By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana

Raja Ravi Varma painted the official wedding portrait of the royal couple H.H. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur IV and H.H. Maharani Sri Pratapa Kumari Lakshmi Vilasa Sannidhana; the oil on canvas portrait is in the collection of Mysore Royal family. Featured alongside is the 61×76 cms sized chromolithograph, printed in Germany (in three sizes). This popular print can still be seen at Bhajana Mandiras and residences of aristocrats in Mysuru. The wedding took place on 6 June 1900 at Jaganmohan Palace where a large hall was specially constructed for this wedding as the main Palace was under construction.

This chromolithograph depicts the sixteen-year-old Maharaja with his eleven-year-old royal consort. The invitation in Kannada reads the bride’s name as Chi. Sou. Ku. Pratap Kuvari, daughter of Jhala Rana Vinay Simha (he belonged to a family of Parmar Rajputs of Saurashtra). Whereas, the official version in the ‘History of Mysore’ by Hayavadana Rao states the details as Maharani Pratapa Kumari Ammanni avaru Lakshmi Vilasa Sannidhana (born 1889), youngest daughter of Rana Sri Bane Sinhji Saheb, Rana Sahib of Muli (Vana) in Kathiawar region of Western India.

Size: 61×76 cms

Collection: Ramsons Kala Pratishtana