Raja Ravi Verma

Raja Ravi Verma (1848-1906) (also spelled Raja Ravi Varma). Born in Kilimanoor, a small fiefdom in the princely state of Travancore (modern Kerala), Ravi Varma was educated at home, as was the tradition in aristocratic houses, and received his first lesson in picture-making from his uncle, the artist Raja Raja Varma. At thirteen he moved to Trivandrum where he was able to study the paintings in the royal collection and the albums of European paintings. Here he was also able to observe visiting European artists at work, but on the whole he was largely self-taught. In 1873 he submitted two paintings to the Fine Arts Exhibition held in Madras which won the Governor's Gold Medal. In the following year he was again awarded the Governor's Gold Medal. He was the first Indian artist to apply the traditions of Western academic realism to the representations of Indian literature and mythology. At the same time, Varma was also a prolific portraitist and received commissions from various princely families as well as Europeans resident in India.

The paintings shown here are oil paintings on canvas , done by Indian artists, that are reproductions of Raja Ravi Varma paintings. Click on an image for details.