The Genius of Ravi Verma

Introduction

I have been fascinated by the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma (also spelled as Raja Ravi Verma) since my childhood. In our ancestral home, there were framed copies of these paintings...only God knows where they are now. I knew a lawyer from Karwar, Mr. Haldipur, who was a great devotee of Ravi Varma  and had collected many of his works.

Great injustice has been done to the artist Ravi Varma in our country because he used modern hues and oils in his work and because of the western influence in his paintings. The critics said his was not Indian art. To me, Ravi Varma is not only among India's greatest artists, but also a great patriot. His depiction of the beauty of the Indian woman is unequalled in Indian art.

When the art gallery of Mysore was under renovation, I got an opportunity to photograph them and my joy knew no bounds! Over the years I got to see many a fine-print reproductions of Ravi Varma's paintings and have tried to photograph the expression of his subjects.

-- K. L. Kamat in a letter to Vikas
First Online: February 20, 2001
Last Updated: March 09,2008

Table of Contents

Village Belle Detail from an oil painting by Ravi Varma
	Lady Lost in Thought Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Damayanti Talking to a Swan Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	The Orchestra by Raja Ravi Varma Notice the variety of Indian clothing. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
Arjuna and Subhadra Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	Lady with Fruit Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
The Heartbroken Woman lost in love being consoled by friend. Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	Swarbat Player - Close-up Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Lord Krishna as Ambassador Krishna makes a last minute attempt to prevent the great Mahabharata war -- Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	Jatayu, a bird devotee of Lord Rama is mauled by Rawana Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Collection, Mysore
Victory of Meghanada by Raja Ravi Varma Indrajitu presents Shachidevi to father Rawana after vanquishing Indra. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
	A Family of Beggars Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
A Lady Playing Swarbat Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	Lady Giving Alms at the Temple Painting by Raja Ravi Varma. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
Lord Rama Conquers Varuna Painting by Raja Ravi Varma. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
	Romancing Couple -- Painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Draupadi Dreading to Meet Kichaka Draupadi, in the disguise of Sairendhri is asked by the queen of Virata to go to the house of her brother Kichaka Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
	Shantanu and Matsyagandha The Boat-woman and the Noble -- painting by Ravi Varma
Shakuntala Composing a Love Letter to King Dushyanta Painting by Raja Ravi Varma Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Collection, Mysore
	Girl in Sage Kanwa's Hermitage (Rishi-Kanya) Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Seduction of Vishwamitra Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	Nala Abandoning wife Damayanti Painting depicting the life of Nala-Damayanti
Village Belle with Brass Pots Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	Girl Playing with a Ball Painting by Ravi Varma, Mysore Art Museum
Shakuntala Looking for Dushyanta Oil painting by Raja Ravi Varma
	Lord Krishna and Balaram Liberating their Parents from Kansa's Prison Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
Mother and Child Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore

See Also:

• Bhishma's Promise
• The Descent of Ganga
• A Family of Beggars
• The Girl from Malabar
• Indian Woman
• Lady Giving Alms at the Temple
• Lady in her Vanity
• Lord Krishna as an Envoy
• Lord Rama Conquers Varuna
• Portrait of Colonel William Douglas Brodie Ketchen
• Saree Style Popular in Malabar 1900 A.D.
• Women in Sarees

See Also:

• Search for more works of Raja Ravi Verma in Kamat PICTURESearch
• Paintings of India at Kamat's Potpourri
• Indian Painting -- A large collection of paintings from India shows representative styles, themes, and techniques.