Admirer of Paul Raj Paintings

My photo
Paul was born in Kodaikanal on 22 September 1914 and died on 2 October 1979. G D Arulraj was born in 1925 and died in June 1972 while visiting India. Arul worked at Laguna Beach in the 60's and 1970's. G D Thyagaraj might have been born in 1922 and I am told that he probably died sometime before 1981. He moved to northern India as a young man. I lived in India as a child and spent a lot of time in Calcutta. My mother purchased several paintings directly from Paul Raj while living in Madras and this got me interested in his works. I then discovered he had two brothers Arul Raj and Thyaga Raj who were both fantastic artists. I could not find much information on the internet so decided to set up my own blog. Subsequently a Facebook tribute site has also been created to the memory of the three brothers. Contact me at: rajbrothers@hotmail.co.uk

Saturday 25 May 2013

G D Thyagaraj - Wet Convoy

As time progresses it becomes harder and harder to be sure that I have not added a particular painting to the blog before.  I have just had to check through around 63 paintings by Thyagaraj on the blog site and I am pretty sure this one has not be shown before.
The fact that all three brothers create variations of the same painting, I assume they were good sellers makes it hard as well.  This one seems to show laden carts coming down a wet and windy road.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

G D Thyagaraj - Paddy Fields and Temple

This water colour is by G D Thyagaraj and the photograph was sent to me by "J" in Virginia, USA, he purchased two painting from a charity thrift store and was told they had been donated by an airline pilot.  The first I will post today looks like a fairly typical women working in the paddy fields scene, but it differs slightly as in the background on the top of a large hill is a Buddhist Stupa gleaming in the sunlight.
I assume it is meant to be in northern India or maybe in Nepal?  Having the temple just makes it a little bit special.  Thanks to 'J" for letting me add this to my blog.

Tuesday 14 May 2013

G D Paulraj - Notebook 6

Another notebook page dating from a transaction on 30 January 1961 consisting of 12 paintings in total being posted to a client working in Bombay.  This page shows eight paintings, the next four will follow in the next notebook page.
The paintings are as follows.
1) At the well Rs 150/-
2) Street in Madras Rs 150/-
3) Evening light Rs 150/-
4) From the field Rs 150/-
5) Transplanting Rs 125/-
6) Rice mill Rs 115/-
7) Dhobi ghat Rs125/-
8) Fruit stall Rs 115/-

Saturday 11 May 2013

Mahabalipuram - Seven Pagodas

Today I am adding a photograph showing my parents sitting on the statutes leading up to the Beach Temple at the Seven Pagodas site near Madras.  This would have been taken around 1950 as they married in 1949 and then travelled out to India from the UK.

Wednesday 8 May 2013

G D Thyagaraj - From the fields

I think this is a painting by Thyagaraj but the image is of low quality so the signature is a little hard to read.
It seems to be showing some women leaving the fields to head home and a wild and windy day.

Sunday 5 May 2013

G D Paulraj - Notebook 5

This notebook page has 4 small sketches titled:
No (1) Waiting Rs 135/-
No (2) Under the Bannian Rs 135/-
No (3) Scarrowing Rs 150/-
No (4) Palmyara Sow Rs 125/- I am not sure of what this one is depicting I assume it is some kind of crop being planted, I probably have not spelt it correctly.


Wednesday 1 May 2013

G D Thyagaraj - Working in the paddy fields

Watercolour by Thyagaraj showing a group of women working in the paddy fields, It is s theme that he seems to have painted many times.