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Sita sold hours after Husain's death
With surreal timing, two paintings by MF Husain sold at the London auction house Christie’s on Thursday, drawing a packed house just over 12 hours after the painter died. Dipankar De Sarkar reports. Pics: My art, my women |
With surreal timing, two paintings by MF Husain sold at the London auction house Christie's on Thursday, drawing a packed house just over 12 hours after the painter died.
Part of a Christie's South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale, the two paintings sold for a total of £108,100 (R80 lakh), far above the £10,000-20,000 estimates.
The auction house held a minute's silence for Husain before starting the sales.
One painting, an untitled oil, went to a telephone bidder from Singapore for £37,250 (Rs 27 lakh).
The second, Sita with the Golden Deer, was the last to be offered on the afternoon, and it went to an anonymous telephone bidder for £70,850 (Rs 52 lakh).
The auction, held at Christie's Kensington Gallery, a stone’s throw from where Husain died, drew a large crowd of mainly Indian collectors.
