Raja Ravi Varma: Painter of Colonial India
Raja Ravi Varma: Painter of Colonial India
Couldn't load pickup availability
Worldwide Delivery
30 Days Easy Return
Secure Payment
- Author: Rupika Chawla
Product Description
Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906) was among the first Indian painters to successfully adapt academic realism to the visual interpretation of Indian mythology and adopt Western painting techniques of portraiture. His genre of paintings, which eventually led to chromolithographs (oleographs), has maintained a lasting effect on the Indian sensibility, making him the best-known classical painter of modern times. This book is an account of Ravi Varma’s traditional background and environment in the context of colonial India, and the relationship of this milieu with his profession as an aristocratic itinerant painter. Many royal families of India and several rich and powerful personalities were patrons of Ravi Varma, whose portraits he painted in large numbers. His range of Puranic and religious paintings, reflecting his deep understanding of Sanskrit and Malayalam literature, have deeply influenced the forms of gods and goddesses in 20th-century visual culture of India. Ravi Varma’s fascination for feminine beauty and the ability to capture it masterfully is abundantly evident in his numerous portrayals of Shakuntala, Sita and Damayanti, and of the Indian woman. His lingering influence on the Indian mindset is also seen in the works of Indian contemporary painters and artists, who continue to be inspired by his art. The lavishly illustrated fourth revised reprint, updated with additional artworks and corresponding text, brings together paintings from royal and private collections, and museums. It presents many works that have never been seen before, along with previously undisclosed maps, letters, photographs and other archival material. It traces the sources used by Ravi Varma, examines the techniques and methodology of his paintings, and discusses their conservation and the problem of fakes and copies, much to the advantage of historians, collectors, curators and art aficionados. This revised edition has been further enriched with 12 new additional images, offering readers an even more comprehensive visual journey through Ravi Varma's oeuvre. Now in its 6th reprint, this acclaimed volume continues to be a definitive reference on the artist's life and work. Available in limited copies only. Rupika Chawla is a conservator of art and an author, based in Delhi. She has restored several Ravi Varma artworks. Together with artist A. Ramachandran, she had organized the seminal exhibition on Raja Ravi Varma in 1993 at the National Museum, New Delhi, which brought about a strong revival of the artist and his work. She has written extensively on contemporary Indian art, both in books and articles and is the author of Surface and Depth: Indian Artists at Work (Viking), A. Ramachandran: Art of the Muralist (Kala Yatra & Sistas) and Icons of the Raw Earth (Kala Yatra). She also maintained a column in The Indian Express from 2001 to 2004. Read more
Customers also viewed
System Design Interview: An Insider’s Guide – 2 Volume Set by Alex Xu
The Mirror of Infinite Endings: The highly anticipated return to the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling Once Upon a Broken Heart series and the epic love story of Jacks and Evangeline
Psychology (7th Edition) | Pearson | NEP 2020 Aligned | By Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White & Girishwar Misra
The 100 Year Blueprint: An Indian Doctor's Guide to Longevity
Maa Amma Anadha | ?? ???? ???? | Telugu Novel by GANA
Mahaprastanam - (Telugu)
Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Box Set 2 Vol. 22-30 - Complete Collection Series 8 Books Collection Set (Jujutsu Kaisen books box set Vol 22-30) By Gege Akutami
Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Box Set (Vol. 0-30) - Complete Collection Series 31 Books Collection Set (Jujutsu Kaisen books box set Vol 0-30) By Gege Akutami
Ayodhya Cherina Krishna - Telugu Novel
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Death: An Inside Story
The Laws of the Spirit World
Cims India Medical Reference Book for B.Pharm/M.Pharm Students and Medical Representatives
Bratva Bride (Bratva Series)
Ncert Biology Text Book for Class 11 and 12 (Set of 2 Books)
Pathoma
My First 100 Animals Stickers
My First 100 Animals And Birds | Ages 0–5 Years | Early Learning | Padded Board Book For Kids | Wild Animals | Farm Animals | Pets | Vocabulary Building | Toddlers & Preschoolers | Latest Edition
My Favorite Things
Collections
View all-
Bestselling Books Collection
Explore our top-selling books loved by readers worldwide. This collection features the...
-
Most Ordered
Explore the Most Ordered books at UniversalReads. Featuring top-rated titles across fiction,...
-
Children's Books
Discover the best Children’s Books at UniversalReads. From bedtime stories to early...
-
Arts & Photography
Discover inspiring Arts & Photography books at UniversalReads. From painting guides to...
