Raja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter from the late 19th century who achieved fame for his paintings depicting scenes from Indian literature and mythology. He learned painting techniques from both Indian and European masters. Varma received widespread acclaim after winning awards for his paintings in exhibitions in Vienna and Chicago. He is considered one of the greatest Indian painters for his fusion of Indian traditions with academic European techniques. Many of his paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses are now iconic representations in Indian culture.