Snippets of Information
Raja Ravi Varma's paintings
Raja Ravi Varma (29th April 1848 - 2nd October 1906) was born in
Kilimanoor, an aristocracy in the kingdom of Travancore. His family was
unique for they were warriors but inclined in artistic pursuits. His
artistic talent was recognized and encouraged by his maternal uncle,
Bharani Thirunal Raja Raja Varma.
* 7 Apr 2026
Image Cource: saffronart.com
At Saffronart's Spring Live Auction on April 1, 2026, Raja
Ravi Varma's Yashoda and Krishna was sold for ₹167.2 crore (USD
17,978,495), setting a new benchmark as the highest-value work of modern
Indian art ever sold at auction. One of the most influential painters
of 19th-century India, Raja Ravi Varma is regarded as the "Father of
Modern Indian Art". He painted Yashoda and Krishna in the 1890s, at the
height of his career. It was offered with a pre-sale estimate of ₹80–120
crore (USD 8.6 - 12.9 million). Commenting on his historic acquisition of
this work, Indian businessman and billionaire Cyrus S. Poonawalla said,
"I am privileged to have the opportunity to acquire, preserve, and care
for the iconic Raja Ravi Varma painting Yashoda and Krishna. This
national treasure deserves to be made available for public viewing
periodically, and it will be my endeavour to facilitate this going
forward."
The sale of Yashoda and Krishna breaks the previous record held by
leading modernist painter M. F. Husain's Untitled (Gram Yatra), which
crossed ₹118 crore (USD 13.8 million) at auction last year.
Source: architecturaldigest.in
* 7 Apr 2026
Raja Ravi Varma combined European academic realism learned from oil
painting traditions with Indian mythological narratives creating images
that were both recognisable and elevated, devotional yet modern. This is
not the first time Ravi Varma's works have commanded high prices. Over
the past two decades, several major paintings have performed strongly at
auctions. Another Yashoda Krishna painting sold at Pundole's in 2023 for
over $4.5 million. Draupadi Vastraharan, an oil on canvas, fetched
$2.88 million at Saffronart’s spring auction in 2022, while Damyanti
sold at Sotheby's for over $1.6 million.
Source: businesstoday.in
* 7 Apr 2026
The Sri Chithralayam popularly known as Sri Chithra Art Gallery was
opened to the public by the erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore Sri
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma on the 25th of September 1935. The Art
Gallery has gathered on permanent loan through the kindness of the head
of the family, a representative collection consisting 46 original
paintings of Raja Ravi Varma being examples of this phase of painting in
India.Apart from this 16 numbers of Pencil Sketches and 14 numbers of
Chromolithographs are displayed here along with the Artist’s Easel.
Source: rajaravivarmaartgallery.kerala.gov.in
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