A photograph of Ravi Varma himself, by Bhawani Ram, 1890's

Source: ebay, July 2005

Mahabharata illustrations by Raja Ravi Varma

Source: http://www.cyberkerala.com/rajaravivarma/index.html
(downloaded Nov. 2004)

"Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was born in Kilimanoor Palace as the son of Umamba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Bhattathiripad. At the age of seven years he started drawing on the palace walls using charcoal. His uncle Raja Raja Varma noticed the talent of the child and gave preliminary lessons on painting. At the age of 14, Ayilyam Thirunal Maharaja took him to Travancore Palace and he was taught water painting by the palace painter Rama Swamy Naidu. After 3 years Theodor Jenson, a British painter taught him oil painting. Most of his paintings are based on Hindu epic stories and characters. In 1873 he won the First Prize at the Madras Painting Exhibition. He became a world famous Indian painter after winning in 1873 Vienna Exhibition."

Shamtanu and Matsyagandhi

In exile and in disguise, Draupadi sadly serves as a handmaiden in the court of Kichaka

Draupadi as Sairendri, with Virata's treacherous wife

Draupadi is taken to the forest by Simhika, who means to kill her

Draupadi in Virata's palace

Krishna acts as envoy from the Pandavas to the Kaurava court

Source: ebay, June 2006

"Arjuna Subhadra," by Ravi Varma; *another version*

Source: ebay, Apr. 2006