Draft:Mattappilly Raman
Indian painter, sculptor and art educator
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Mattappilly Raman (also known as Raman Master; 1885–1971) was an Indian painter, sculptor, and art educator from the Kingdom of Cochin, Kerala. He was the first artist from the state to travel to Calcutta to formally study art, a pioneer who founded the Cochin School of Arts in 1932, and was honoured with the title of "The Palace Artist" by the Maharaja of Cochin. His sons Dathan and Baburam went on to become celebrated artists in their own right.[1]
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Mattappilly Raman | |
|---|---|
 Mattappilly Raman, Kerala artist. Portrait by his son M.R.D Dattan | |
| Born | 1885 |
| Died | 1971 (aged 85–86) |
| Education | College of Art, Calcutta; Shantiniketan |
| Known for | Painting, Sculpture, Art Education |
| Movement | Indian Modern Art |
Early Life and Education
Mattappilly Raman was born in 1885 in Cochin, Kerala. His aspiration to study art was initially met with resistance from his family. His journey to Calcutta — then a leading centre for art in India — was made possible after a chance meeting between his father and Sree Narayana Guru at Alwaye. The Guru encouraged the family to support the young artist and personally gave him ₹10 to begin his journey.[1]
At the Government College of Art & Craft, Calcutta, Raman was mentored by notable figures including Percy Brown and Jamini Prasad Ganguly. After graduating, he spent time at Shantiniketan before travelling across India, painting portraits and developing his craft.[1]
Career
Cochin School of Arts
Mattappilly Raman returned to Cochin and established the Cochin School of Arts in 1932, the first institution of its kind in the state of Kerala.[1][2] The school offered training in:
- Wall poster design
- Clay modelling
- Book illustration
- Indian-style painting
- Commercial and applied art
The school also prepared students for the Madras government technical examinations and awarded diplomas in drawing and painting. It was the only aided fine arts institution in the state to do so at the time.[2]
Mattappilly Raman was accorded the title of "The Palace Artist" by the then Maharaja of Cochin. His works adorn the Hill Palace, the Guest House, and the Port Trust buildings in Cochin.[1]
Sculpture
Beyond painting, Mattappilly Raman was an accomplished sculptor. He is credited with creating one of the earliest bronze statues in India using the Lost Wax Principle. The Sree Narayana Guru statue he created with his sons was unveiled by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in 1969. It is considered one of the earliest such bronze statues of the spiritual leader made using this technique, and has served as the visual reference for many subsequent Narayana Guru portraits and statues.[1]
Legacy and Family
Mattappilly Raman passed away in 1971, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Kerala's art world. His sons, Dathan (7 July 1935 – 1 August 2006) and Baburam, both trained at the Cochin School of Arts and went on to become accomplished artists in their own right.[1]
Dathan studied at the Madras School of Art and later became the director of the Cochin School of Arts. He created over 200 statues of Sree Narayana Guru and produced notable works including statues of C. Kesavan, Vallathol Narayana Menon, Dr. Ambedkar, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Panambilli Govindamenon, R. Venkata Raman, and the famous elephant Guruvayur Kesavan. He was a recipient of the Lalit Kala Akademi fellowship.
Baburam was a national award-winning artist known for his use of soft pastel colours and portraiture. He designed the statuette used for the Kerala State Film Awards and was noted for designing pavilions for national and international exhibitions and trade fairs. He also created pavilions for exhibitions held in India and abroad, distinguished by their striking theme murals.[2]
A third son, M. Dilipkumar, is an artist who specialised in acoustics and the design of museums, auditoriums, and theatres.