169th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ravi Varma
The artist who brought about a momentous change in the art of India was born on 29th April 1848. Today is the 168th birth anniversary of Raja Ravi Varma, one of the greatest painter and artist of late 19th Century India.
Born in a small village of southern Kerala, Raja Ravi Varma belonged to a family of scholars, poets and artists. The art of painting ran through is veins. Being a famous painter of Tanjore, his uncle saw a spark of art in this young boy and decided to train him. Here is how India acquired such a fabulous painter.
His works are held to be among the best examples of the fusion of European techniques with a purely Indian sensibility. He was the first artist to cast the Indian Gods and mythological characters in natural earthy surroundings using a European realism.
He is particularly noted for his paintings depicting episodes from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, and Nala and Damayanti, from the Mahabharata. Many of his fabulous paintings are housed at Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara.
This excellent artist received many honours in his life. A couple of years before his death, Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the British King Emperor, bestowed upon Varma the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal. The Government of Kerala has instituted an award called "Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram" awarded to those who show excellence in the field of art and culture.
Most of his oil paintings are based on Hindu epic stories and characters. In 1873 he won the First Prize at the Madras Painting Exhibition. He became a world famous Indian painter after winning in 1873 Vienna Exhibition.
Raja Ravi Varma breathed his last of diabetes on October 2, 1906, in his Kilimanoor Palace (Attingal Kerala)
Department of Posts released a commemorative postage stamp as a tribute, on his 123th birthday anniversary.
The stamp depicts his portrait with his one of the famous paintings of “Damayanti and Swan” - a scene from the story of “Nala - Damayanti”.
Today and for ever the rich heritage of the fragrance of his paintings continues to charm and influence the art of India.
Issued Date : 29-04-1971
Denomination : 20 Paise
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