The rich pluralistic traditions of India have always seen an intermingling of cultures and faiths. Every creed has found a place here, making the pan-Indian pantheon one that has embraced Hindu gods and goddesses, Christian saints, Islamic beliefs and more. In our November 2019 Traditional, Modern & Contemporary Indian Art auction we are proud to include a number of fine representations of personalities, personages and figures from this vast, all-encompassing divine gallery. A fine painting attributed to Raja Ravi Varma features the Catholic Saint Gonsalo Garcia, magnificent Tanjore depictions of Hindu gods Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman and Vithoba as well as one of Souza’s famed Christ figures. ‘Kali’ by Ramkinkar Baij is yet another example.
And with 'Durga Pujo' just a few days away, our auction additionally features three stunning paintings of Durga. Each one is a testament to a markedly different style of painting, thus making the works thematically cohesive but visually diverse, an artistic tribute to the protective mother of the universe.
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| Durga in different avatars |
Baren Basu who originally hails from Bangladesh and has kept a low profile has been feted by the Lalit Kala Akademi as well as internationally. Since he is steeped in Bengali culture, it is fitting that he would choose ‘Ma Durga’, so ingrained in Bengali culture, as a subject. His majestic work (lot 4) features a regal and fearsome Mother Goddess, her ten all-seeing eyes extending outwards and upwards from her head, performing her destructive dance on the body of her nemesis the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. The colours used are muted and earthy, reds, blacks and whites to starkly illuminate the eternal battle of the forces of good versus evil.
This iconic scene is also immortalised in a magnificent Kalighat painting (lot 8) from the late 19th century, worked upon with diluted earth pigments and watercolour on paper. Kalighat paintings are also native to the Bengal region and thus the choice of subject matter is all but natural. Durga is painted in fiery red that offer a marked contrast against the royal purple, emerald and grey-ish hues of her nemeses. This painting is evoked in a style that is rooted in the folk traditions of the Kalighat school, much different from the distinctive visual language of the Basu painting.
Dhiraj Choudhury was one of the masters of the modern Indian art movement who answered his profound calling for teaching by becoming an educator. Thus, his prodigious output was compounded by his influence as a professor of art. His background is also steeped in Bengali culture, therefore gravitating towards ‘Ma Durga’ is exceedingly fitting.
Infact, every depiction of the Gods, Goddesses & Saints in this auction catalogue, possesses a powerful character, arresting the viewer in how the subject is portrayed in an iconographic language that is individualistic and defined. Each is a celebration of a divine personage and each is evoked with unparalleled artistic vision.
For details and to register for the auction on 7th & 8th November 2019 please visit our website or download our mobile app from the Google Playstore or Apple Store.
The paintings can by physically viewed from 1st – 3rd November 2019 in New Delhi.
The catalogues can be pre-ordered through our website or by emailing [email protected] with ‘SALE 0020 CATALOGUE' in the subject line.
Related Posts:
1. Manjit Bawa, M.F. Husain and Ravi Varma attribution lead Bid & Hammer's auction - Business Standard, 27 Sep 2019
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