Raja Ravi Varma was born in Kerala on April 29, 1848. He is an Indian painter and one of the celebrated masters of the Kaychara (Kerala) School of Art, which came to prominence during the last quarter of the 19th century.
Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings reached high prices at auctions in recent decades. Throughout his career, he shifted his focus from oil paintings to frescoes and later on to creating murals without being influenced by the changing currents in Indian art.
He was notable for making affordable lithographs of his paintings available to the public, which greatly enhanced his reach and influence as a painter and public figure.
His lithographs increased the involvement of common people with fine arts and defined artistic tastes among common people.
Furthermore, his religious depictions of Hindu deities and works from Indian epic poetry and Puranas have received profound acclaim. He was part of the royal family of erstwhile
Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the British King Emperor, bestowed upon Varma the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal.
A college dedicated to fine arts was also constituted in his honour at Mavelikara, Kerala.
Raja Ravi Varma High at Kilimanoor was named after him and there are many cultural organizations throughout India bearing his name.
In 2013, the crater Varma on Mercury was named in his honor. Considering his vast contribution to Indian art, the Government of Kerala has instituted an award called Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram, which is awarded every year to people who show excellence in the field of art and culture.
