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Preparatory Sketch for Gangavatran
Raja Ravi Varma
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
This is a preparatory sketch by Raja Ravi Varma for the picture of Gangavatran or the Descent of Ganga. The painting was printed as a chromolithograph by the Ravi Varma Press with the title 'Gangavatran'. The picture has a triangular composition with Ganga, Nandi (the Bull) and Sage Bhagiratha being the three points of the triangle. In this preparatory sketch, Parvati (Lord Shiva's wife) is not incorporated in the sketch.
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Details
- Title: Preparatory Sketch for Gangavatran
- 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: 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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