Context: The first true copy of the painting Indulekha by legendary artist Raja Ravi Varma will be unveiled at the Kilimanoor Palace, where the artist was born in 1848, on the occasion of his 176th birth anniversary celebrations.
Raja Ravi Verma (1848-1906):
- The unreleased painting of Indulekha, the protagonist of the first modern novel in Malayalam literature by O. Chandu Menon published in 1889, emerged in the public domain in 2022 and evoked a great sense of enthusiasm among the art fraternity.
- It is believed that the famous painting Reclining Lady by Ravi Varma was modelled on Indulekha.
- The oil painting of Indulekha is shown holding a letter.
- His religious depictions of Hindu deities and works from Indian epic poetry and Puranas have received profound acclaim.
- He is considered to be the originator of the school of modern painting. The school was called ‘modern’ because of the heavy influence of western techniques and themes.
- He was unique as he brought together elements of South Indian painting with the western techniques of colour and style.
- Raja Ravi Varma was closely related to the royal family of Travancore of present-day Kerala state in India.
- Varma was patronised by Ayilyam Thirunal, the next Maharaja of Travancore and began formal training. He learned the basics of painting in Madurai.
- Later, he was trained in water painting by Rama Swami Naidu and in oil painting by British portraitist Theodore Jenson.
- Famous works: depicted episodes from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, and Nala and Damayanti, from the Mahabharata. Other works include, Lady in the Moonlight, Mother India, etc. He gained nationwide recognition for his paintings from the epic Ramayana, especially the one titled ‘Ravana Kidnapping Sita’.
- Varma received widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna in 1873.
- Varma's paintings were also sent to the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and he was awarded three gold medals.
- In 1904, Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the British King Emperor, bestowed upon Varma the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal.
- The title Raja was conferred as a personal title by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India Lord Curzon.