Untitled (Tilottama)
Raja Ravi Varma"circa 1896"
Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation
Bengaluru, India
Ravi Varma's depictions of women in particular, are considered to be excellent examples of the paintings that emerged during this period. He eschewed Western subject matter and often illustrated myriad stories from Vedic mythology as well as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. This is the reason for his evergreen popularity and also what makes this painting so extraordinary. Titled Tilottama, the protagonist is one of the Apsaras (celestial nymphs) from Hindu mythology. In the epic Mahabharata, Tilottama was created at Brahma's request by using the best possible assets to create an almost perfect being. Her purpose was to bring about the destruction of the two Asuras (demons) named Sunda and Upasunda who were brothers and could not be destroyed by anyone except themselves. As their atrocities grew, Indra sent Tilottama to them. So captivated were they by her beauty that the jealous brothers fought over her and ended up killing each other. This painting portrays her descent through the skies down to earth, most likely after her creation.
It was auctioned in Sotheby's New York in 2018 for $795,000.
- Title: Untitled (Tilottama)
- Creator: Raja Ravi Varma
- Creator Nationality: Indian
- Date Created: "circa 1896"
- Physical Dimensions: 50.8 x 33.5 cm
- Provenance: Collection of Fritz Schleicher Thence by descent to Mrs. Lotti Schleicher Singh. Acquired by a private collector in Denmark
- Subject Keywords: Raja Ravi Varma, Tilottama, Sotheby's, Fritz Schleicher
- Original Source: Private Collection
- Rights: Sotheby's, New York
- External Link: http://www.sothebys.com
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Labels and Inscriptions: Sotheby's New York
- About the Artist: Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), India’s foremost artist, who took art to the masses, hailed from Kilimanoor, in the erstwhile state of Travancore. From a very young age, Ravi Varma, was drawn towards art, imbibing techniques from his uncle and mentor Raja Raja Varma and his mother, Umayamba Bayi, a poet in her own right. Varma was much sought after by the Royals and owing to his popularity and reputation, his spectacular and richly-textured works were prolific. His realistic portrayals of contemporary figures and interpretations of religious and mythological figures fetched him instant and enduring success, lifting his standing in the art world. If the Royals and his countrymen were in awe of this great talent, the international world was spellbound by his imagination and creativity. He ensured that art would be accessible to all, through reproductions of his paintings which were made available, and affordable to everyone.
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