Page 241 - AstaGuru Modern Odyssey

Lot No. 183

C RAJA RAJA VARMA
1860-1905

PORTRAIT OF DIWAN BANDI BALAIAH NAIDU
48.1 x 34.2 in (122.1 x 86.8 cm)
Oil on canvas
1904
Signed & Dated: Bottom Right

` 1,15,00,000 - 1,20,00,000 | $ 140,244 - 146,341

Exhibited: ‘The Masters and the Modern’ at Gallery G in
association with the Sandeep and Gitanjali Maini Foundation,
Bengaluru, 2021.

Provenance: Property from a collection based in Bengaluru.

This lot is a registered antique with the Government of
India, under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act - 1972,
under Antiquities and Art Treasures Rule 1973, under
section 16 of the above act, with the Archaeological Survey
of India (ASI). (payment only in Indian Rupees)

The presented lot titled ‘Portrait of Diwan Bandi Balaiah Naidu,’ COMPARABLE
offers a rare glimpse into the historical narrative of the Varma
brothers, pivotal figures in Indian art during the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Executed in 1904, it captures Diwan Bandi
Balaiah Naidu in a regal pose, adorned in traditional attire
that emphasizes his noble status. His noble status is further
accentuated by a long red tilak on his forehead, a silk turban
edged with a thin gold border, and a tissue shawl draped
elegantly around his torso. In his right hand, he holds a wooden
walking stick with a gilded head, while seated on an ornately
designed chair. The green backdrop, reminiscent of 17th-
century Dutch art, showcases Raja Raja Varma’s versatility and
depth in artistic influences.

The portrait also symbolizes the patron-artist relationship, a
theme explored in the diary entries detailing the interactions
between the Varma brothers and Diwan Balaiah Naidu’s family.
The painting, likely created during the Varma brothers’ stay at
Poonamallee, Madras, serves as an homage to the substantial
support they received from Diwan Bandi Balaiah Naidu.

The historical significance of this artwork is further underscored
by C. Raja Raja Varma’s diary, a valuable firsthand account BABY AND PRINCESS
that sheds light on Ravi Varma’s life as a professional artist. 32.25 x 20.75 in (82.2 x 52.5 cm)
The diary, a key historical document covering the years 1895 to Oil on canvas, 1887
1904, corroborates several events in Ravi Varma’s life. Sold for $402,685