The Coquette

As part of his art practices, Ravi Varma made duplications of his own creations. Quite often a painting displayed at an exhibition was acquired by one buyer and coveted by another, which of couser has been a common enough practice in Europe and continues with contemporary art today. Ravi Varma would doubtless have obliged several patrons with versions of original paintings. Of the two near-identical and undated canvases of The Coquette and Lady With A Fruit, the fine details and careful brushstrokes of The Coquette suggest it to be the primary inspiration when compared with the rapid strokes and casual treatment of the second work.