Court directive on Ravi Varma painting

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday ordered that a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, being put up at an auction in New Delhi on Tuesday, if sold, should not be exported or its possession transferred.

The Bench of Justices C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Bhabani Prasad Ray issued the directive on a petition filed by Archana Narayanan, a lawyer and great grandniece of Raja Ravi Varma. According to her, she came to know about the auction from the website of the Bid and Hammer, a Bangalore-based fine art auctioneer.

Two paintings

She said there were two paintings titled “Jadayuvadham.” One of them was exhibited at the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore. The other one was handed over to the State government. However, no such painting was displayed at the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram. She said it could be assumed that the auctioneer received the painting from somebody who smuggled out the painting.

The court directed the auctioneer to file a statement on the ownership of the painting.

Petition filed

A public interest petition filed by the petitioner seeking an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the disappearance of some original paintings of Raja Ravi Varma from the State government's custody is pending before the court.

The petitioner alleged that as per records of the Kilimanoor Palace, over 75 paintings were handed over to the government. But only 55 were displayed at the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, managed by the Directorate of Museum and Zoo.