The Forgotten Atelier is the first comprehensive study of the artists who shaped the visual culture of the Travancore royal court beyond the celebrated legacy of Raja Ravi Varma. Spanning the eighteenth to the early twentieth century, the book traces the evolution of Travancore’s court art tradition and the diverse influences that shaped it. Drawing on extensive archival research, it recovers the lives and works of overlooked painters, including itinerant European artists, the Naidu painters of Madurai, and the contemporaries, followers, and collaborators of Ravi Varma. It also examines the complex relationship between art, patronage, and power within the royal atelier, while highlighting the contributions of pioneering women artists such as Mangala Bayi of the Kilimanoor royal house. Richly illustrated and meticulously researched, the book offers fresh insights into the lives and achievements of these lesser-known artists, enriching our understanding of Travancore’s remarkable artistic heritage.

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: White Falcon Publishing; 1 edition (June 2026)
• Author: Sharat Sunder Rajeev
• ISBN-13: 9789376310388
• Product Dimensions: 8.27 x 11.69 inch