Raja , "King" of realistic paintings

Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was a great artist who brought Indian painting to the attention of the larger world. His magnificent paintings shine still in their undying glory.

Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was born in Kilimanoor Palace as the son of Umamba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Bhattathiripad. At the age of seven years he started drawing on the palace walls using charcoal.

Most of his paintings are based on Hindu epic stories and characters. In 1873 he won the First Prize at the Madras Painting Exhibition. He became a world famous Indian painter after winning in 1873 Vienna Exhibition.

Shakuntala & friends

Maharashtrian lady
Girl carrying milk-pot

Lady giving alms at a temple

Lady with fruit-tray

Detail from Lady playing Swarbat

Kerala lady with child

Anand Panchal

Born in Latur in 1973. He graduated in 1997 with a Govt Diploma in Art (drawing & Painting) from Pune. He then got a diploma in 1998 in Art education from Sir J J School of Art.

His paintings have teenaged cowhands stare out at the viewer with large innocent doe like eyes filled with hope.

Anand also addresses the unexplored terrain os Sakhi-bhava,,where young girls are bound by the sisterhood of a shared destiny.

He also features the cow and the goats symbols of procreation,,birth,,sustenance and Godliness. He paints Durga as the mother Goddess.