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Portrait Study
Raja Ravi Varma
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
This preparatory study for the portrait of a man by Raja Ravi Varma- he is wearing a turban and his beard is parted in the style of the Royalty of Mewar. An aspect of interest on this sketch is the preparatory drawing for the seal of Kilimanoor. The family deity of the Kilimanoor aristocracy is Sastha- his vehicle (vahan) being the horse. The imprint of the seal is also found on this sketch of a horse encircled by the word 'Kilimanoor' written in the language Malayalam.
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Details
- Title: Portrait Study
- 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: Watercolour and 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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