The Raja Ravi Varma Museum is dedicated to the celebrated Indian painter, Raja Ravi Varma. The museum is located in the city of Belagavi, in the state of Karnataka, in southern India. It was established in the year 1974 by the Government of Karnataka.
Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906) was a painter of the Rajput School who achieved celebrity in the late 19th century for his paintings of Hindu deities and courtesans. He was born into the royal family of the erstwhile Travancore principality in what is now the state of Kerala, and studied painting in London and Paris. Upon his return to India, he set up a studio in Mumbai and began painting portraits of Indian nobility.
Raja Ravi Varma's paintings are characterised by their realism and the use of vibrant colours. Many of his works depict scenes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. He was also a master of the art of miniature painting, and his works often depict women in sensuous poses.
Later, in 2000, the museum that houses a large collection of paintings and other works by Raja Ravi Varma was inaugurated. The paintings on display are mainly from the artist's early period, and they include some of his most famous works, such as the paintings of the Hindu goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati. The museum also has a gallery dedicated to the artist's wife, Kochurani. This gallery contains a number of paintings and sketches by Kochurani, as well as some of her personal belongings.
Drop by here anytime from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.