Museum of Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings

In Trivandrum in the old city area one of the buildings in the museum complex houses several paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.

Photography is not allowed inside so for my memories these photos will have to suffice.

(photos of the paintings themselves are from the internet)

And this one with a glimpse of a painting

Inside there are more than 2 dozen paintings by Raja Ravi Varma – some signed RV, others with his full name, some that I was familiar with and others that I had not seen any images of.

1. Gypsies of South India
2. Draupadi at the Court of Virata
3. Milk Maid
4. Ammathampuran of Mavelikkara
5. Maharani Lakshmi Bai
6. Charity
7. Brahmin Woman
8. Lady in Prison
9. Ravana Carrying Sita
10. Hamsa Damayanthi
11. Shakuntala
12. Mohini and Rugmangada
13. Draupadi and Simhika
14. Rest
15. Johar
16. Reading the Newspaper
17. A Student
18. Bhill Woman

and a few portraits of the rich / famous / powerful:

1. Judith
2. Dadabhai Nowroji
3. Mrs. Ramanadha Rao
4. Rai Pannalal Mehtha
5. Some Officers
6. Rajaraja Varma

Also exhibited is a wooden easel  used by him. If only we could eavesdrop on the moments that the easel has witnessed!

In other halls there are paintings by Roerich, and some from other parts of Asia.

But seeing RRV originals was the main attraction.

***

I am not a student of paintings and I have only seen these in addition to 5-6 others by RRV. Based on what I have seen, I believe that he enjoyed bringing out the emotions of his characters through his paintings.

In the Mohini painting, depicting a scene, one can see the emotions of despair, helplessness, challenging and comforting  in the different people.

An afternoon spent well … great atmosphere, a lovely old building and a very knowledgeable museum appointed docent!

Would do this again!

December 2017