Osian's Auction Catalogue Forty Masterpieces | March 2003

2 ANONYMOUS ARTIST FROM BENGAL Condition Preservation work has been carried out on the paintings in Kolkata befo’re being consigned to Osians Provenance Private Collector, Kolkata To cut a long story short... only a son by Shiva could save the Gods according to Brahma, hence the daughter of the Himal ayas, Parvati, was proposed as Shivas second wife, after the self-immolation of Sati (his first wife). However, Shiva, having lost inte rest in the world , given his grief, was deep in medit ation and would not embrace Parvati as his wife, hence Indra sent Kamdev down to earth to break Shiva’s concent ration, and help him accept Parvari. Kamdev succeeded in breaking his concentration, but in the process was burnt to death by Shiva’s third eye, so transforming Kamdev into his ananga (limbl ess) form. Many creative minds have been fascinated and inspired by this great story, from Rabindranarh Tagore to countless artisans turn ed artists, such as the artist of Lot 2. A systematic appreciation of prices for high quality works by the early 20th cent ury anonymous artists from Bengal, is clearly evident . (Refer to adjacent th umbnails & captions.) HT.ND / 28.12.1999 Lot 125 Durga as Bagalamukhi Oil on canvas, 1903-8 102.0 x 84.5 cm ASP: Rs. 240 ,000 Os.Mum/ 19.10.2001 Lot 10 Chaitanya Lila Oil on canvas, lare 1910s 43.5 x 141.5 cm ASP: Rs. 294,000 a b Os.Mum/ 05.12.2002 Lot 37 Krishna& BaIaram Oil on canvas, lare 1910s 75.0 x 102.5 cm ASP: Rs. 440,000 Shiva & Kamdev Series Oil on canvas, late 1910s Each 60.7 x 81. 1 cm [23.9 x 31.9 in] Rs. 750,000 - 850,000 $ 15,600 - 17,700 £ 9,400 - 10,600 € 14,400 - 16,300 [Set of 2)