Husain, one of eight works by the artist in the sale (Lot 10, Est. $80/100,000). The painting depicts a group of horses in a dynamic composition that captures the energy and power of the animals. Horses play an important part in Husain’s art; they are often shown riderless and staring into the distance at an unseen audience. On the far side of this painting a horse can be seen leaving the group which has
attracted the attention of the central gray stallion creating a subtle tension in the work.
An Untitled work by Francis Newton Souza depicting a joker also features (Lot 27, Est. $120/150,000). Untitled is a representation of the Joker, who can take on
the appearance of any other character by disguising his true identity. Painted with a long, clown-like face, and a highly saturated palette divided by black outlines that is
reminiscent of Romanesque art and stained glass windows.
Miniatures
Among the miniatures in the sale will be six from the collection of Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, a towering figure in the field of Indian and Southeast Asian Art. Dr. Coomaraswamy worked in Sri Lanka, India and finally America, where he set up the first ever Indian Art department at a US institution – the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A collector as well as a scholar he built up an
unmatched collection of Mughal, Rajput and Pahari paintings and drawings that have been passed down through his family. The highlight of this group is An Illustration to a Jataka Series: The Sixth Dream of King Pasenadi painted circa 1780-90. It is a pictorial depiction of an ancient Jataka tale in which a powerful tiger slinks away from weak Jackal, symbolising how a lowly upstart can usurp a once powerful ruler.
Contemporary
Among the Contemporary works on offer will be a selection of cutting-edge Contemporary Art from Pakistan
including a sculpture by the young Pakistani artist Adeela Suleman whose work is influenced by the complex social and political situation in Pakistan. Lie Together is a typical work that uses household and domestic objects to create a melancholic sculpture (Est. $6/8,000).
