Born on April 29, 1848, Raja Ravi Varma was closely associated with royal house of travancore. He was making waves with his paintings since he was just 13 years old. T Madhava Rao, who first served as the Diwan of Travancore and later as the Diwan (Prime Minister) of the State of Baroda, invited Raja Ravi Varma to paint a portrait. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad III.
Varma, who made colorful depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses, first came to the then Baroda state in 1881-82 and spent four months here. Sayajirao built a studio for him near Motibagh Maidan. Where Verma lived and worked in the 1880s.
Impressed by Verma’s work, King In 1888 the legend was invited to Ooty where he commissioned 14 paintings depicting the mythological epics – the Ramayana and the Mahabharata – to decorate the new Durbar Hall in the new Lakshmi Vilas Palace.
“Sayajirao gave Rs 50,000 to Raja Ravi Varma to start a printing press in Mumbai in 1893. The first olograph to be printed in this press was that of Varma’s famous painting ‘Birth of Shakuntala’. Also, Maneka made by Varma And Vishwamitra’s original painting still adorns the walls of the Fatehsinhrao Museum in the city,” said Sachin Kaluskar, art connoisseur who has a rich collection of Varma’s oleographs.
Varma made many paintings in this studio near Motibagh Ground, but there is no official record of which of his works were made during his stay in Baroda State.
Varma, who made colorful depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses, first came to the then Baroda state in 1881-82 and spent four months here. Sayajirao built a studio for him near Motibagh Maidan. Where Verma lived and worked in the 1880s.
Impressed by Verma’s work, King In 1888 the legend was invited to Ooty where he commissioned 14 paintings depicting the mythological epics – the Ramayana and the Mahabharata – to decorate the new Durbar Hall in the new Lakshmi Vilas Palace.
“Sayajirao gave Rs 50,000 to Raja Ravi Varma to start a printing press in Mumbai in 1893. The first olograph to be printed in this press was that of Varma’s famous painting ‘Birth of Shakuntala’. Also, Maneka made by Varma And Vishwamitra’s original painting still adorns the walls of the Fatehsinhrao Museum in the city,” said Sachin Kaluskar, art connoisseur who has a rich collection of Varma’s oleographs.
Varma made many paintings in this studio near Motibagh Ground, but there is no official record of which of his works were made during his stay in Baroda State.
.