Large Vintage Ravi Varma Lakshmi Calendar Art | Chromolithograph | Tamil Nadu

This large vintage chromolithograph depicts Goddess Lakshmi in the visual tradition popularised by Raja Ravi Varma. Standing gracefully upon a blooming lotus and holding lotus flowers in her hands, Lakshmi is richly adorned in traditional garments and jewellery. The composition reflects the naturalistic representation of Hindu deities that became one of the defining features of Ravi Varma-inspired calendar art.

Raja Ravi Varma's paintings of Hindu deities had an enormous influence on Indian popular and devotional imagery. After the success of the Ravi Varma Press, his compositions and visual language were widely reproduced by other printers and publishers in oleographs, chromolithographs, calendars and commercial imagery. Lakshmi, in particular, became one of the most recognisable images associated with this tradition.

This work is best understood as vintage Ravi Varma-inspired calendar art, rather than an original Ravi Varma painting. Its large 21 × 15 inch format gives the image a strong presence, while the period printing, rich colours and original vintage wooden frame retain the character of an early Indian popular print.

Calendar art occupies an important place in the history of Indian visual culture. Religious images printed for calendars and advertisements often moved beyond their original commercial purpose, finding their way into homes, shops and places of worship, where they were framed and preserved as devotional images.

The artwork remains housed in its original vintage wooden frame. As part of our preservation process, we retain the original frame wherever structurally possible while replacing vulnerable original glass with protective acrylic and deteriorated metal backings with archival-quality high-density fibreboard.

Preservation & Restoration

We take particular care in preserving vintage Indian prints while retaining their original character and period presentation.

Frame Evaluation: The original vintage wooden frame has been carefully evaluated for structural stability and retained.

Protective Acrylic: The original glass has been replaced with high-quality acrylic to reduce weight and the risk of breakage while protecting the delicate print.

Backboard Conservation: Where required, deteriorated metal backing is replaced with archival-quality high-density fibreboard to help protect the artwork from corrosion and moisture-related damage.

Our approach is deliberately conservative. The intention is to preserve the print's age, character and historical context rather than make it appear new.

Details

• Subject: Goddess Lakshmi
• Art Tradition: Ravi Varma-inspired Indian calendar art
• Medium: Vintage chromolithograph / calendar art
• Tradition: Indian devotional and popular print art
• Origin: Tamil Nadu, India
• Period: Vintage
• Format: Large format
• Frame: Original vintage wooden frame
• Glazing: Protective acrylic
• Dimensions: H21 × L15 in
• Condition: Vintage with natural signs of age and period character
• Authenticity: Comes with an authenticity certificate from The Blue Trunk.