Raja Ravi Varma

We authenticate, certify, issue certificates of authenticity (COA), appraise the value and broker the sale of paintings and prints by Raja Ravi VARMA.

Indian

Born: 1848, Kilimanoor, India
Died: 1906, Attingal, India, aged 58

He spent all his life in India.

Typical Subject Matter:

He is renowned for his portraits of illustrious personalities and for his mythological paintings. In 1894, he built a lithographic press that enabled him to reproduce his works in large quantities and distribute them widely. Very popular, the numerous chromolithographs were printed long after the artist's death. They depict Hindu goddesses in the guise of the women of Maharashtra. Raja Ravi Varma was also celebrated for his illustrations of mythological episodes from the Mahabharata, and his creations were democratized all over the country.

Typical Style:

He is renowned as one of the great ambassadors of the fusion of European pictorial techniques with Indian traditions. His style is very realistic, and his brushstrokes are smooth. His colours are equally realistic, with warm hues and ochres.

Typical Material and Media:

He mostly worked in oil on canvas. For his prints, he used chromolithographs on paper.

If you own a painting or a print by or attributed to Raja Ravi Varma, we would like to learn about it. Please send us photos or contact us at [email protected]. You will generally receive a response within 24 hours.