Portrait of Justice T Muthuswamy Iyer
Raja Ravi Varma1887
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
This is a portrait by Raja Ravi Varma of Justice Sir Thiruvarur Muthuswamy Iyer KCIE (28 January 1832 – 25 January 1895). He was an Indian lawyer who, in 1877, became the first native Indian to be appointed as judge of the Madras High Court. He also acted as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in 1893. Iyer was acclaimed for his sharp intellect, memory and legal expertise. He advocated social reform and campaigned in support of women's education, widow remarriage and the legal recognition of sambandham. However, he was criticised for his alleged remarks on temple entry and views on Varnashrama Dharma. Iyer was made a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in recognition of his services. In 1893, he was knighted for his services to the Crown
- Title: Portrait of Justice T Muthuswamy Iyer
- Creator: Raja Ravi Varma
- Date Created: 1887
- Location: India
- Physical Dimensions: 134 x 110 cms
- Type: Painting
- Original Source: Collection of the Government Museum, Chennai
- Rights: Curatorial Rights: The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation, Bengaluru.
- Medium: Oil on Canvas
- 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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