Raja Ravi Verma better painter than Leonardo da Vinci ? Let’s find out.
Recently a Photomontage is viral on social media, it consists of two images. On the right, we have the great Mona Lisa portrait and on its left is a painting made by Raja Ravi Verma. Leonardo da Vinci around 16th century created this masterpiece of the Mona Lisa which is yet quite famous amongst people in modern times. Raja Ravi Verma of Kilimanoor is considered to be one of the great painters in the Indian History of art.
Even after many decades people still remember these two great artists, either by revisiting their work at the museum or trying to recreate them. In the past few days, people are remembering them by comparing their work on social sites.
CLAIM:
A viral image is shared by multiple users on various social sites with the caption “Choose between two portraits. One is by Raja Ravi Verma, which perhaps, you have never seen. Another is by Leonardo da Vinci which you must have seen million times. Now think about how marketing and propaganda lobbies bias our minds.”
This viral claim has been shared on multiple social sites, with the same caption.
The caption is enough to make us understand how people are comparing the two great artists. People say propaganda and bias have made the Mona Lisa painting famous. Paintings made by Raja Ravi Verma have a more realistic touch yet people are not aware of them.
Few individuals were busy comparing the two while some users thought of appreciating the two artists.
Culture teaches to respect every art form, still, people compare art to showcase the love for their culture and ancestors.
Not satisfied by sharing it on Facebook, users took their Twitter accounts to share about the same.
The painting to the left is done by RajaRaviVarma. Hardly anyone would have seen it. To the right is Monalisa, by Leonardo daVinci. You wld have seen a hundred times.
It's because of the promoters. They decide what we shld applaud!
RajaRaviVarma's painting is any day better🌷 pic.twitter.com/A1IKYyqMcK— Nandini Venkatadri🇮🇳 (@NandiniVenkate3) July 8, 2021
Users posted the Photomontage asking others which painting is better. At the end of the tweet, the user even shared her thought and choice between the two images.
While comparing the paintings, few users were keen to know what other users think about it. To understand other users’ points of view they left a question asking “ANY COMMENTS?”
Any comments.. pic.twitter.com/Uosxpg0oo3
— sunil ratan (@sunil_ratan) July 8, 2021
Few users had different thinking rather than comparing the two paintings, they dropped down a question. “Why is the latter portrait well known?”. Furthermore the user expressed that he would support the aesthetic appeal only.
Raja Ravi Verma and Leonardo Da Vinci .. why is the latter Potrait so well known … I wonder what part does hype play in our lives that triumphs talent .. I am drawing my conclusions on aesthetic appeal alone pic.twitter.com/ub8low1qxi
— Amitabh (@amitabh_gupta1) July 20, 2021
Choose between two portraits.
One is by Raja Ravi Verma, which perhaps, you have never seen.
Another is by Leonardo da Vinci which you must have seen million times.
Now think pic.twitter.com/rzSvDrT4AA— Avi Malenadu 🇮🇳 (@avinash_jh83) July 16, 2021
After Facebook and Twitter, users uploaded the same Photomontage with the same caption on Instagram.
Truth
The ‘painting’ being compared to Monalisa, is actually a photo of a lady based on a painting.
The claim is misleading. The image to the right is definitely of Mona Lisa but the image to the left is not made by Raja Ravi Verma. The original painting made by Raja Ravi Verma is named ” RADHA IN MOONLIGHT”.
“RADHA IN MOONLIGHT” by Raja Ravi Verma
After looking closely at the image we saw a watermark of a photo studio, after zooming we found the name SRUVAM STUDIO. 
The studio is situated in Hyderabad specialized in Wedding, Portrait, and Commercial Photoshoot.
This image is a recreation of “Radha in MoonLight” at Hyderabad, the woman in the image is a south Indian actress SWATHI REDDY in 2019. The actress had uploaded the image on her Facebook account, in the caption she mentioned that this is a recreation series done with SRUVAM STUDIOS.
The same image was posted by Sruvam studios on their social media handle in July 2019. Sruvam studios before posting the image made a Photomontage consisting of the original painting to left and the recreation right. Check the post for Photomontage.
Another account BRIDES OF HYDERABAD had uploaded the recreation series also tagged Swathi and Sruvam studio in the post.
In this digital times of fake news, there are few people who are aware of the fact and didn’t fall prey to the fake photomontage image. But the user raised a question asking others “Which do you recognize more”
The first portrait was by Leonardo da Vinci – Mona Lisa.
And the second one was by Raja Ravi Verma – Radha in the Moonlight.
Both are great works of art, but which do u recognise more. pic.twitter.com/DOsmRo9mi2
— Karthikeyan G IPS (@karthikeyangips) July 23, 2021
Even after the image has been debunked still people are posting it with the same claim on social media. Debunked yet it is being widely shared is a major issue, as people are not believing the factual piece of information and some users may not be aware of the misleading montage. Lack of information and reach of debunked news is resulting in such difficult situations.
People should now actively follow and keep a track of fake news, just to get informed about what information is fake. This one step will help the people to develop media-related knowledge and share the same with others. By reading debunked information chances are people can become keen to debunk any news either by themselves or by sending them to the fact-checkers.
