This portfolio publised by Bolton Litho FAL Works Bombay in 1970 ( Which is closed down in 1980) by Air-India to promote India Art & Culture. This portfilio consists of six (6) art work & brief discreption of each painting done by Raja Ravi Varma. This was produced in very limted quantity & distributed to Top Bussiness Delgates & Embassy accros India & overseas.
Air India released a portfolio of Raja Ravi Varma's paintings, featuring reproductions of six of his works, in the 1970s. This portfolio was a promotional item intended to showcase Indian art and culture, particularly during a time when Air India was under the leadership of J.R.D. Tata, who was known for his interest in promoting Indian arts. JRD also promoted Mulak Raj Anand magazine " Marg" by giving them advertisment & space in TELCO office . Marg Magazine is considered as encyclopedia on Indian Arts & Culture .
The Air India portfolio was researched and sourced from the Maharaja Fatehsingh Museum Baroda and the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Mysore, and reproduced with their permission in limited numbers. It is very difficult to get complet set of Portfolio incuding wtite ups & cover designed for this portfolio .
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Content:
The portfolio included six offset lithographs of Raja Ravi Varma's paintings, along with a summary sheet & Cover design and biography of the artist.
Purpose:
Air India used the portfolio as a promotional tool to showcase Indian art and culture, particularly to embassies and other international audiences.
Historical Context:
The portfolio was released during a period when J.R.D. Tata was at the helm of Air India, and he was a strong advocate for promoting Indian art and culture.
Rarity:
Complete sets of this portfolio including cover & brief details of his works is considered Rare & Rarest and are highly sought after by collectors.
Artworks Included: Some of the paintings featured in the portfolio include "Arjun and Subhadra," "Lady Musician," "Indrajit Vijay," "Vishwa Mitra Maneka," "Krishna Sistai," and "Ram Vanquishing Sea".
Normally this portfolio lost in the passage of time due to its less circulation, and most of collectors/ Art enthuziast frammed these after destroying its cover design & write up on Raja Ravi Varma.
