Raja Ravi Varma's Indulekha

• 29 Apr 2024

Source: TH

• Recently, amidst celebrations marking the 176^th birth anniversary of renowned artist Raja Ravi Varma (29^th April 1848), the unveiling of the first true copy of his iconic painting "Indulekha" is set to take place at Kilimanoor Palace, Travancore, the artist's birthplace.
• Indulekha, a portrayal of the protagonist from O. Chandu Menon's seminal Malayalam novel, holds cultural and literary significance as a symbol of early modern literature in the region.
  • The unreleased painting of Indulekha garnered attention upon its emergence into the public domain in 2022.
• Raja Ravi Varma is considered the father of modern Indian art, as he combined Indian iconography with Western realism. His influence is seen in diverse fields such as art, literature, advertising, textiles, and comic books.
• Raja Ravi Varma, born into an aristocratic family in Kerala, started his professional art career at 22 and mastered oil painting.
  • Varma was among the first Indian artists to use oil paints and is considered a representative of the Europeanised school of painting in India.
• Varma built his reputation through royal patronage, he received significant commissions from Maharana Fateh Singh and Sayajirao Gaekwad III.
• Works: Damayanti Talking to a Swan, Shakuntala Looking for Dushyanta, Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair, and Shantanu and Matsyagandha.
• Recognition: Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal by the British colonial government in 1904 and in 2013, a crater on the planet Mercury was named in his honour.

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