Raja Ravi Varma has appeared in recent headlines due to high auction prices, including one work that fetched a record sum. Beyond sales and exhibitions, his paintings have also featured in public debates, legal cases, and cultural discussions. An upcoming lecture by advocate and author Ganesh V Shivaswamy will address this side of the artist’s legacy. The event, hosted at The Lab in Chennai’s T Nagar area on July 19, will focus on the painter’s depiction of Ravana and the disputes it has generated over time. Shivaswamy, who teaches at the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru, will trace how the image became involved in court proceedings, questions of authenticity, government acquisitions, and public memory. He notes that Ravana’s story offers rich ground for discussion compared with more dominant narratives. The lecture will highlight intersections between law and art in cultural history. One case involves a 2011-2012 Kerala High Court petition seeking government acquisition of Varma’s works under antiquities laws; the plea was rejected. Another example concerns the Roerich estate in Bengaluru, acquired by Karnataka authorities in the 1990s but left without a planned museum. Entry to the talk is free, with RSVPs accepted at 99406 20268.
