Osian's Auction Catalogue Forty Masterpieces | March 2003

“ Through the veil of beautiful colours, I would like my viewers to penetrate a little deeper into my paintings and see varied aspects of life: Hungry and lonesome elephant. A group of villagers on the way to the market. Half-eagle half- man in conflict with serpent donning demon’s head. Strange buxom female with bird’s head filled with rage gives birth to life. A beautiful maiden with bird’s body. Four-eyed bulls with two hands and a golden serpent with woman’s head on his back. Owls clustered around bull for violent assault on mankind. Golden bird with maiden’s bosom flies messenger of peace to safety trampling evilness. It is a capricious world all over – freakish and queer and utterly fantastic, but on association with it, imagination arouses and message discerns. It is not a world that is mythological or folkloristic nor exotic or anthropological; in it one sees universal values and vastness of life; its perils and trivialities. These are expressions of anxiety and hope as well, perils and trivialities. These are expressions of anxiety and hope as well, divulged from the recesses of my core. May be a little morbid and frightful, for they have been painted in Bhayanaka-Rasa ; but their aesthetic tinge nevertheless dominates.” (J. Sultan Ali; printed in Alliance Francaise, Madras 1986 ExC.) Neela Paksha Ajghar S/d in English & Hindi, l.r. Oil on canvas, 1986 114.0 x 150.3 cm [44.9 x 59.2 in] Provenance The Artist’s family collection, Mysore Rs. 500,000 – 600,000 $ 10,400 – 12,500 £ 6,300 – 7,500 _ 9,600 – 11,500 100 101 36 J. SULTAN ALI [1920-90/ b.Bombay, Maharashtra] Os.Mum/ 05.12.2002 Lot 63 Yanadhi Katha Oil on canvas, 1986 137.5 x 163.4 cm ASP: Rs. 495,000