Osian's Auction Catalogue India The Passionate Detachment | February 2001

THE PASSIONATE DETACHMENT 126 95 PROSANTO ROY (1908 - 73) Untitled Signed in Bengali, l.r. Watercolour, Chinese ink & wash on paper, early 1950s 28 x 23 cm (11.0 x 9.1”) “ He was a perfectionist to the core right from a small sketch card meant for the young intruder from next door to the extra large frames and scrolls that unroll. Roy had a preference for a restricted palette. But the application of the pigments was indeed refreshing with delicate brilliance, impeccability and untaintedness… He was particularly at home with Chinese ink. He could multiply and proliferate tonal degrees and gradations at will and at ease, not an easy acquirement. The retention and distribution of paperweight and the minutest use of warm pigments here and there in an expanse of cool tonalities procreated a glittering, dazzling, rhythmically vibrant pictorial surface.” (Kanchan Chakraberti, in BAAC ExC. 1998 ). For colour Illustration of work refer to Fig. 26 in BAAC ExC. 1998 . PAPR Lot 276 Ch.NY/ 20.09.00 Untitled Watercolour on paper 37.5 x 26 cm. ASP: $ 7,050/ Rs. 325,533 ($1 = Rs. 46.17) Rs. 325,000 - 400,000 $ 6,915- 8,510