Sita Bhoomipravesam

From PhalkeFactory

There is a new King in Travancore, he tries to encourage Ravi Varma, suggests that he paints Sita Bhoomipravesam. At the same time, the eagerness of the visiting Governor of Madras to meet Ravi Varma makes the king, Vishakam Thirunal, jealous. Dewan T. Madhav Rao visited Travancore. Ravi Varma's brother Raja Varma joins him his works sometime in the 1880's. He keeps a diary of their travels and experiences. They elaborated for themselves the European method of touching and re touching paintings till they reached some kind of satisfactory perfection.

Governor of Madras: your Highness, I am so very eager to meet the famous painter Ravi Varma His Highness: Indeed, surely, we shall summon him Governor of Madras: I am a devoted fan, he even painted an amazing likeness of me last year, my wife has been known to talk to it ha ha ha- of course he must have done many such portraits of you His Highness: Indeed surely, he has done many such portraits Governor of Madras: He is a rare treasure, a talent of distinction, a star in the crown of her Majesty.. and your crown of course. His Highness: Yes, my crown, of course. Governor of Madras: If one did not know with absolute certainity and I know it now of course, I would never have believed that this is the work of an Indian. It can compete with some fine specimens of Europe you know His Highness: Yes, fine specimen of Europe. Ravi Varma has entered and is standing a small distance behind, listening, looking crestfallen. As soon as he sees Ravi Varma, the Englishman leaps to his feet. As soon as he sees the Englishman leap to his feet, His Highness stands up in deference to the Englishman. Ravi Varma continues to stand in deference to both. His Highness cannot sit down till the Englishman sits down. The Englishman keeps standing, in continuing politeness to the painter. His Highness begins to look unhappy. Governor, Englishman: Ah there he is!! The prince of painters, indeed a king among painters and can there be a better royalty than that? Ah there you are, prince among painters His Highness considers the words: Prince.. Ravi Varma is shaking his head and unable to speak. Englishman, Governor, subject of Ravi Varma's painting the previous year: Ahhh sit down Ravi Varma The king does not look at Ravi Varma Ravi Varma does not look at the king Neither sits down Nor does the Englishman. We see now that the court has been at attention, men in dignified dresses, standing up all along. The Governor has begun to look restless, he starts rubbing his English boots against one another, as though fully concentrating on removing the dust. Everyone is standing still. Ravi Varma bows low and leaves the gathered assembly. No one moves. He walks among the men who stand like they are also pillars in the hall, and into the silence outside, of empty corridors, and then, the road. His face reflects the tension of the breach of protocol. He walks thus, on and on, and faces the sea of Bombay. He sees a passing buggy, gets into it, and gives him the address of his studio.