Photograph of a painting of a Malabar Lady
Raja Ravi Varma
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
In the 1890's when the paintings by Raja Ravi Varma made their way from Kilimanoor to Baroda, they were displayed for public view at Trivandrum and Bombay (now Mumbai). These paintings were immensely popular leading to a public demand for photo-copies of these paintings. Many of the paintings by Raja Ravi Varma came to be photographed by persons like V. G. Chiplunkar, S. N. Joshi, C Raja Raja Varma and the Prince of Aundh, Balasaheb. These rare photographs (Circa 1890-1906) offer us a rare glimpse into the paintings when they were freshly painted. In addition to being a valuable archive, they would offer invaluable assistance to conservators who seek to restore these works. This is a photograph of the painting by Raja Ravi Varma of a Malabar Lady with a book in her hand.
- Title: Photograph of a painting of a Malabar Lady
- Creator: Unknown, Raja Ravi Varma
- Location: India
- Type: Photograph
- Original Source: Collection of Dr Prashant Tapadia
- Rights: Curatorial Rights: The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation, Bengaluru.
- 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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