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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
The Raja Ravi Varma Collection : Baroda Palace Museum
Dr. Nirmala Shar
The Maharaja Fatesinh rao Museum and the Laxmivilas Palace have a collection of paintings of the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma and the credit of collection gocs to the extraordinary visionary, a reformer and the maker of Baroda Maharaja Sayajirao Gackwad ill of Baroda. He was the great connoisseur and a p of art. He commissioned several painters to create works for him, amongst whom was Raja Ravi varma.
Raja Ravi varina hailed from Travencore. He carved a niche for himself i awakening of modern and contemporary art movement, that was taking shape a dawn of the twenticth century. At the same time the movement for Indian Inde dence was gathering force. It was a difficult time for Indian history when grcats were giving impctus to the formation of a new and modern India- free from shackles of orthodox tradition and meaningless rituals.
In this age of confusion Raja Ravi varma appcared with his oil paintings learnt western oil painting from European portrait painters and his works were a ciated by the ruling Britishcrs. His subjects were based on Mythological chara with excellent realistic renderings, landscaped backgrounds, European style inte architectural depictions, shade and light, hcavy drapes, all an influence of the v
Ravi varma's grcatcst contribution lay in accepting the European style of in the highly activated world of Indian art. Maharaja of Baroda and the Rule Mysore began to get works created by this painter.
Raja Ravi Varma and his son Rama Varma, spent ten years in Baroda, 1 Varma usually made copies of his father's works. In Baroda, Ravi Varma pa Mythological subjects and also commissioned portraits of the Baroda Royal fa They include portraits of the Maharaja himself and other members of the fa Amongst other works there is a beautiful portrait of Maharani Chimnabai; Portrai a few British officers who were attached to Sayajirao's staff, an excellent portrait T. Madhavrao, the first prime minister who was instrumental in introducing Raja Varma to Baroda court. Painting of Sitā being taken in her bosom by Mother while Rama, lava, Kusha and others watch in astonishment and anguish, the fa picture of goddess Sarasvati whose prints, today adorn the prayer rooms of thou of Indians, the charming nude painting of Vishvāmitra and beautiful Meānaeki picted in the south Indian style, a few paintings from Mahābhārata & others.
Today these paintings are housed in the Maharaja Fatcsingh Muscum sit in the grounds of the palace as the Gackwad Raja Ravi Varma Collection and more are in the Laxmi Vilas palace.
* Faculty, Nirma Institute of Technology, Ahmedabad
ulas. Elucais - Pulsel.-.-Bal., 2001.8
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