Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

Unknown facets of Raja Ravi Varma to the fore

-Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

Gods recreated: Children taking a look at Raja Ravi Varma’s painting exhibition at Tirupati on Wednesday.

TIRUPATI: Raja Ravi Varma is synonymous with pictures of Gods and Goddesses likeLakshmi, Saraswati and other deities of the Hindu pantheon for more than a century . However, not many know that he is a spiritualist and social reformer too.

It was with a view to throw light on this hidden facet of his personality that ‘Ravi Varma Chitrakala Niketan’ conducted an exhibition of his paintings at the Press Club here on Wednesday.Niketan’s president and noted artist Singampally Satyanarayana dwelt in detail on Ravi Varma’s penchant for quality and finer details. “Aiming to study the painting traditions prevalent then, Ravi Varma not only had direct contact with diverse cultures, but meticulously studied Ajanta-Ellora cave paintings, micro art of Rajasthan, Bundelkhand and Mughal styles and more importantly, the inimitable Thanjavur style”, Mr. Satyanarayana explained.

This scion of the royal family of Kilamanur-Kerala, learnt the basics of painting from Captain Gold, Dutch painter Theodore Johnson and Thanjavur artist Alagiri Naidu. This unique ‘blend’ left a lasting impression on his works. Mr. Satyanarayana explained how Varma popularised Lord Krishna as an emissary, Rama consecrated as the emperor, Menaka and Vishwamitra, Yasoda Krishna, historical personalities like Adi Shankaracharya, Chatrapati Shivaji, Rana Pratap, etc. His works also bore testimony to his contemporary society through mind-blowing paintings of a destitute woman, a Tamil lady, camel riders, Pushkarini steps and a barber at work, etc.

Mr. Satyanarayana paid rich tributes to the great painter by drawing a portrait of Ravi Varma to declare the exhibition open. The TTD was urged to open a gallery of Ravi Varma’s paintings at its Tirumala museum.

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