2. “The more I saw, the more I admired the Master’s genius — his uncanny ability, through the magic of his brush to depict mood, emotion and atmosphere and to encapsulate the whole story in the selected scene”. How far this quote about Raja Ravi Varma describes his art? Discuss.

  • September 15, 2016
  • 59
Comments :
  • vengeancee says:

    Raja Ravi Varma, also referred as “Rafael of the East” was “father of modern paintings in India”

    “Genius” word seems apt when looking at his impeccable skills, and ability to bring life into his portrayals. His paintings were comprehensive, and depicted various aspects like emotions, mood, atmosphere, materials, and colors in a blend never seen before. Paintings were not monolith in expression, and captured entire essence which painter who have liked to reveal.

    Some popular paintings of Raja Ravi Verma include lady in moonlight, Ravana kidnapping Sita, etc.
    Raja Ravi Verma led a different class of painting school which was in later years followed by contemporary day famous painters like MF Hussain, etc.

    UPDATE: Ravi Varma was also the first serious Indian painter to use oil as his medium and to use live models to create some of the scenes in his pictures.
    Another departure from the norm (from Indian painters) is his style; many of his paintings are quite similar to those of the Grand Masters from Italy or Holland.
    Portraits: The dark background, the subdued light playing on the subject’s face, the masterly treatment of the ornaments and clothing all are quite similar.
    Paintings of Every Day Themes: much care and attention is given to detail of the background that it attains equal importance to the main characters. The background also shows his mastery of perspective as well as that unique quality to impart the texture of the subject.
    Scenes from Hindu mythology: It is in these paintings Ravi Varma’s grandeur becomes obvious. Perfectly proportioned men and women set against elaborate background rival any painting by the Italian or Dutch masters.

  • naadan parinda says:

    Raja Ravi Varma is considered to be a renowned modern artist of India.Having close relations with travancore dynasty,he presented his skill in truly dynamic sense since he was trained in both traditional and western forms.He held high positions in making portraits and depiction of mythological scenes.His skill can be witnessed by the fact that he was even awarded with Kaiser-i-hind medal by British Empire in 1904.
    He was an artist who brought a revival in Indian traditions of painting.He actively used western techniques but moulded them in a manner compatible to Indian context.His forte was the manner in which mood and emotions were conveyed.The oil paintings appeared to be highly realistic and lively.By a single painting one could easily connect with the motive with which painting was drawn.
    Raja Ravi Varma even went forward with the presentation of Indian deities in unconventional manner but maintaining their piousness.This led to beginning of a new school of painting.Some of his famous paintings are-Picture of Nair lady adorning her hair,Bhishma’s vow and many other paintings related to Krishna..The famous Amar Chitra Katha which initiated the skill of story telling in a new and much fluid manner has paintings made by him.
    This extra-ordinary talent makes him gain position of “primus interspares” in the field of Indian modern arts.Hence it can be truly concluded that more one sees his painting,more deeply he gets engaged and be greater admirer of this legend.

  • Officer in making says:

    Raja Ravi Verma, one of the greatest painters of history of Indian painting. He is considered as a modern painter because of his oil paintings.

    His paintings were largely of aesthetic in nature . e.g romancing couple, lady playing etc. His works are the general depiction of his emotions of socialisations. It can be seen from his paintings which portrays common man. e.g woman giving alms, galaxy of musicians. His paintings are beholders of natural beauties. e.g woman watching moon, bird flying in sky. His paintings of hindu deities and episodes reflects his religious beliefs. e.g jatayu’s attempt to rescue sita.

    overall his astuteness in painting, his mood, emotions and ability can be seen from his creations.

  • Valyrian Steel says:

    Raja Ravi Varma

  • SherniZaad says:

    Raja Ravi Varma is known as the legend when it comes to Indian paintings. He was known for his unique style and capacity to depict the mood and atmosphere of the scenes beautifully on the canvas creating magic in true sense.

    His style was unique because he painted with European techniques while incorporating Indian themes and subjects thus giving his paintings totally a new dimension. His oil paintings and water paintings depicting Indian mythological scenes are brilliant examples.

    Through his paintings like Jatayu trying to save Sita from Ravan, he portrayed excellently the whole mood and emotions of the story on just one canvass. He was often criticized for showing extra emotions in his work but this was his strength usually missing in other artists.

    His other paintings depicting love story of Shakuntala and Dushyantha, disguise of Draupadi, etc are spectacular creations of art making Raja Ravi Verma a true modern artist and a role model for the future artists .

  • CSE2017 aspirant (ABG) says:

    Q2

  • Ravi B Satyanaik says:

    the visual art forms of India be it paintings,architecture,sculpture etc have their own prominence in the history.there were many kinds and schools of paintings throughout India and still today practised but with many alterations.undoubtedly raja ravi varma was the tallest name in painting and was renowned for his creativity and humane touch to the paintings.
    raja ravi varmas paintings not only depicted the art but also his personality was seen in the paintings.through the statement it is clear that his ability and creativity were unparalleled.but at the same time the feelings and emotions portrayed though his paintings added to the beauty of the art.
    his art pieces encompassed the entire surroundings with minutely focusing on the emotion and moods carried through the figurines.his paintings in itself is a kind of storytelling.
    raja ravi varma’s art, are the master pieces treasured in our history.and for sure these will inspire our future generations for the creativity and minutely interwoven emotions hidden in it. pls review

  • Thesuperman says:

    Please review and give marks

  • Ravinder Singh says:

    pls review babaji and friendss

  • ILP- KUNA3885 (thevagabond85) says:

    The above statement aptly summarizes Raja Ravi Verma’s contribution to India’s modern art. He was a modern liberal artist deeply influenced by real-life paintings of Western style.

    # His theme was mostly based on religious epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata. Some of his famous works include Jatayu Vadham, Vasantasena(based on Sudraka’s Mrichchhakatika), Arjuna and Subhadra.
    # Through his oil paintings he revitalized India’s mythical stories and brought a sense of pride among Indians. He didnot compromised with realism while painting god/goddesses. He focused on depicting the reality as prescribed in the text rather than portraying them in conservative light. He was even protested by religious groups for the same reason.
    # For example, his masterpiece painting “Shakuntala” aptly depicts the essence of Kalidasa’s Abhigyanshankuntalam i.e. Shakuntala’s love at first sight for King Dushyanta.
    # His paintings of people and gods had a life-like quality to them. They show the effect of light on skin. He paid attention to what his subjects wore, painting the folds in their clothing and putting in details of their beautiful jewellery.
    # He was able to incorporate European realism and to add depth to his paintings using perspective.

    This self-taught genius earned many admirers from all over the country and around the world.

  • kyu says:

    Raja Ravi Verma was among one of the most prolific artists in modern Indian history who effortlessly combined Indian themes with European realism.
    Various attributes such as the show of effect of light on skin gave the characters of his paintings a life -like quality.
    His works also reflect the meticulous attention paid to the clothing, jewellery along with the expression of the subject of his paintings. The display of feminine emotions show the influence of early Tanjore paintings of Nayikas in his style of painting.
    Though illustrations were used to depict religious narratives in earlier folk art forms, illusionist paintings as a medium for story telling was Ravi Varma’s invention.
    He cleverly picked the particularly touching stories and moments from the Sanskrit classics such as -“Nala Damayanti” and”Radha and Madhava”.
    Though often considered as lacking in harmony, the sheer mastery of painting beautiful areas and expressions are enchanting.
    Indeed the magic of his brush does perfectly portray an entire story through his painting and the emotions attached to it.

  • Madhu Babu says:

    Raja ravi varma is modern paint artist, he used western oil paintings to depict the images of Hindu mythological epics. His major paints are from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, depicted with oil paints. He Is great asset to nation as his brush used to depict the mood, emotion of the scene. Many images reflected the socio economic conditions of the people of the time. He has also paid attention to dressing style, jewellery etc. he used painting as medium for story telling which his own creation.
    Though he is more towards religious paintings, his ability to bring reality of images with magic brush laid imprint on Indian History.

  • Maq says:

    Raja Ravi Verma is known for his unique paintings that given different level to art of India.
    HE got the title of Raja(King) by the King of Kerala. He blended European style of art to Indian mythology and depicted various state of human form.

    His Painting Hansa Damyati, Jataytu, VasantSena, Arjuna and Shubadra based on Mahabharata and Ramayana. He also painted Rani Laxmi Bai, Shiva ji and Tara Bai depicting their heroic act. Most of painting had the cult of European style. His oil and cloth painting was different from others which increased faith in various Gods and Goddess

    He was the one who painted Indian deity based on mythological text books rather than on prevalent conservative light and also started Printing press due to high demand of his art. His art was so amazing that people believed deities depicted in his paintings and worshipped them imagining same emotions and atmosphere surrounding the picture.

    He died but his art still mesmerizes us and give us spiritual aspect of God and natural paintings. India went ahead of Renaissance of Europe by depicting painting in different human form be it seductive images, spiritual aspect or natural beauty showing negligible form of conservative mindset.

  • Saurabh says:

    The name Raja Ravi Varma signifies in itself a school of Indian modern painting. His unique style of paintings was a first in India.

    He was the first one to successfully fuse the Indian traditions with the Western schools of painting. He was a critical link between the Thanjavore school pf painting with the Western academic realism. His paintings comprise of portraits, portrait based compositions and theatrical compositions, based on myths and legends.

    It is the third among the above which have received the most remarkable adulation. He magnificently represents the myths like Ramayana and Mahabharata in his paintings. His special admiration for the beauty of South Indian women made him represent Goddesses in the form of simple mortal women, thus giving a clear touch of realism to his work, at the same time representing the mood and emotion most aptly. The most remarkable expression of this is represented in his painting representing Dushyant and Shakuntala. The famous comics “Amar Chitra Katha” is based on his representation of gods and goddesses.

    Though he is often criticized for “neglecting” the traditional Indian forms of painting and reducing goddesses to mortal forms; but his painting nonetheless are an epoch in Indian painting, wherein religious themes were fused in an excellent way with western realism. Hence Raja Ravi Varma is certainly the master of representing emotion and mood in the most realistic form possible.

  • APPLE says:

    plz review dear ones…

    RAJA RAVI VARMAN of TRAVANCORE famous for depicting mythological and social themes became popular during 19th centuary…His uncanny ability,through the magic of brush as follows…

    1- His paintings are fusion of Indian traditions with European technique..
    2-His unique style of painting depicting the story of DUSHYANT and SHAKUNTALA where SHAKUNTALA is pretending to remove a thorn frm her foot while actually looking at her husband gives a touch of realism..
    3- His representation of saree clad women in his oil painting showcased the life of a middle class women which is graceful till date..
    4-He reached evry home by his printing p ress along with oleographic technique with representations of hindu GODS N GODESSES frm mahabharat and puranas..
    5-The craters in the moon is named afterhis popular art”LADY IN THE MOONLIGHT” showing the atmospheric nature of moon..
    Known as the master of modern art representing emotions and moods in most realistic form,was awardedKAISE-i- HIND by british government and PURASHKARAM by kerala governmen..

  • Bunny Praveen says:

    pls review it @iasbaba:disqus

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