Pages of history
ANUPAMA R
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The recent discovery of one of the sketch books of Ravi Varma shows the artist's methods of working.
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PRECIOUS LEGACY: Preparatory sketches of Ravi Varma's famous painting `Jatayu Vadham,'
This is the story of a lost notebook, a cherished artist and some valuable paintings...
Once upon a time in Mavelikara, a little notebook caught the attention of a curious child. Though too young to fully comprehend the notebook's value, he treasured it, grew up with it and finally passed it on to his daughter.
Thirteen years later, she discovers the tattered notebook is one of the several sketchbooks of Raja Ravi Varma - her great grand father. Born in 1848 into the royal house of Kilimanoor, near Thiruvananthapuram, Ravi Varma is still remembered for his portraits, especially of beautiful women - mythical and real. Influenced by the European school of painting, he worked with oils, a medium relatively unknown in the India of those days. It is also said that he travelled widely across India, capturing several rough images in his sketchbooks.
Heirloom
It is one such treasure that Maya Rao has now discovered. "My father Raghu Prasad, grandson of Raja Ravi Varma, found this sketchbook in his home in Mavelikara and passed it on to me 13 years ago... I am excited and honoured to possess a national treasure," she says.
There could be no better time for a discovery such as this than the death centenary year of the great painter prince.
However, she also realised the importance of getting the sketchbook verified by experts. The Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) authenticated the document and now the digitised sketches are available for reference, thanks to P.J. Cherian, Director, KCHR. Part of the KCHR `Digitising Kerala's Past' project, the sketchbook was photographed and later returned to Maya .
The authentication process initiated by KCHR involved verification by experts as well. Dr. Cherian explains that Ravi Varma's sketches are usually signed. However, this document bears his seal.
Art historian, R. Nandakumar feels that though the use of a seal is surprising, the sketchbook provides important clues. He adds that coming from an authentic source, the book has great value as it belonged to a well-known artist. Despite the fact that 2006 is the death centenary year, Dr. Cherian regrets that there are not many studies on Ravi Varma. From this point of view, he is happy the "sketchbook is an important primary source... It contains many preliminary sketches of his later works," says Dr. Cherian.
Containing 72 pages, the sketchbook has around five preparatory sketches of his famous painting, `Jatayu Vadham' (The killing of Jatayu by Ravana).
Art enthusiast's delight
Though some of the more complete versions are missing, it is an art enthusiast's delight to watch how Ravi Varma painstakingly transforms the rough lines of the face, body and wings into the world-renowned masterpiece.
Equally fascinating is that the bird featuring in the painting resembles a vulture though Jatayu is a mythical eagle. Nandakumar feels Ravi Varma could have transformed the vulture into Jatayu. Not surprising, therefore, that the sketchbook has some sketches of a vulture, its wings, structure, and so on. "The kind of vulture seen in his works is found in North India, not down South," adds Dr. Cherian.
The other sketches mainly concentrate on human figures and animals, including a goat and a rooster. "They show his fascination to study objects from real life," observes Nandakumar.
The artist's great grand daughter shares the same respect for the master painter: "Though a lot has been said recently about Raja Ravi Varma's art not being technically perfect, I think his art was just brilliant aesthetically," says Maya.
The painting `Jatayu Vadham.'
Looking at the life-like sketches, one realises just how valuable such documents are.
Unfortunately as Dr. Cherian says, works are not preserved the way they should be. "But we will help people preserve the past," he promises. After all, there can be no future without the past.
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