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Raja Ravi Varma — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
26 Apr 1848
Zodiac sign
Taurus
Date of Death
02 Oct 1906
Age
58
Place of Birth
Kilimanoor, Travancore State | Present-day Kerala, India
Spouse(s)
Bhageerthi bayi
Year Marriage Registered
1866
Children
5 children
State Country of Birth
Travancore State | Present-day Kerala, India

Exhibitions

  1. 1873

    1. Fine Arts Exhibition, Chennai (formerly Madras, capital of the erstwhile Madras Presidency) & Vienna, Austria
  2. 1874

    1. Chennai (formerly Madras, capital of the erstwhile Madras Presidency)
  3. 1880

    1. Pune (formerly Poona, part of the Bombay Presidency, British India)
  4. 1885

    1. Kolkata (formerly Calcutta, capital of British India) & London, U.K.
  5. 1889

    1. Bombay Art Society Inaugural Exhibition, Bombay, India
  6. 1893

    1. World's Columbian Exhibition, Chicago, U.S.A.
  7. 1899

    1. Baroda Puranic Commissions, Trivandrum, Baroda and Bombay
  8. 1993

    1. Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings & Oleographs from, The Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram, India
  9. 1997

    1. Rare and Important Paintings, organized by The Classic Source, Mumbai & Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India
    2. Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India

      05 Sep 1997

  10. 1998

    1. Centenary Celebration: Raja Ravi Varma and Rama Varma, organized by Gaekwad Collection Centenary Celebration Committee, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Laxrni Vilas Palace, Vadodara, India
  11. 2000

    1. Exhibition of Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma & Poster Art by Various Artists, The Fine Art Company, Mumbai, India

      02 Jun 2000

  12. 2001

    1. 07 Aug 2001

    2. Exhibition of Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata,India
  13. 2003

    1. Manifestations, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi and World Trade Centre, Mumbai, by Delhi Art Gallery
    2. Pictorial Transformations: Treasures from the collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, India
    3. 19 Apr 2003

    4. Oleographs & Antique Prints of Raja Ravi Varma, Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai, India (Organized by Mr. D. Jagat Ishwari)
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Chronicled Highlights 181881 – 2025

Raja Ravi Varma was born in 26 April 1848 in Kilimanoor, Travancore State | Present-day Kerala, India.

1881
Public Auction HighPainting
Bonhams · Islamic and Indian Art - Indian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Indian and Pakistani PaintingsLondon · 25 October 2007

In 2007, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of The Maharaja Of Travancore And His Younger Brother Welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville, 3Rd Duke Of Buckingham And Chandos, Governor-General Of Madras (1875-80), On His Official Visit To Trivandrum In 1880 (1881), offered in the Islamic and Indian Art - Indian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Indian and Pakistani Paintings by Bonhams, which concluded on 25 October 2007 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹4,87,58,256 ($1,233,137). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). The Maharaja Of Travancore And His Younger Brother Welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville, 3Rd Duke Of Buckingham And Chandos, Governor-General Of Madras (1875-80), On His Official Visit To Trivandrum In 1880, 1881 | Painting
Selling price
INR4,87,58,256
761% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 40,47,000 – 56,65,800
Rate per sq in
INR 20,326
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
41.7 × 57.5 in (106 × 146 cm)
Lot
500 · Bon.Lon/25.10.07
1890
Public Auction HighPainting
Pundole · The Fine Art SaleMumbai · 17 November 2016

In 2016, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Radha in the Moonlight (1890), offered in the The Fine Art Sale by Pundole, which concluded on 17 November 2016 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹20,00,00,000 ($2,945,048.34). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Radha in the Moonlight, 1890 | Painting
Selling price
INR20,00,00,000
67% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 8,00,00,000 – 12,00,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 83,850
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
57.5 × 41.5 in (146 × 105 cm)
Lot
12 · Pu.Mum/17.11.16
1894
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · Islamic Works of Art and Indian Himalayan and South-East Asian ArtLondon · 25 April 1996

In 1996, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Woman with Doves (1894), offered in the Islamic Works of Art and Indian Himalayan and South-East Asian Art by Sotheby's, which concluded on 25 April 1996 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹11,92,212 ($34,806). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Woman with Doves, 1894 | Painting
Selling price
INR11,92,212
557% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,29,588 – 1,81,424
Rate per sq in
INR 1,899
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
29.5 × 21.3 in (75 × 54 cm)
Lot
307 · So.Lon/25.04.96
Provenance
The Property of a Gentleman
1895
Public Auction HighPainting
Saffronart · Spring Live AuctionMumbai · 01 April 2026

In 2026, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Yashoda and Krishna (1895), offered in the Spring Live Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 01 April 2026 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,67,20,00,000 ($17,978,495). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Yashoda and Krishna, circa 1890s | Painting
Selling price
INR1,67,20,00,000
39% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 80,00,00,000 – 1,20,00,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 16,83,376
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
35 × 28.3 in (89 × 72 cm)
Signature
Signed and inscribed 'By Ravi Varma/ Coil Tampuran/ Travancore/ India' (lower right)
Lot
13 · Sa.Mum/01.04.26
Provenance
Private Collection, New Delhi Acquired from the above Property from a Distinguished Private Collection, New Delhi
1897
Public Auction HighPainting
Christie's · Indian Contemporary ArtLondon · 04 June 1997

In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Portrait of a Lady in an Ivory Saree (1897), offered in the Indian Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 04 June 1997 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹23,41,400 ($65,448). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Portrait of a Lady in an Ivory Saree, 1897 | Painting
Selling price
INR23,41,400
122% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 7,02,420 – 10,53,630
Rate per sq in
INR 1,430
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
47.5 × 34.5 in (121 × 88 cm)
Lot
5 · Ch.Lon/04.06.97
1898
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series VI: With Rare Drawings and Books on Indian Contemporary ArtNew Delhi · 01 March 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Adaptation Of The Poem 'Veena Nu Mrug' (1898), offered in the Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series VI: With Rare Drawings and Books on Indian Contemporary Art by Osian's, which concluded on 01 March 2006 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹2,87,50,000 ($648,253). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Adaptation Of The Poem 'Veena Nu Mrug', 1898 | Painting
Selling price
INR2,87,50,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 2,00,00,000 – 3,00,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 15,392
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
53.2 × 35.1 in (135 × 89 cm)
Lot
35 · Os.Del/01.03.06
1905
Public Auction HighPainting
Saffronart · Winter Live Auction: Indian ArtMumbai · 15 December 2021

In 2021, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Music Hath Charms (Kadambari) (1905), offered in the Winter Live Auction: Indian Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 15 December 2021 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹20,40,00,000 ($2,738,255). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Music Hath Charms (Kadambari), c.1900s | Painting
Selling price
INR20,40,00,000
36% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 12,00,00,000 – 15,00,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 3,83,017
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
27.4 × 19.4 in (70 × 49 cm)
Lot
13 · Sa.Mum/15.12.21
1990
Public Auction HighPainting
Saffronart · Spring Live Auction: Modern Indian ArtMumbai · 06 April 2022

In 2022, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Draupadi Vastraharan (1990), offered in the Spring Live Auction: Modern Indian Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 06 April 2022 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹21,60,00,000 ($2,880,000). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Draupadi Vastraharan, c.1888-1990 | Painting
Selling price
INR21,60,00,000
8% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 15,00,00,000 – 20,00,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 3,84,851
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
28 × 20.1 in (71 × 51 cm)
Lot
13 · Sa.Mum/06.04.22
1992
Image 1/2
First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCPainting
Sotheby's · Indian European and Oriental Paintings and Works of ArtNew Delhi · 09 October 1992

On 09 October 1992, made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Arjun and Subhadra was presented as Lot in Indian European and Oriental Paintings and Works of Art, conducted by Sotheby's in New Delhi, India. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.

Varma, Raja Ravi (Artist). Arjun and Subhadra, 1895 | Painting
Selling price
INR2,20,000
47% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 371
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
28.9 × 20.5 in (74 × 52 cm)
Lot
129 · So.Del/09.10.92
2002
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | Bow.Del/20.11.02Auction Catalogue
Bowrings · European and Modern and Contemporary Indian PaintingsLondon · 20 November 2002

In 2002, an artwork by Raja Ravi Varma was featured on the cover of Bowrings: European and Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings (November 2002, London), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

Bowrings (Auction House). European and Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings. 20 November 2002 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
204
Lots sold
88 · 43%
Lot
Bow.Del/20.11.02
2007
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | Bon.Lon/25.10.07Auction Catalogue
Bonhams · Islamic & Indian Art - Indian ArtLondon · 25 October 2007

In 2007, an artwork by Raja Ravi Varma was featured on the cover of Bonhams: Islamic & Indian Art - Indian Art (October 2007, London), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

Bonhams (Auction House). Islamic & Indian Art - Indian Art. 25 October 2007 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
72
Lots sold
41 · 57%
Pages
186
Lot
Bon.Lon/25.10.07
2013
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | Pu.Mum/04.09.13Auction Catalogue
Pundole · The Fine and Decorative Arts SaleNew York · 04 September 2013

In 2013, an artwork by Raja Ravi Varma was featured on the cover of Pundole: The Fine and Decorative Arts Sale (September 2013, New York), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

Pundole (Auction House). The Fine and Decorative Arts Sale. 04 September 2013 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
50
Lots sold
TBC
Pages
134
Lot
Pu.Mum/04.09.13
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Economics of Art

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Research Centre

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