Next time one drops in for tea at one?s neighbour?s home and sees a Leonardo da Vinci?s Mona Lisa or Claude Monet?s Lilies on the wall, there is no need to gape with wonder. Though, considering how original-like they look, one may be well excused the gaping bit.

Not just European classical pieces like these, famous scenes from our own epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, too, may well be adoring those walls. And there is no reason to envy the neighbours. Thanks to some talented artists in the steel city, who have perfected the art of making replicas of classical works, one can acquire them, if one knows who to approach.

But just because they are replicas, doesn?t mean they are easy to make. As these artists point out, one needs a clear vision and a lot of patience to produce them. But once done, they are worth the effort, considering the gaping wonder they leave the admirers in. For those who want to experience the richness of the past glory, here?s where they can rush to.

Orchid hues

Supriyo Bhattacharjee: Director of Orchid Art Gallery, he has been painting such pieces for quite some years now. From his experience, he points out that while such works can be produced by many painters, the final outcome will be influenced by the mood and sensibility of the painter concerned.

?It can be the same episode from the Mahabharata, the costumes of which will be painted in the native style of the state by a painter from Jharkhand, while the same characters would be draped in a traditional Rajasthani dress by an artist from Rajasthan,? said Bhattacharjee.

There are no colour rules, and they vary from bright yellow to the more subdued blue. Medium can be oil or acrylic, depending on demand. It?s not a rush job either. To get the details right, the painter can take anything from a week to more.

While on an average, a work of size 36 by 30 inches would cost not less than Rs 5,000, prices vary and depend on many factors. Contact address: 14, CH Area (East), Jamshedpur. Number: 0657 2224827

Figurative glory

P. Biswas: Senior art teacher at the School of Art, he too has been creating news for quite a few years now. With the mastery he shows in reproducing the works of past masters, it?s not surprising. He is also the best person to be contacted for old landscapes or oil paintings of human figures.

Colours used are natural and range from dull yellows and browns to the very bright reds and blues. He has a reputation of producing excellent replicas and realistic use of colours. A 3 by 3.5 feet figurative painting can cost up to Rs 10,000, while the landscapes are priced a little less at Rs 8,000. To be a proud possessor, contact him at the School of Art, Kadma, Jamshedpur.

Thematic beauty

L.I.Singh: He, too, has been around for many years, with a reputation that has steadily grown for his ability to replicate the exact concept of the original themes. Attached with Rabindra Bhavan for many years, for some time now he has decided to slow down due to advancing age, but continues to produces exclusives on requests.

He feels those who have an eye for the ethnic and the past and tradition, will always love this form.

First hand

An abstract trend on rise

Supriyo Bhattacharjee, director of Orchid Art Gallery, believes that though replicas are still popular, the true trend is towards abstract art.

“These days, the focus has steadily shifted to abstract art, where the artist conceives his own ideas and puts it on canvas. However, there seems to be takers for both the styles of art, as long as they compliment the interiors,” he says.