Kadambari
Raja Ravi Varma and Ravi Varma Press, Karla LonavalaCirca 1910
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
KADAMBARI: In this print by the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, Kadambari is a lady sitting on a marble patio playing the Sitar. It is evident this lady is an aristocratic lady. She is seen wearing velvet slippers and has an ornate peacock feather fan with her. She is engrossed in the music of the Sitar and it is probably for this reason the painting (from which this print was made) was also called ‘Music hath charm”.
Kadambari was the last picture Raja Ravi Varma painted before his demise in 1906. However, it is not sure if the painting which formed the exemplar for this painting was indeed the last Kadambari.
- Title: Kadambari
- 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, 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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