Description Published at the Ravi Varma Press, Malavli, Lonavla chromolithograph with fabric appliqué Subrahmanyam (also known as Kartikeya, Murugan or Skanda) sits on his conveyance, the peacock. His consorts are Devasena seated on his left and Valli seated on his right. His most popular form, depicted here, has six heads and twelve arms. The realistically rendered tail of the peacock frames the trio. The peacock stands majestically with its talons firmly planted on a rearing cobra. Ravi Varma occupies an important place in Indian art history. He developed a painting style that appropriated the illusionary techniques of European oil painting with traditional Indian subject matter. The popularity of Ravi Varma’s paintings gave him the idea to make oleographs that would be available to the general public, instead of only elite patrons. Oleographs, also called chromolithographs, are multi-colour art prints, stemming from the process of lithography. These immensely popular chromolithographs from the Ravi Varma press quickly set a new iconographical standard for the traditional Indian heroes and deities. Often the figures were embellished with embroidered sequins and other decorative material, creating vibrant pulsating images. Image Size (cms): 49.5 (H) x 34.5 (W) Image Size (inches): 19.5 (H) x 13.6 (W) Framed Size (cms): 62 (H) x 48.5 (W) Framed Size (inches): 24.5 (H) x 19 (W)
