The Indian Muse

Whenever we talk about the muse, western art history pops out with some exclusive examples of artists and beautiful ladies who inspired the artists ranging from Renaissance to contemporary art. India’s primitive kind of art did not give us an account of the lovely ladies who posed for the artists. Highly muse oriented works of Ravi Varma and his introduction to the western style of realistic painting first time in India made his paintings excel during the period. He exceeded all the artists of the prestigious court of Travancore and even won many national and International awards. In 1904 the imperial government awarded  Ravi Varma with Kaiser-i-Hind Medal. The award mentioned the title 'Raja' for the first time against his name. 

 Ravi Varma won Governor’s Gold Medal in 1873 for the painting
Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair

Raja Ravi Varma and brother Raja Varma left Travancore after the death of his patron Raja Aiyiliam Thirunal and settled in Bombay (now Mumbai). It was the late 1800s when rich societies who resided in South Bombay led a totally different cult from rest of colonial India. Ravi Varma soon adapted the bohemian cult of Bombay and was successful in pleasing the rich Parsis and Gujarati Seths with his work.

Parsi lady painted by Ravi Varma

Apart from the religious paintings which were commissioned by Gaikwad of Baroda, Varma mostly concentrated his subjects towards women of Mythology. His religious family background led him more close to each and every character of mythology in detail. And Varma was smart enough to understand that the character of women in Hindu mythology was always the centre of attraction even though there were heroes like Krishna, Rama, Shantanu or Arjun. His subjects always revolved around the intense characters of Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Shakuntala, Ganga, Radha and Subhadra. 

Sarasvati by Ravi Varma, Oil on canvas

Nala Damayanti by Ravi Varma, Oil on canvas

Arjun Subhadra by Ravi Varma, Oil on Canvas

Shantanu and Ganga by Ravi Varma, Oil on canvas

Unlike the bohemian culture of the west, Varma loved and respected his muses. The lady behind the famous painting Sarasvati was not any random pretty woman who agreed to sit for the artist. Varma was lucky enough to find the great Anjanibai Malpekar, (Devdasi Kalavant clan, Hindustani classical singer) to model as Goddess Saraswati and later Lakshmi.

It was not only her innate grace and beauty which led Ravi Varma to see her as Sarasvati, but her extraordinary singing talent was icing on the cake.

Ravi Varma saw Malpekar at the Mehfil at Seth Dwarkadas Khimji’s place, where she sang some amazing Thumri that made Varma emotional. He thought that Malpekar’s voice was divine and her personality Goddess like. Malpekar also modelled in Ravi Varma ’s famous paintings ‘Lady playing the Swarbat’, ‘Ladies in the Moonlight’, ‘Mohini’, ‘In contemplation’. It is often rumoured of Lady behind the painting Sarasvati was not Malpekar, but many Art historians and Critics believe Malpekar behind Sarasvati. There are many similarities in the features of Sarasvati, Lakshmi and Lady playing Swarbat(model proven to be Malpekar).

Lady playing Swarbat, Ravi Varma, Oil on canvas

Ladies in Moonlight, Ravi Varma, Oil on canvas

Mohini on swing, Ravi Varma, Oil on canvas

In contemplation, Ravi Varma, Oil on canvas

Anajnibai’s singing career was on the peak when she was the chief singer of the Bhendi Bazaar Gharana. It was believed that she was the woman behind Varma’s nude paintings because of which Malpekar was later harassed by the same people who patronized her. She could not take the harassment and left singing. Later in an interview with the local newspaper, she hesitated to speak about the past grudges but did talk about Varma’s charming character. She enjoyed modelling for him.

Raja Ravi Varma untitled (Damyanti), which went under the hammer for USD 1,692,500 ( Rs 11.9 crore approximately).

This fusion of Music and painting gave us some exceptional masterpieces and Goddesses their faces. 

Image courtesy: en.wikipedia.org

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