Context: On the occasion of his 177th birth anniversary of the legendary artist Raja Ravi Varma, a musical tribute will be paid at the Kilimanoor Palace, Kerala.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Raja Ravi Verma.
Raja Ravi Verma (1848-1906)
- Ravi Varma was born into the aristocracy at Kilimanoor in the erstwhile Travancore (present-day Kerala state in India) on April 29, 1848.
- He is considered to be the pioneer of the modern school of painting. The school was called ‘modern’ because of the heavy influence of western techniques and themes.
- He successfully combined elements of South Indian painting and Indian iconography with Western techniques and styles.
- He was patronised by: Ayilyam Thirunal, the next Maharaja of Travancore and began formal training. Later, he was trained in water painting by Rama Swami Naidu, and in oil painting by British portraitist Theodore Jenson.
- His religious depictions of Hindu deities and works from Indian epic poetry and Puranas have received profound acclaim.
Titles and Acclaimations:
- He received widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna in 1873.
- His paintings were also sent to the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893.
- In 1904, Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the British King Emperor, bestowed upon Varma the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal.
- He was conferred the title of ‘Raja’ by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India Lord Curzon.
Famous works:
- Episodes from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala
- Nala and Damayanti from the Mahabharata
- Paintings from the epic Ramayana, especially the one titled ‘Ravana Kidnapping Sita’.
- Lady in the Moonlight
- Galaxy of Musicians
- Parsi Lady painting.