Raja Ravi Varma

• Raja Ravi Varma’s unfinished works will be unveiled at Kilimanoor Palace in Kerala on 175^th birth anniversary.

About Raja Ravi Varma

• He was born on April 29, 1848, in Kilimanoor.
• He was an Indian painter, born in Kerala, best known for uniting Hindu mythological subject matter with European realist historicist painting style.
• He created over 7000 paintings in his lifetime.
• He was the first Indian artist to use oil paints, which were brought to India by the Britishers.
• His painting ‘Hamsa Damayanti’, which depicts the story of King Nala and Damayanti from Mahabharata won the first prize at Vienna Exhibition in 1873.
  • Other major works include Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair, Shakuntala, woman holding a fruit, Yashoda Krishna
• He was awarded Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal in 1904 by British government.
• Raja Ravi Varma was the first Indian artist to have his works exhibited in Europe.
• He was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, making him the first Indian to receive this honour.
• He was a pioneer in using art as a means of social reform, promoting education for women and advocating against social evils like child marriage.