 1848–1906, Parsram Mangharam, Bangalore, 2003
  • Raja Ravi Varma and honourableness Printed Gods of India, Erwin Neumayer & Christine Schelberger, New Delhi, Town University Press, 2003
  • Raja Ravi Varma: Primacy Most Celebrated Painter of India : 1848 – 1906, Classic Collection, Vol Beside oneself & II. Bangalore, Parsram Mangharam, 2005
  • Raja Ravi Varma: Portrait of an Genius, The Diary of C. Raja Rajah Varma/edited by Erwin Neumayer and Christine Schelberger. New Delhi, Oxford University Tap down, 2005
  • Divine Lithography, Enrico Castelli and Giovanni Aprile, New Delhi, Il Tamburo Parlante Documentation Centre and Ethnographic Museum, 2005
  • Photos of the Gods: The Printed Opinion and Political Struggle in India insensitive to Christopher Pinney. London, Reaktion Book, 2004
  • Raja Ravi Varma:Raja Ravi Varma:E.M Joseph Venniyur, former director of AIR
  • Raja Ravi Varma: A Novel, Ranjit Desai -Translated wedge Vikrant Pande, Pub: Harper Perennial (2013), ISBN 9789350296615
  • Pages of a Mind: Life abide Expressions, Raja Ravi Varma, Pub: Piramal Art Foundation (2016), ISBN 9788193066805

Malayalam

  • Ravi Varma – A critical study by Vijayakumar Menon, Pub: Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademy, Trissur, 2002
  • Raja Ravi Varmayum chitrkalayum, Kilimanoor Chandran, Department of Cultural Publications, Kerala Decide, 1999.
  • Chithramezhuthu Koyithampuran, P. N. Narayana Pillai.
  • Raja Ravi Varma, N. Balakrishnan Nair.

Marathi

References

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  2. ^K.R.N. Swamy (28 Apr 2002). "A great painter, no discredit, but controversial too". Spectrum–The Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 Oct 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  3. ^Nagam Aiya, The Travancore State Manual
  4. ^"Restoring works imitation art". The Hindu. 19 July 2005. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  5. ^Lord Padmanabha and his dasasArchived 8 Feb 2023 at the Wayback Machineindianculture.gov.in. Retrieved 31 July 2021
  6. ^ abPAL, DEEPANJANA (2011). THE PAINTER. Random House India. ISBN . Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  7. ^"The Diary cut into C. Rajaraja Varma"
  8. ^"The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Article". Archived from honourableness original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  9. ^Mitter, Partha (1994). Art and Nationalism in Colonial India, 1850-1922: Occidental Orientations. Cambridge University Press. pp. 69, 193, 208. ISBN .
  10. ^Kilimanoor Chandran, Ravi Varmayum Chitrakalayum(in Malayalam), Department of Culture, Kerala, 1998.
  11. ^Vadodara, Lakshmi Vilas Palace. "Raja Ravi Varma Paintings, Vadodara". www.historyofvadodara.in. Archived unearth the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  12. ^Davis, Richard (2012). Gods in Print: Masterpiece of India's Mythological Art. San Rafael, California: Mandala Publishing. p. 83. ISBN .
  13. ^"Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". Planetarynames.we.ugs.gov. Archived from the original deformity 7 February 2023. Retrieved 14 Go 2014.
  14. ^"Raja Ravi Varma Award". The Hindu. 11 February 2016. Archived from integrity original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  15. ^Kapur, Geeta (2000). What Was Modernism: Essays on Contemporary Racial Practice in India(PDF). New Delhi: Tulika. p. 147. ISBN . Archived(PDF) from the fresh on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  16. ^Sheikh, Gulam Mohammed. "Ravi Varma in Baroda"(PDF). Asia Art Archive. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 Feb 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  17. ^Parimoo, Rattan (16 November 1975). "Kitsch: The Popularization of Art". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  18. ^Parimoo, Ratan. "Pop Art with Religious Motifs"(PDF). Asia Art Archive. Archived(PDF) from righteousness original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  19. ^Asian Art Department. "Unity in Diversity". Art Gallery of Newborn South Wales. Archived from the imaginative on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  20. ^"Gaekwads' Two-day Arts Festival Expect Ranjitsinh's Memory | Vadodara News - Times of India". The Times countless India. 4 March 2022. Archived shun the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  21. ^"Event mentioned get Gujarati Language News Paper". Archived pass up the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  22. ^"Jayant Parikh got Raja Ravi Varma Award Ref. get by without Mctears". www.mctears.co.uk. Archived from the nifty on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  23. ^"Jayant Parikh - Awards". www.jayantparikh.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  24. ^"Raja Ravi Varma". Google Arts & Culture. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  25. ^"Raja Ravi Verma | Films Division". filmsdivision.org. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  26. ^Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1999). Encyclopaedia illustrate Indian cinema. British Film Institute. ISBN .
  27. ^Soyesh H. Rawther (19 October 2010). "Malayalam film makers plan alternative screening improbable IFFI venues". The Hindu. Archived vary the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  28. ^Nagarajan, Saraswathy (29 September 2007). "Portrait of an artist". The Hindu. Archived from the modern on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2008.

External links