The Raja Ravi Varma Temple of Arts plans to release authenticated copies of selected Raja Ravi Varma paintings, likely by the end of this year.
Talking to The Indian Express during a recent visit to Pune, Ramavarma Thampuran K R, a descendant of Raja Ravi Varma and chairman of the Ramavarma Foundation for Art and Culture and the Raja Ravi Varma Temple of Arts, said, “I have seen Raja Ravi Varma prints online, on the streets and in shops that are of very poor quality. The colour combination is not accurate. The Foundation plans to release high-quality prints.”
He said this was needed as the enduring popularity of Raja Ravi Varma’s art has led to the proliferation of fakes.
This is Thampuran’s first visit to Pune since Serum Institute of India managing director Dr Cyrus S Poonawalla bought the legendary artist’s painting, Yashoda and Krishna, for Rs 167.20 crore at Saffronart’s Spring Live Auction in Mumbai and set a new record for the selling price of modern Indian art at an auction.
Talking about the auction, Thampuran said, “It is a very positive and heartening development that Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings are commanding such high prices. It reflects not only the monetary value of a painting, but also the growing recognition of Raja Ravi Varma’s extraordinary contribution to Indian art and cultural history.”
What this auction – and others – have done is “bring into the public eye many of Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings that have remained largely unknown, often preserved for generations in private collections,” Thampuran said, adding that there are paintings that even the owners might not know are originals.
“When Raja Ravi Varma’s works come up for auction, they are documented, discussed and seen by a much wider audience. Ultimately, these record prices demonstrate that Indian art, and Ravi Varma’s art in particular, is receiving the recognition it deserves. As a descendant of the great artist, I feel that such auctions encourage greater interest in preserving, researching and documenting his legacy for generations to come,” he further said.
Thampuran is the special guest at the exhibition, “India in Image: Two Masters, a Shared Canvas” that brings together oleographs of Raja Ravi Varma and rare works by the famous cartoonist R K Laxman. The exhibition will be held at RK Laxman Museum in Balewadi on August 22 and 23, 5.30 pm-9 pm.
