Vintage “Vishnu On Sheshnag” Raja Ravi Varma Advertisement Oleograph 1905
Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Vishnu On Sheshnag” advertiasement oleograph from 1905. Raja Ravi Varma had already gained legendary status as an artist. He was further elevated to astronomical levels after he established a press in 1894. See post “Birth of Shakuntala” The First Oleograph Published From The Raja Ravi Varma Press In 1894″.
He opened the Press at Girgaum, Bombay (Mumbai) in 1894, although it had gone through financial difficulties, perhaps due to the mismanagement of Govardhan Das, the financial partner. The press was then sold to Fritz Schleicher, the chief German technician. The press operated with the new owner, Schleicher, from 1903 onwards.
It went on to create history by printing millions and millions of copies of Ravi Varma’s artworks. That reached almost all corners of India. However, multinational companies took advantage of the growing popularity of the oleographs and made it an advertising medium. The Vinolia Soap’s advertisement on this “Vishnu on Sheshnag” being an example. Vinolia was a largely a British owned company, they sold their toiletries in the UK, India, and other commonwealth countries. Remarkably, Vinolia was also the official suppliers of toileteries to the Titanic. An empty Vinolia Soap’s carton box is shown here from our collection.
Also see Vintage “Laxmi” Raja Ravi Varma’s Advertising Oleograph 1905.
From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma Balamoni Photo Postcard 1910., 1800s Hand Colored Print of Jama Masjid & Outskirts Delhi., Maharajah Of Travancore And The reception Of James Outram c1859., Vintage Photo Bombay Horse-Drawn Tram
