Artist Ravi Varma

I have been fascinated by the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma (also spelled as Raja Ravi Verma) since my childhood. In our ancestral home, there were framed copies of these paintings...only God knows where they are now. I knew a lawyer from Karwar, Mr. Haldipur, who was a great devotee of Ravi Varma  and had collected many of his works.

Great injustice has been done to the artist Ravi Varma in our country because he used modern hues and oils in his work and because of the western influence in his paintings. The critics said his was not Indian art. To me, Ravi Varma is not only among India's greatest artists, but also a great patriot. His depiction of the beauty of the Indian woman is unequalled in Indian art.

When the art gallery of Mysore was under renovation, I got an opportunity to photograph them and my joy knew no bounds! Over the years I got to see many a fine-print reproductions of Ravi Varma's paintings and have tried to photograph the expression of his subjects.

-- K. L. Kamat in a letter to Vikas
First Online: February 20, 2001
Last Updated: February 17, 2024

Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma



Village Belle
Detail from an oil painting by Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Lady Lost in Thought
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Damayanti Talking to a Swan
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Galaxy of Musicians by Ravi Verma
The Orchestra by Raja Ravi Varma
Notice the variety of Indian clothing. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore

Arjuna and Subhadra
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Lady with Fruit
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

The Heartbroken
Woman lost in love being consoled by friend. Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Swarbat Player - Close-up
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Lord Krishna as Ambassador
Krishna makes a last minute attempt to prevent the great Mahabharata war -- Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
The Death of Jatayu by Ravi Varma
Jatayu, a bird devotee of Lord Rama is mauled by Rawana
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Collection, Mysore

Victory of Meghanada by Raja Ravi Varma
Indrajitu presents Shachidevi to father Rawana after vanquishing Indra.
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
Victory of Indrajit
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
A Family of Beggars
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

A Lady Playing Swarbat
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
The Giving Hand
Lady Giving Alms at the Temple
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore

Lord Rama Conquers Varuna
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
Sri Rama Vanquishing the Sea
Paintings of India
Romancing Couple -- Painting by Raja Ravi Varma.

Draupadi Dreading to Meet Kichaka
Draupadi, in the disguise of Sairendhri is asked by the queen of Virata to go to the house of her brother Kichaka
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
Agony of Draupadi by Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Shantanu and Matsyagandha
The Boat-woman and the Noble -- painting by Ravi Varma

Shakuntala Composing a Love Letter to King Dushyanta
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Collection, Mysore
Love Letter to Dushyanta
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Girl in Sage Kanwa's Hermitage (Rishi-Kanya)
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Seduction of Vishwamitra
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Nala Abandoning wife Damayanti
Painting depicting the life of Nala-Damayanti

Village Belle with Brass Pots
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Ravi Varmas Paintings
Girl Playing with a Ball
Painting by Ravi Varma, Mysore Art Museum

Shakuntala Looking for Dushyanta
Oil painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Krishna and Balaram by Raja Ravi Varma
Lord Krishna and Balaram Liberating their Parents from Kansa's Prison
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore

Mother and Child
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore
Suckling Child by Raja Ravi Verma
Arjuna as a Sanyasi
Arjuna Sanyasi -- Seduction of Subhadra
Oil Painting by Ravi Varma

Woman Lost in Thought
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Lady Attending to her Hair Bun
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
A Young Mother and Her Child
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

A Lady Playing Veena Musical Instrument
Painting by Raja [Ravi Varma
Musical Instruments
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Shakuntala by Ravi Varma
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Shakuntala Composes a Message
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Artist Ravi Varma
Portrait of Raja Ravi Varma
Detail from cover page of a children's book

Alms Receiver Outside a Temple
Painting bu Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Sri Krishna and Balarama

Artist Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906)
Indian stamp honoring Ravi Varma
Artist Ravi Varma

See Also:

See Also: