Raja Ravi Varma's Masterpiece Breaks Auction Record
Raja Ravi Varma's painting 'Yashoda and Krishna' sold for a record Rs 167.20 crore in Mumbai, marking the highest value for modern Indian art at auction. Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, buyer of the painting, plans to make it publicly viewable, celebrating its cultural and emotional significance.
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An eminent artwork by Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma has made history. His 1890s oil painting, 'Yashoda and Krishna,' was auctioned for an unprecedented Rs 167.20 crore in Mumbai on Wednesday. This sale set a new pinnacle in the modern Indian art realm for the highest-priced piece sold.
The painting fetched the record-breaking price at Saffronart's Spring Live Auction, with the previous benchmark being Rs 118 crore for an MF Husain artwork last year. The masterpiece was bought by Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, managing director of the Serum Institute of India, who expressed a commitment to sharing the artwork with the public periodically.
Dr. Poonawalla stated, 'I am privileged to acquire and preserve this national treasure by Raja Ravi Varma.' The piece, depicting a mythological moment between Yashoda and Krishna, is celebrated for transforming a domestic scene into a significant cultural narrative. Saffronart co-founder Minal Vazirani notes this sale underscores the art market's vitality and the enduring resonance of Indian art.
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