Nandikolla Gopala Rao
Encyclopedia
Nandikolla Gopala Rao was a Indian painter of Andhra Pradesh
and is known as the Father of Modern Contemporary Art
in Andhra Pradesh
. He was a painter during British rule in south India, who achieved recognition for his paintings on Hindu epics, landscapes, portraits of maharajahs and maharanis of his days. His innovations in the field of painting influenced the course of Indian art for many more years to come after his death.
) in Injiram, Andhra Pradesh. He hailed from a wealthy family of Zamindar
s and was the munsiff for Injiram during the British rule. N.Gopala Rao was married to Smt Surnarayanama. He was a self-taught artist who started to paint at the age of Thirteen.
s of Vijanagaram, Bobbili, Pithapuram, Parlakimidi and Tuni, where he was invited to their courts to paint the portraits of the Kings. The art was not well recognized due to colonial rule where Indian artists lacked opportunities. N. Gopala Rao is an artist in the style of Raja Ravi Varma
. Much of his works were oleographs. Sri N. Gopala Rao gave new life to Hindu
epics through his paintings.
N. Gopala Rao's brother N. Venkata Reddi Naidu
was a landscape and portrait painter. Nandikolla Venkata Reddi Naidu accompanied his brother to many competitions.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and is known as the Father of Modern Contemporary Art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. He was a painter during British rule in south India, who achieved recognition for his paintings on Hindu epics, landscapes, portraits of maharajahs and maharanis of his days. His innovations in the field of painting influenced the course of Indian art for many more years to come after his death.
Early life
N. Gopala Rao was born Nandikolla Gopala Rao, his father Nandikolla Venkateswarao. He was born in Cocanada (presently KakinadaKakinada
Kakinada is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad. It is also the headquarters of East Godavari district. It is nicknamed "Fertilizer City" , "Pensioner's Paradise" and "Second Madras"...
) in Injiram, Andhra Pradesh. He hailed from a wealthy family of Zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
s and was the munsiff for Injiram during the British rule. N.Gopala Rao was married to Smt Surnarayanama. He was a self-taught artist who started to paint at the age of Thirteen.
Career
N. Gopala Rao was the most honoured artist by the RajaRaja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
s of Vijanagaram, Bobbili, Pithapuram, Parlakimidi and Tuni, where he was invited to their courts to paint the portraits of the Kings. The art was not well recognized due to colonial rule where Indian artists lacked opportunities. N. Gopala Rao is an artist in the style of Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana...
. Much of his works were oleographs. Sri N. Gopala Rao gave new life to Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
epics through his paintings.
N. Gopala Rao's brother N. Venkata Reddi Naidu
Naidu
Naidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
was a landscape and portrait painter. Nandikolla Venkata Reddi Naidu accompanied his brother to many competitions.