7 Musical Instruments in Raja Ravi Varma Paintings

Music is instrumental to the texture of the Indian master's work

By Google Arts & Culture

Saraswati Version 2 (Circa 1910) by Ravi Varma Press Karla Lonavala and Raja Ravi VarmaThe Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation

Audio: 'Dhaka'

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Raja Ravi Varma's distinctive palette, variegated and rich in color, often seems to have a music of its own. You could say its 'instrumental' to the vibe of his painting...

Here, Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and nature, plays with attention and skill upon the strings of a veena. She creates the universe as she creates music, and the painting's detailed depiction of her fingers shows her sublime skill and power.

Ravi Varma's harmonious paintings chime with both religion and earthly existence. Scroll on to see some key examples of music in Ravi Varma's art...

Sharada (1890) by Ravi Varma PressOriginal Source: From the Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation

Sharada

with a stringed instrument, possibly a variant of the veena...

Music Hath Charms (Kadambari) (Circa 1890) by Raja Ravi VarmaOriginal Source: Collection of Madhu and Chander Verma

Kadambari

playing the sitar...

Tara Devi (Circa 1898) by Raja Ravi Varma and Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Press BombayThe Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation

Tara Devi

Audio: 'Jalandhar'

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also playing a sitar...

Radhakrishna Manini Radha (Circa 1930) by Raja Ravi Varma and Ravi Vijaya Press GhatkoperThe Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation

RadhaKrishna

Audio: 'New Flute Music'

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Krishna seen with a flute...

Markandeya (1890) by Ravi Varma PressOriginal Source: From the Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation

Markandeya

holding a damaru...

Ambika (1880) by Ravi Varma PressOriginal Source: From the Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation

Ambika

Audio: 'Holi Day Riddim'

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a woman is seen with a percussion instrument, perhaps a thekanjira...

The Sitar Player by Raja Ravi VarmaOriginal Source: Collection of DAG- New Delhi, Mumbai, New York.

Discover more about Raja Ravi Varma...

Credits: Story

Dakha and Jalandhar by Kevin MacLeod are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1400018
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Audio: 'Holi Day Riddim', by Konrad OldMoney, No Copyright Music

Audio: 'New Flute Music', provided by Blank No Copyright Music. Inspired by the current out breaking musical trend.

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation

The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation

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