Veene Sheshanna

Veene Sheshanna (1852—1926) was an exponent of the veena, an Indian string instrument, which he played in the classical Carnatic music style.

[1][2] He was a concert musician at the court of the princely state of Mysore in southern India, but his performances were admired throughout Eurasia, including by King George V of England, who held a portrait of him at the Buckingham Palace.

Not unlike the sitar, the gourd would rest in the lap of the player, who would sit cross-legged while performing.

[2] Sheshanna composed 53 pieces of music, including svarajathis, pada, javalis, and many thillanas.

[1] One of the Sheshanna's most beloved concert veenas as well as Raja Ravi Varma's famous portrait of him can be viewed at the Manjusha Museum, a conservatory of historical artefacts in Dharmasthala, Karnataka.