Raja Ravi Varma (English, Hardcover, Shivaswamy Ganesh V)

The six-volume series, Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint, explores the democratization of art in India through the country’s foremost modern artist, Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) and the Ravi Varma Press. Ravi Varma is the central point in this narrative. This series also studies the factors which shaped the image—his relatives, tutors, mentors, models, societal and cultural influences. The functioning of the Ravi Varma Press is another focus of attention. The expansive influence on those who took forward the baton, borrowing and keeping alive the artist’s style and icons in the world of cinema, theatre, fashion, design, popular art, law and policy are all documented. The first volume subtitled The Shaping of the Artist consists of two chapters. The first chapter deals with the life and times of not only Raja Ravi Varma but also the other artists associated with him. The second chapter examines the various aspects which influenced the artist such as Hindu scriptures, dance, models, photography, European art, among others.