Vintage Ravi Varma Chromolithograph - Maruti Skandharudh - Rama and Laxmana

This vintage chromolithograph, based on an original painting by Raja Ravi Varma, depicts Maruti Skandharudh—Hanuman bearing the youthful Ram and Lakshmana on his shoulders, a powerful scene drawn from the early episodes of the Ramayana. The composition captures Hanuman’s unwavering devotion and divine strength as he serves the princes of Ayodhya during their forest exile. Ram and Lakshmana, shown serene and composed, symbolize virtue and dharma, while Hanuman—muscular and in motion—embodies selfless service and unwavering loyalty.

Printed at the Malavli Press, one of the satellite presses established under the Ravi Varma Press network after the original press was relocated and eventually dissolved, this chromolithograph dates to the early 20th century. Malavli Press was among the successors that helped carry forward Ravi Varma’s vision—bringing classical Indian iconography into mass-printed visual culture using the technique of chromolithography, which allowed for vibrant, layered color printing at scale.

This print, like many from the Ravi Varma Press legacy, played a seminal role in shaping popular devotional imagery in India—bridging fine art with domestic religious life. Framed in a simple black wooden frame that subtly offsets the rich colors of the print, the piece stands as both a spiritual object and a cultural artifact—echoing the artistic and technological legacy of India’s earliest modern print movement.