A Sketch of an Elephant carrying the Travancore State Emblem
Raja Ravi Varma
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
This is an interesting sketch by Raja Ravi Varma of an elephant with all the accoutrements of royalty. In the foreground is the canon and sword. On the elephant are the howdah, flag and umbrella. To the left of the elephant is the shankha (conch-shell) which is a special symbol of Vishnu. The conch-shell is called Panchajanya which is a symbol of religious authority exercised by word. The Shankha continues to remain a part of the Emblem of the State of Kerala. The elephant interestingly carries a banner with an emblem consisting of two elephants and the initials 'RV'. The twin elephant which was a part of the Travancore Royal Emblem continues to be used by the State of Kerala. The Royal cypher 'RV' refers to His Highness Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI who ruled Travancore between 1885 and 1924. This is probably Raja Ravi Varma's artistic interpretation of the Travancore regalia.
- Title: A Sketch of an Elephant carrying the Travancore State Emblem
- Creator: Raja Ravi Varma
- Location: India
- Physical Dimensions: 34 x 24 cms
- Type: Sketch
- Original Source: Collection of DAG- New Delhi, Mumbai, New York.
- Rights: Curatorial Rights: The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation, Bengaluru.
- Medium: Graphite on Paper
- Creator's Lifetime: 1848-04-29/1906-10-02
- Creator's Biography: Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was a prolific Indian artist who is recognized for his resorting to the academic realistic style of painting. His portraits of English and Indian royalty and aristocracy were well received. His paintings on Hindu religious and mythological subjects and paintings from classical and literary sources were highly sought after even during his lifetime. He painted several copies of his works and this demand led to the suggestion to have his paintings printed in the form of oleographs. The Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Press was established in Bombay (now Mumbai) and commenced operations in 1894. Many of Ravi Varma's paintings were printed as chromolithographs at this Press. These chromolithographs would have a tremendous impact on religion, society and aesthetics. They went on to democratize art leading to immortalize Ravi Varma in the minds of the people of the Indian subcontinent.
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