Nandikolla Gopala Rao

N.Gopala Rao
Born	1880 British India
Died	1945
Nationality	Indian
Field	Painter

Nandikolla Gopala Rao (Telugu: గోపాల రావు) 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.

Early life

N. Gopala Rao was born Nandikolla Gopala Rao, his father Nandikolla Venkateswarao. He was born in Cocanada (presently Kakinada) in Injiram, Andhra Pradesh. He hailed from a wealthy family of Zamindars 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 Rajas 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.

See also

• Lists of Indians by state
• Telugu people
• List of Telugu people

References

• [1]
• List of Indian artists
• List of people from Andhra Pradesh

External links

Persondata
Name	Rao, Nandikolla Gopala
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1880
Place of birth	British India
Date of death	1945
Place of death