Raja Ravi Varma (29th April 1848- 2nd October 1906)
- First true copy of the painting Indulekha by Raja Ravi Varma was unveiled at Kilimanoor Palace (Kerala) on his birth anniversary.
- Key Contributions
- Best known for uniting Hindu mythological subject matter with European realist historicist painting style.
- First Indian artist to use oil paints (brought to India by the Britishers).
- A pioneer in using art as a means of social reform.
- Famous paintings: ‘Lady in the Moonlight’, ‘Stolen Interview’, ‘Shakuntala'
- Awards:
- His painting ‘Hamsa Damayanti’, which depicts the story of King Nala and Damayanti from Mahabharata won the first prize at Vienna Exhibition in 1873.
- British government awarded him with Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal in 1904.
- Values: Nationalism, Compassion, tolerance, etc
