Raja Ravi Varma at Baroda

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The reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III can be considered an era of reformation and prosperity for Baroda. Along with patronizing education, sports, music, and dance he also patronized artists and painters. One of these was Raja Ravi Varma who came from Travancore and became the royal painter of the Gaekwads for some years.

Background :

Raja Ravi Varma (April 29, 1848 – October 2, 1906) was a painter from the princely state of Travancore (presently in Kerala). He achieved most recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. His paintings are considered to be among the best examples of the fusion of Indian art techniques with European academic art.

Stay at Baroda :

It all started in 1881, when Sir T. Madhvarao, the British Regent of Baroda decided to invite Ravi Varma to paint the ceremonial portrait of Sayajirao III. Once at Baroda, Ravi Varma was welcomed as a privileged guest and all facilities were extended to him. The various assignments from the Gaekwads brought him much fame. Princes from different native states of India sought his services. He was subsequently invited to Bhavnagar, Puddukkottai, Mysore, Bikaner, and Jaipur to revive pictorial art history in their states.

The Maharaja was so impressed with the painter’s work that he gifted him a studio. This studio is situated within the estate of the Lukshmi Vilas Palace itself. Earlier, the structure was in dilapidation condition, but was later re-constructed at the same place. During his stay here, he provided the Lukshmi Vilas Palace with two dozen large canvasses. These were majorly based on the themes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Several paintings like Nala and Damayanti, Radha & Madhava, Arjuna and Subhadra, Bharata, Shantanu and Ganga, Shantanu and Matsyagandhi, were produced. Many of these paintings are on display at Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery and the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum.

Thus, with the support of the Princely States, he became the first of a new generation of Indian artists to cross the regional barriers in receiving commissions and executing paintings on a pan Indian level.

Here are some of Raja Ravi Varma’s Paintings…