Raja Ravi Varma

Considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art, his works are one of the best examples of the fusion of European academic art with a purely Indian sensibility and iconography. He was notable for making affordable lithographs of his paintings available to the public, which greatly enhanced his reach and influence as a painter and public figure. His lithographs increased the involvement of common people with fine arts and defined artistic tastes among common people. Furthermore, his religious depictions of Hindu deities and works from Indian epic poetry and Puranas have received profound acclaim. His works which incorporated the use of oil as a medium and a distinctly European style of realism influenced other artists and shaped a new perception of "Indian Art".