Raja Ravi Varma’s “Saraswati” Oleograph From RRV Press 1910
Raja Ravi Varma’s 1910 “Saraswati” Oleograph from the FAL press in Karla-Lonavla. Like the Laxmi oleograph, this Saraswati was also from the Raja Ravi Varma Press, Karla-Lonavla of 1910. It measures in its original frame 31½ x 23½ inch and weighs 4 kg.
By 1892 Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings were in great demand with higher echelons, especially the British officials, Indian royalty, and the wealthy. His flowing signature had become the seal of a highly prized commodity by then.
Raja Ravi Varma realized that his painting was also popular with the common man after seeing serpentine queues of people who came to view his paintings exhibited in Madras, Bombay, Trivandrum, Poona, etc.
After the advice of his good friend Madhava Rao, the Dewan of Travancore, and later Baroda, Ravi Varma proceeded to work on the advice. He started a press at Girgaum, now Girgaon.
The Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithographic Press Ltd (or FAL press) opened at Girgaon, Bombay (Mumbai) in 1894. Although the press was shifted a few times, from Girgaum to Ghatkopar, then to Malavli near Lonavla.
Despite it going through many upheavals and difficulties and a change of ownership, the press would churn out millions and millions of copies of oleographs. The oleographs were all based on Ravi Varma’s artworks. Although the earliest oleographs were of the highest quality when Raja Ravi Varma was in charge of the press.
See post “Birth of Shakuntala” First Oleograph From Ravi Varma Press 1894. Read more Raja Ravi Varma’s Oleographs, and Raja Ravi Varma: When the Gods Came Home.
Past posts- Vintage Postcard Raja Ravi Varma’s Portrait., Vintage Oleograph Raja Ravi Varma “Vishnu On Sheshnag”., Map of Bombay With Waffen SS Ink & Wax Seals, Germany
