{"product_id":"vintage-ravi-varma-dandayupani-oleograph-embellished","title":"Vintage Raja Ravi Varma Dandayupani Oleograph | Embellished with Cloth \u0026 Beadwork | Framed Indian Devotional Art","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA vintage \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRaja Ravi Varma oleograph depicting Dandayupani\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the ascetic form of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLord Murugan (Kartikeya)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, presented in an unusually elaborate embellished form. The printed image has been enhanced with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eapplied cloth and beadwork\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, creating a three-dimensional surface over the original oleographic image. The work retains its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal vintage frame\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while the original glass has been replaced with acrylic for safer handling and display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe subject is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDandayupani\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a form of Murugan in which the deity is depicted as an ascetic and youthful figure, traditionally associated with the celebrated temple at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePalani in Tamil Nadu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The name \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDandayupani\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e refers to the deity holding a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003edanda\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or staff, in his hand. In this form, Murugan is represented without the elaborate weapons and ornaments usually associated with his warrior aspect, emphasising instead renunciation, discipline, spiritual power, and youthful divinity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRavi Varma and the Oleograph Tradition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRaja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e played a defining role in the development of modern Indian visual culture by combining European academic painting techniques with subjects drawn from Indian mythology and religious traditions. His establishment of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRavi Varma Press in Bombay in 1894\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e enabled paintings and mythological compositions to be reproduced as colour oleographs and distributed on a scale previously unavailable in India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese prints became widely used as devotional images in Indian homes and religious spaces. Their importance extends beyond their role as reproductions: Ravi Varma's oleographs helped establish a shared visual vocabulary for Hindu deities and had a lasting influence on Indian popular and devotional art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Embellishment: Cloth and Beadwork\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this particular example especially interesting is the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehand-applied embellishment over the printed image\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Areas of the figure have been enhanced with fabric and beadwork, giving the clothing and ornament a physical, three-dimensional quality that could not be achieved through the printed image alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmbellished Ravi Varma oleographs are a recognised category of Indian devotional art. Historical examples are known with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efabric, sequins, beads, embroidery and other applied materials\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, often added to printed devotional images after they were produced. The practice transformed mass-produced oleographs into individually embellished objects for domestic worship and display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe embellishment is therefore not simply decorative. It is part of the history of how Ravi Varma's printed images were received and used. Owners could personalise devotional prints by adding textiles, jewellery-like elements, embroidery and other materials, effectively transforming a commercially produced image into a more intimate and materially elaborate devotional object.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause the embellishments were applied by hand, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eno two embellished oleographs are necessarily identical\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This individuality is an important part of their appeal to collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe oleograph retains its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal vintage frame\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which contributes to its period character and preserves the way the devotional image was historically presented.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original glass has been replaced with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eacrylic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This has been done for practical conservation and handling reasons, particularly as acrylic is considerably safer for shipping and less susceptible to breakage than glass.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of the vintage oleograph, hand-applied cloth and beadwork, and original period frame makes this an unusually interesting example of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIndian devotional print culture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and the continued life of Ravi Varma imagery beyond the printing press.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtist:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubject:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Dandayupani \/ Lord Murugan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oleograph with applied cloth and beadwork\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrame:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original vintage frame\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGlazing:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Acrylic; original glass replaced\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCategory:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Indian devotional art, Ravi Varma oleograph, embellished Indian print\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vintage condition with age-related characteristics to the print, embellishment and frame. The original frame is retained. The original glass has been replaced with acrylic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Blue Trunk","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52234273751338,"sku":null,"price":22380.95,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0677\/6297\/9114\/files\/vintage-raja-ravi-varma-dandayupani-oleograph-embellished.png?v=1786452478","url":"https:\/\/www.thebluetrunk.in\/en-us\/products\/vintage-ravi-varma-dandayupani-oleograph-embellished","provider":"The Blue Trunk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}