- It combined European & Indian methods and themes.
- Influenced by Roman and Greek culture rather than Indian culture. The painters were forced to imitate Greek and Roman statuary.
- It was popular in Bengal and Bihar. Apart from Greco-Roman history, they created paintings depicting everyday bazaars in India with a European backdrop. Ex. Patna Kalam.
- Indian courtesans dancing before British officials was the most important theme.
Raja Ravi Verma
Raja Ravi Varma revolutionised Indian aesthetics and redefined art practice during colonial era, erstwhile royal family of Kilimanoor has urged Union government to posthumously confer Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, on him.
About
- He was born at Kilimanoor, Kerala.
- He learnt watercolour painting from royal painter Ramaswamy Naidu, and later trained in oil painting from Dutch artist Theodore Jensen.
- Specialisation: Oil and water paintings. He focused on realised expression and skin tone. Varma combined European realism with Indian sensibilities. He was inspired from Indian literature to dance drama.
- Achievements: Three gold medals at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. He opened a Lithographic Press in Bombay in 1894 to take his art to masses. His lithographs increased the involvement of common people with fine arts and defined artistic tastes among common people.
- Role towards masses: He opened a Lithographic Press in Bombay in 1894 to take his art to masses. His lithographs increased the involvement of common people with fine arts and defined artistic tastes among common people.
Important Works
- Shakuntala
- Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair
- There Comes Papa
- Galaxy of Musicians
- Damayanti talking with a swan
- Maharaj Shivaji
