Osian's Auction Catalogue Masterpieces and Museum-Quality III | March 2004

128 OSIAN’S 59 M.F. HUSAIN (b.1915 / Pandharpur, Maharashtra) Homage to C.V. Raman Series S/d in English t.l. Oil on canvas, 1987 113 x 221.5 cm (44.5 x 87.2 in) Rs. 2,500,000 – 2,750,000 US$ 55,550 – 61,100 GB£ 30,500 – 33,550 OSIANs S.I.R. ANALYSIS [1992–2003] Present Estimate 644.26 Previous Highs 3,926.91 [Ch.NY/19.09.02; Village Scenes] 3,846.45 [Ch.NY/17.09.03; Farmer] 3,242.9 [Ch.NY/17.09.03; Bulls] Previous Average for Works on canvas 458.47 Auction Average 289.84 Opinion No other artist compares with Husain vis-a-vis the scale of sales and the sheer signature value of his work. Virtually single- handedly he has kept the flag flying, taking on self-promotion responsibilities because the infrastructure failed him, not keeping up with his creative energies. Yet the number of works created, has naturally led to a relative fall in his prices, though the total value of expenditure on ‘Husain as an artist’ far exceeds that of any other Indian contemporary artist.