Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 21: Lakshmi

by Raja Ravi Varma

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Raja Ravi Varma's painting, 'Lakshmi,' features Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of fortune and prosperity. According to legend, Lakshmi floated into the universe on a lotus flower. This is reflected in the painting, where Lakshmi stands on a lotus flower over a small pool of water. She wears an intricate headdress, a pink sari, and jewelry at her ears, wrists, upper arms, and neck. A small red dot, or bindi, marks her forehead, often used to signify an Indian woman is married. Lakshmi holds lotus flowers in two of her four hands. Swans float to the left among even more lotus flowers. An elephant, a sacred animal in Hinduism, holds a wreath of flowers in its trunk. In the background, a small waterfall fills the pool from under soaring mountain peaks.

Vocabulary

Raja: An Indian king or prince. A title extended to petty dignitaries and nobles in India while Britain ruled India between 1858 and 1947.
Fortune: A large amount of money or assets.
Prosperity: The state of being wealthy and successful.
Lotus: Any of a number of large water lilies.
Hindu: A follower of Hinduism, a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia.
Headdress: An ornamental covering or band for the head, especially one worn on ceremonial occasions.
Sari: A garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from South Asia.
Bindi: A decorative mark worn in the middle of the forehead by Indian women.

Concepts

1. Raja Ravi Varma was born in 1848 in Kilimanoor Palace, located in the Kingdom of Travancore in present-day India. Varma was born into the aristocracy and was given the title of 'Raja' by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. See his picture below.

2. See the ancient entrance to Kilimanoor Palace below.

3. Find India, Varma's country of birth, on the map of South Central Asia below.

4. At age seven, Varma drew on the palace walls with charcoal. His uncle saw his potential and gave him painting lessons.
5. Varma studied art at the JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. He learned oil painting techniques from a Dutch artist.
6. Varma is known as the 'Father of Modern Indian Art.' He is considered one of the greatest painters in Indian history, painting Indian deities and mythologies using European techniques.
7. Varma died in 1906 at the age of 56.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Lakshmi
• Lotuses
• Earrings
• Bracelets
• Headdress
• Sari
• Bindi
• Elephant
• Tusks
• Flower Wreath
• Waterfall
• Mountains

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Sketch a Lotus Flower

• According to legend, Lakshmi floated into the universe on a lotus flower.
• Sketch the lotus flower shown below.

Activity 5: Color the Map   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 32 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 6: Color the Artist   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 33 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 7: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 34 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the setting of the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The setting is small pool or river of water.

1 / 5

Question 2

Who are the human and animal characters in the painting?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The human and animal characters are Lakshmi, the elephant, and the swans.

2 / 5

Question 3

What evidence do you have from the painting that Lakshmi is married?

3 / 5

Answer 3

She has a small red dot on her forehead, called a bindi.

3 / 5

Question 4

What is Lakshmi standing on in the painting?

4 / 5

Answer 4

Lakshmi stands upon a pink lotus flower in the painting.

4 / 5

Question 5

What type of goddess is Lakshmi?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of fortune and prosperity.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is small pool or river of water.
2. Who are the human and animal characters in the painting? The human and animal characters are Lakshmi, the elephant, and the swans.
3. What evidence do you have from the painting that Lakshmi is married? She has a small red dot on her forehead, called a bindi.
4. What is Lakshmi standing on in the painting? Lakshmi stands upon a pink lotus flower in the painting.
5. What type of goddess is Lakshmi? Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of fortune and prosperity.

References

'Raja Ravi Varma.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Kilimanoor Palace Image (CC BY-SA 3.0).' Magnus Manske. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Lakshmi.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Cultural depictions of elephants.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.