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Hamsa Damayanti
Raja Ravi Varma and Ravi Varma Press, Karla LonavalaCirca 1910
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
HAMSA DAMAYANTI: Damayanti is the daughter of Bhima, the king of Vidarbha. The legend of Damayanti is found in the Mahabharata, Vana-Parva. At the same time, Nala was a prince born to Virasena, the king of Nishadha. The swans which came to the palace of Damayanti extolled praises for Nala and also told Nala of Damayanti’s extraordinary beauty. The messages of love being carried to and fro by the swans, Nala and Damayanti fell in love with each other.
In this print from the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, Damayanti is poised hearing of the virtues of Nala from the Swan.
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Details
- Title: Hamsa Damayanti
- Creator: Raja Ravi Varma, Ravi Varma Press, Karla Lonavala
- Date Created: Circa 1910
- Physical Dimensions: 50 x 35 cms
- Provenance: The Hemamalini and Ganesh Shivaswamy collection, Bengaluru.
- Subject Keywords: Raja Ravi Varma, Hinduism, Mahabharata, Gigapixel
- Type: Chromolithograph
- Rights: The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation, Bengaluru
- 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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