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

44 THE PASSIONATE DETACHMENT 3 FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA (b. 1924) a. Woman and Tree Signed in English, c.l. Watercolour & Ink, late 1950s 25.5 x 20.5 cm. (10.0 x 8.1”) b. Woman and Two Men S/d in English, t.l. Charcoal/ pencil, 1959 21.1 x 26.98 cm. (8.3 x 10.6”) c. Head S/d in English, t.l. Pen & Ink, 1959 34.1 x 22 cm. (13.4 x 8.7”) d. Queen S/d in English, l.l. Pen & Ink, 1961 33 x 20.5 cm. (13.0 x 8.1”) Rs. 175,000 - 225,000 $ 3,725 - 4,785 (Set of 4) “Souza records in his autobiography: “Painting for me is not beautiful. It is as ugly as a reptile. I attack it. It coils and recoils making fascinating patterns. I am not, however, interested in patterns otherwise I would spend my days watching clouds or women’s fabrics. It is the serpent in the grass that is really fascinating, listening, jeweled, writhing in the green grass. Poisoned fangs and cold-blooded. Slimy as squeezed paint……” ( S.K.Bhattacharya, from F.N.Souza- An Eclectic in Indian Art, rpt.in Rooplekha 1966 . pp164-5). a b