Born on April 29, 1848, in Kilimanoor, a small hamlet in the southern state of Kerala, Ravi Varma belonged to a family of scholars, poets and artists. Noted in his family were, among others, Vidwan Koil Tampuran, author of the famous Kathakali work Ravana Vijayam; Raja Raja Varma, who painted after the Tanjore style; and Uma Amba Bai Tampuratty, who, composed Parvati Swayamvaram, a work for the Tullal dance.

As only a small boy, Raja Varma filled the walls of his home with pictures of animals and acts and scenes from his daily life, which though irked the domestics, were noted by his uncle, Raja Raja Varma as the signs of a blossoming genius. The uncle, himself a Tanjore artist, not only gave the first draw...