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.
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
1855
- Ravi Varma studied under his uncle Raja Varma, and later under Ramaswamy Nayadu of the Tanjore tradition.
1868
- His acquaintance with the British painter Theodore Jenson, then a guest of the Maharaja of Travancore, significantly shaped Raja Ravi Varma's artistic progress and academic approach.
Exhibitions
1873
- Fine Arts Exhibition, Chennai (formerly Madras, capital of the erstwhile Madras Presidency) & Vienna, Austria
1874
- Chennai (formerly Madras, capital of the erstwhile Madras Presidency)
1880
- Pune (formerly Poona, part of the Bombay Presidency, British India)
1885
- Kolkata (formerly Calcutta, capital of British India) & London, U.K.
1889
- Bombay Art Society Inaugural Exhibition, Bombay, India
1893
- World's Columbian Exhibition, Chicago, U.S.A.
1899
- Baroda Puranic Commissions, Trivandrum, Baroda and Bombay
1993
- Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings & Oleographs from, The Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram, India
1997
- Rare and Important Paintings, organized by The Classic Source, Mumbai & Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India
- Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India
05 Sep 1997
1998
- Centenary Celebration: Raja Ravi Varma and Rama Varma, organized by Gaekwad Collection Centenary Celebration Committee, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Laxrni Vilas Palace, Vadodara, India
2000
- Exhibition of Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma & Poster Art by Various Artists, The Fine Art Company, Mumbai, India
02 Jun 2000
2001
07 Aug 2001
- Exhibition of Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata,India
2003
- Manifestations, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi and World Trade Centre, Mumbai, by Delhi Art Gallery
- Pictorial Transformations: Treasures from the collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, India
19 Apr 2003
- Oleographs & Antique Prints of Raja Ravi Varma, Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai, India (Organized by Mr. D. Jagat Ishwari)
1873
- Fine Arts Exhibition, Chennai (formerly Madras, capital of the erstwhile Madras Presidency) & Vienna, Austria
1874
- Chennai (formerly Madras, capital of the erstwhile Madras Presidency)
1880
- Pune (formerly Poona, part of the Bombay Presidency, British India)
1885
- Kolkata (formerly Calcutta, capital of British India) & London, U.K.
1889
- Bombay Art Society Inaugural Exhibition, Bombay, India
1893
- World's Columbian Exhibition, Chicago, U.S.A.
1899
- Baroda Puranic Commissions, Trivandrum, Baroda and Bombay
1993
- Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings & Oleographs from, The Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram, India
2001
- Exhibition of Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata,India
2003
- Oleographs & Antique Prints of Raja Ravi Varma, Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai, India (Organized by Mr. D. Jagat Ishwari)
- Exhibition of Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma from the Royal Gaekwad Collection, Vadodara, India
- Ravi Varma Oleographs, National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, India
- National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, India
2004
- Exhibition of Oleographs of the Ravi Varma Press, Marvel Art Gallery, Ahmedabad,India
- Return of Raja Ravi Varma, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
2023
- Raja Ravi Varma- A Cultural Revolution, Apparao Galleries, Chennai, India
03 Oct 2023
1997
- Rare and Important Paintings, organized by The Classic Source, Mumbai & Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India
- Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India
05 Sep 1997
1998
- Centenary Celebration: Raja Ravi Varma and Rama Varma, organized by Gaekwad Collection Centenary Celebration Committee, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Laxrni Vilas Palace, Vadodara, India
2000
- Exhibition of Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma & Poster Art by Various Artists, The Fine Art Company, Mumbai, India
02 Jun 2000
2001
07 Aug 2001
2003
- Manifestations, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi and World Trade Centre, Mumbai, by Delhi Art Gallery
- Pictorial Transformations: Treasures from the collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, India
19 Apr 2003
2006
- Exhibitions of Oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma, New Delhi, India
11 Aug 2006
2010
- Open Doors, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi, India
01 Jan 2010
2011
- Manifestations VI, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
- Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
2012
- Manifestations VII: 20th Certury Indian Art, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
26 Mar 2012
- The Printed Picture Four Centuries Of Indian Printmaking, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
- Manisfestions VIII: 20th Certury Indian Art, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
22 Nov 2012
2013
- The Naked And The Nude - The Body In Indian Modern Art, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
15 Jan 2013
2014
- Indian Divine: Gods & Goddesses In 19th And 20th Century, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
18 Mar 2014
- Indian Divine: Gods & Goddesses In 19th And 20th Century, Delhi Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
11 Oct 2014
Chronicled Highlights 181881 – 2025
Raja Ravi Varma was born in 26 April 1848 in Kilimanoor, Travancore State | Present-day Kerala, India.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Economics of Art
Record-high lots16
Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators
Annual Auction Sale Turnover
It aggregates all sales across global auction houses into yearly totals.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
The turnover graph highlights periods of strong growth, moments of market correction, and resilience during downturns. Peaks often align with landmark works coming to public auction, while troughs may indicate reduced supply or weaker demand. Over time, the curve illustrates the overall trajectory of Raja Ravi Varma’s public auction market presence.
Average Sale Price Per Lot
It smooths out fluctuations caused by the quantity of works offered and focuses on the Average Sale Price level per artwork.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
Rising average sale prices indicate growing collector confidence and a stronger willingness to pay higher amounts per work. Assuming the mix of mediums remains relatively stable over time, the proportion of works on paper typically priced lower than works on canvas adds important context to understanding these market movements.
Square Inch Rate Trend
This allows fair comparisons between smaller works and larger canvases.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
The Square Inch Rate shown in the graph combines various medium types such as canvas, paper, board, and others. Historically, works on canvas and board have broadly commanded higher prices compared to works on paper.
1874
- First prize, Madras Exhibition, Madras (now Chennai), then part of British India
1880
- First prize and Gaekwad Gold Medal for the painting 'The Nair Lady', Poona Exhibition, Pune (then Poona, Bombay Presidency)
1883
- Governor's Gold Medal for the painting 'The Lady Wearing Jasmine Flowers', Chennai (formerly Madras)
- Medal & Certificate at an exhibition in Vienna, Austria
1885
- Certificate of Honour, Exhibition in London, U.K.
- Certificate of Honour, Exhibition in Kolkata (then Calcutta)
1893
- Medal of Honour and Certificate, Exhibition in Chicago, U.S.A.
1904
- Title, Kaiser-I-Hind, conferred by the Government of Britain
Research Centre
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Personalities
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Institutions
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