Saraswati

The prints from the Ravi Varma Press inspired many later artists who painted for the printing presses established in Madras (now Chennai), Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, etc. These original paintings (referred to in the printing industry as 'Designs') have now become rare collectors items as very few continue to survive to the present day.

These paintings were used as exemplars for printing calendars and framing pictures just like the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, M V Dhurandhar, etc were used by the Ravi Varma Press.

This design was painted by M Ramalingam who deferentially signed the name of his teacher, C Kondiah Raju above his signature. M Ramalingam worked in the studio set up by C Kondiah Raju (1898-1976).

In this painting of 'Saraswati', the composition is strikingly similar to the print from the Ravi Varma Press- Saraswati.