Vijaya Kumari Ramakrishna
Portrait of Vijaya Kumari in a red saree with jasmine flowers and eyeglasses
Close view of the painted portrait depicting Vijaya Kumari smiling and turned slightly to the viewer’s right. She is shown wearing a red saree with gold borders, jasmine flowers in her hair, eyeglasses, and traditional jewelry against a muted olive background.
Name/Title
Vijaya Kumari RamakrishnaEntry/Object ID
1Description
Summary Commissioned oil portrait of Vijaya Kumari painted in 2014 by Dominique Amendola from a photographic reference following the sitter’s passing in 2013. The painting presents a dignified three-quarter bust view of the subject wearing a red saree with gold border, jasmine flowers in her hair, and eyeglasses. The portrait was painted in India near Mysore and later transported to California by the commissioner. ⸻ Detailed This oil portrait depicts Vijaya Kumari in a three-quarter bust orientation against a softly modulated olive-green background. The sitter turns gently toward the viewer’s left with a warm expression and slight smile. Her hair is centrally parted and drawn back smoothly, adorned behind the ear with a cluster of white jasmine blossoms (gajra). A red bindi marks the center of the forehead, and she wears clear-framed eyeglasses rendered with careful reflections and transparency. The sitter is dressed in a vivid red saree with a woven gold border and dark banding, draped over a navy blouse. The saree depicted in the painting is a historically significant personal garment within the family collection: it was given to Vijaya Kumari as a housewarming gift from her aunt in 1983. The original saree and blouse worn in the portrait are preserved within the collection in a dedicated memorial cabinet. The artist models the sitter’s face with controlled tonal transitions and restrained brushwork characteristic of contemporary academic realism. The saturated red of the saree contrasts with the subdued background, directing attention to the sitter’s presence and expression. The painting is signed “D. Amendola” in the lower right corner and is housed in a traditional gold-toned frame by Art & Frames in Mountain View, California. The portrait was commissioned by the sitter’s son in 2014 to commemorate the first anniversary of her passing on June 20, 2013. The work was executed in India near Mysore and later transported to California by the commissioner.Type of Painting
EaselArtwork Details
Medium
Oil on CanvasCategory
Principal Collection