Turning Sketches Into Masterpieces

Notice the young girl in the exemplar. It reveals how the artist would envision and sketch each character and then bring them to life in a single frame.

The exemplar for Shiva as seen in Ravi Varma's Gangawataran or 'Descent of Ganga.'

The artistic reference sketch of 'The Descent of Ganga or Gangawataran'. Only the figure of Parvati, which is seen in the original shown in the next panel, is missing here.

An exemplar to 'Padmini', the lady in the pink diaphanous sari, which found its way into the advertising world as the work was widely featured on posters and labels.

A reproduction of 'Padmini', the pretty nymph that was part of a tri-series created in the Ravi Varma Press.

The initial sketch for Ravi Varma's iconic 'Vishnu Garuda Vahan'. The outline of the mystical bird and Lord Vishnu with his consorts is clearly visible

Ravi Varma's 'Vishnu Garuda Vahan', where Lord Vishnu is seated on the fierce Garuda along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi

This sketch might have been done while the artist was preparing to paint 'Shakuntala Partalekhan'. Stunningly, the artist may have started out with this version but ended with Shakuntala facing the other way.

A reproduction of the artist's work titled 'Shakuntala Patralekhan'; the original oil on canvas is part of a private collection. Notice Shakuntala leaning on her left hand in contrast to the original sketch.

The artist has envisioned Kaikeyi fallen on the ground, as seen in 'Dasharath Kaikeyi Vilaap' In this sketch, her face is covered unlike the original in the next panel.

This reproduction of 'Dasharath Kaikeyi Vilaap' confirms what the artist was planning in the previous sketch. It shows her beautiful, yet sulking face, a feature of Ravi Varma's subjects.