The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was a pioneering Indian artist from the princely state of Travancore. He is celebrated for fusing Indian iconography and mythological themes with Western techniques, particularly European Academic Realism.
Statement 1 is Correct: Raja Ravi Varma belonged to the aristocratic family of the Travancore Court (Kilimanoor Palace). He is largely considered a self-taught artist regarding Western techniques; he mastered the nuances of oil painting and academic realism (perspective, composition, and play of light and shadow) primarily by observing European artists like Theodore Jenson who visited the court.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Raja Ravi Varma did not reject oil painting; in fact, he is famous for popularizing the medium of oil in India. He moved away from traditional tempera and water-based mediums used in miniature paintings to use oil paints, which allowed for the realistic depiction of texture, skin tone, and drapery in his mythological subjects.
Statement 3 is Correct: To make his art accessible to the common public, he established the Ravi Varma Press in Mumbai (1894). This press mass-produced oleographs (chromolithographs) of his paintings depicting Hindu deities and mythological scenes. These prints became ubiquitous in Indian homes and calendars, significantly influencing the visual imagery of Indian religion.
Key Takeaway: Raja Ravi Varma is distinguished for applying the Western technique of oil painting and academic realism to Indian subjects and for democratizing art through mass-produced oleographs.