------------------------------------------------------------------
Domnic Fernandes continues (Part III) his reminiscence of
Mapusa of the 1950s
http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sidB6
------------------------------------------------------------------
Souza, Roy dominate Bonhams Indian art sale
Indo-Asian News Service
London, April 12 (IANS) High profile art auction house Bonhams netted
over three million pounds at its recent sale of Indian paintings here,
with the works of F.N. Souza and Jamini Roy contributing the major
chunk.
At 1.65 million pounds, the sale of over 70 works by Indian artists
brought in more than the estimated 1-1.5 million pounds and is the
best showing for an Indian art sale, said an official at Bonhams, the
world's third largest auction house.
The results underline the continued interest and growth in modern
Indian painting with buyers from India, Europe and the US vying with
many others bidding on phone, Claire Penhallurick said.
Souza and Jamini Roy - with eight and 12 pictures respectively in the
sale - made just over one million pounds.
Among the many Souzas on sale, the most impassioned on offer was "Last
Howl From the Cross" which sold for 260,000 pounds, not quite so
exciting but very much within the estimated target.
"Last Howl..." is among a handful of crucifixions Souza painted during
his highly inventive London period (1949-1967). The painting was first
exhibited in 1964 at the Grosvenor Gallery in London as part of a solo
show titled "The Human and the Divine Predicament".
Souza's rendition of Christ's death in a series of works is subversive
and ironic, reflecting his deep-seated suspicion of the church. His
"The Nude" sold for 90,000 pounds. Among the many cityscapes, two did
well, netting high amounts. Souza's "Emperor", a graphite acrylic
coated polyvinyl acetate on cloth, sold for 65,000 pounds.
Jamini Roy attracted significant interest with three or four buyers
spiralling the prices up. His "Ibrahim and his Musicians" sold for
30,000 pounds against its 12,000 pounds estimate. This continues the
very strong interest in his works seen in New York last week.
The other surprise was Tyeb Mehta's "Pink Figure", which sold for
125,000 pounds, below its estimate of 150,000 pounds, to a telephone
bidder.
J. Swaminathan's untitled work sold for 70,000 pounds. Last year, his
"Mountain and Bird" made a hammer price of 81,600 pounds (estimated at
40,000 to 60,000 pounds) at Bonhams. Another work "The Tree, The Bird,
The Shadow", estimated at 40,000 to 60,000 pounds, went for 125,000
pounds, a world record price for the artist.
Bonhams has also designed the first ever sale of a single Indian
artist in May this year when 40 paintings of Souza will exclusively go
under the hammer.
The auction house has a global network of offices and regional
representatives providing sales advice and valuation services in 20
countries.
--
----------------------------------------------------------
Frederick 'FN' Noronha | Yahoomessenger: fredericknoronha
http://fn.goa-india.org | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Independent Journalist | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436
----------------------------------------------------------
Photographs from Goa: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/popular-views/
_____________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list.
Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)
