The 'Historic Masterpieces' Modern Indian Art Auction by AstaGuru Features Iconic Creations

In its forthcoming 'Historic Masterpieces' Modern Indian Art auction in December 2022, AstaGuru will showcase a magnificent selection of works by highly esteemed painters who significantly contributed to defining Modern Indian Art.

The auction catalogue has works by 19 renowned artists, including Hemendranath Mazumdar, F.N. Souza, S.H. Raza, Jehangir Sabavala, M.F. Husain, Akbar Padamsee, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Krishen Khanna, Jogen Chowdhury, Prabhakar Barwe, K.G. Subramaniam, Ram Kumar, J. Swaminathan, Somnath Hor Several of these pieces are being offered for the first time at auction.

The auction will take place on December 27-28, 2022.

Sneha Gautam, Vice President of Client Relations at AstaGuru Sale House, discusses the upcoming auction

"In our forthcoming 'Historical Masterpieces' auction, we are thrilled to showcase a collection of works from India's avant-garde painters. The portfolio features a variety of artworks with impeccable provenance and an intriguing past. We are providing collectors with the ability to amass an assortment of distinctive and characteristic styles from renowned painters who altered the face of modern Indian art."

Featured aspects of the auction: Hemendranath Mazumdar - Lot No. 1Lot 1 is a masterwork by the esteemed artist Hemendranath Mazumdar that is being offered at auction for the first time. It is one of the sale's most prominent attractions. The piece depicts the eternal picture of Radha and Krishna and exemplifies the artist's inspiration in terms of technique and subject matter. It will be available for between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 INR.

Jehangir Sabavala - Lot No. 23

Jehangir Sabavala's oil on canvas titled 'Nocturnal Flight' highlights the theme of birds that he often represented in his works. Sakshi Gallery published a book titled "The Crucible of Painting: The Art of Jehangir Sabavala" in 2005; it will be marketed for between INR 3.5 million and INR 4 million.

Lot No. 4, 5, 26, M.F. Husain

Also up for sale are three paintings from M.F. Husain's famous "British Raj" series, which is a superb blend of history, humour, and political criticism. The title of this work is 'Raj Series: Princess Nisha Raje.

1997's "Afternoon Tea with Lady McBull," lot number 26, is a large-scale acrylic on oil canvas piece. It portrays an Indian princess drinking tea with Lady Mcbull, a moniker Husain often used. The estimated price range for the job is INR 3,000,000 to 4,000,000. Lot no. 4, named 'Jemdanee 1787,' is a watercolour depicting the connection between William Hickey, a British attorney, and his alleged Indian wife 'Jemdanee' It will be marketed at an estimated price range of 30,000 to 40,000 INR.

An additional watercolour from the series, lot number 5, titled "Credentials of Gwalior, Nizam, and Patiala I," would be sold with an estimated price range of INR 30 million to 40 million.

S.H. Raza - Lot No 28, 17, 33

Six remarkable pieces by S.H. Raza are on sale, displaying the many techniques he has experimented with over the years; lot no. 28, named 'L'Orage,' created in 1973, represents the artist's most creative period. The acrylic on canvas piece is priced between INR 2,250,000 and INR 2,750,000. 1985's Lot No. 17 named 'Bindu' is one of the first pieces in the collection and has the artist's signature. The acrylic on canvas painting is believed to be worth between 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 INR. Lot number 33 is entitled "Bhoomi" and was completed in 1987. The sculpture is representative of the transformation of Raza's landscapes and will be auctioned for between INR 1,800,000 and 2,200,000.

F.N Souza – Lot No. 18, 7

Additionally, the auction will include two paintings by the artist F.N. Souza. The cover of the auction catalogue titled "The Castle" is lot number 18, which is also lot number 18. Executed in 1957 when the artist was residing in London, this piece was once part of the collection of Harold Kovner, a highly influential and immensely supportive patron of the artist. It will be auctioned between $4,000,000 and $6,000,000. Lot No. 7, named 'The Lake,' is an additional landscape piece by Souza and will be auctioned with an estimated price range of INR 60,000 to 80,000.

Prabhakar Barwa - Lot No 8

Lot no. 8 is a lovely piece of art by Prabhakar Barwe, produced in 1970. It will be supplied with a price range of 80,000 to 1,000,000 INR.

Lot No. 9 - Jogen Chowdhury

Lot no. 9 is a one-of-a-kind piece by the artist Jogen Chowdhury. This artwork entitled 'His serene existence in Heaven - Homage to Bhupen' was shown during an exhibition held in 2013 to honour the 10th anniversary of Bhupen Khakhar's death. It will be supplied with a price range of 80,000 to 120,000 INR.

Krishen Khanna - Lot No 21

"Doubting Thomas With Jesus" is the title of Krishen Khanna's artwork with a biblical subject, which is located in lot number 21. Christ and St. Thomas are seen in the 1978 oil on canvas picture, which was created before Christianity gained prominent in Europe. The asking price would range from INR 95,000 to 1,250,000.

K.G. Subramanyan - Lot No. 34:

Lot no. 34, named Pastoral (Triptych), is among the artist's biggest works. It was executed in 2014 using oil on canvas and presents a complex tale of life in the countryside, with people, animals, and newborns shown in brilliant colours. It is estimated to be worth between INR 1,350,000 and 1,650,000.

Narayan Shridhar Bendre – Lot No. 12:

The oil painting named 'Three Women' was created by Narayan Shridhar Bendre, the Indian artist who pioneered the pointillist method. This 1972 oil painting executed in the artist's characteristic style will be auctioned with an estimate of INR 1,500,000 to 2,500,000.

Lot Number Two by Nicholas Roerich

The 1903 oil on board painting 'The Monastery Of St. Alexander Nevsky' by Nicholas Roerich is a departure from the artist's celebrated sequence of works depicting the Himalayan range. It will be marketed for between 1,000,000 and 1,200,000 INR.
Lot no. 11 is a stunning work by the artist K.K. Hebbar, and it is estimated to fetch between INR 50,000,000 and INR 60,000,000.

Bikash Bhattacharjee, the maestro of hyperrealistic paintings, has created an astonishing work of art with lot no. 29. It shows the 'Nag' or king Cobra, a Hindu god, and was completed in 1997. The asking price will be between INR 250,000 and INR 300,000.

AstaGuru

AstaGuru was conceived in 2008 with the express goal of developing a safe and secure online auction platform for Indian, Contemporary, and Modern art. The title AstaGuru is a deliberate combination of the Italian word 'Asta', which means auction, and the Sanskrit word 'Guru,' which means'master,' and signifies our mastery in auctioneering art and artefacts in India and across the world. AstaGuru has endeavoured to effectively bridge the gap between potential buyers and consignors by surpassing the restrictions of live auctions as the globe converges into a unified digital universe. AstaGuru makes the process of purchasing and selling art and rare items transparent with ease. Our collection comprises varied categories such as Jewellery & Fine Silver, Timepieces, Textiles, Celebrity Memorabilia, Rare Books, Numismatic, Philately, and Classic Cars. The mobile app for AstaGuru allows our valued bidders to follow and participate in our auctions in real time and without difficulty.