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

157 MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY III 73 J. SULTAN ALI (1920-90 / b. Bombay, Maharashtra) Tribal Myth S/d in English and Signed in Devanagiri l.r. & inscribed on verso Oil on canvas, 1967 92.5 x 83.1 cm (36.4 x 32.7 in) Rs. 400,000 – 500,000 US$ 8,900 – 11,100 GB£ 4,900 – 8,950 OSIANs S.I.R. ANALYSIS [1992–2003] Present Estimate 336.06 Previous High 465.73 [Os.Mum/05.12.02] Previous Average 120.38 Auction Average 289.84 Opinion Once again a highly under-rated artist despite the critical acclaim received over the years and the unique imagery and originality of his art and aesthetics. “ My source of inspiration has been Indian folk, tribal and primitive art… I feel these art forms have immense spontaneity. Forms created in my paintings are entirely my own… Human figure symbols, birds, snakes, sun and moon, masks, floral patterns, geometrical patterns … all visual forms are woven into a pattern. In totality the works are modern and universal in approach and yet…The painting depicts the village diety in rural surroundings with tribals worshipping it. Surrounding her are animals, birds and a child, depicting the daily lives and needs of the village folks.” (J. Sultan Ali, rpt. in The Indian Express , 20 December 1975.) Village Scene Gouache on paper, late 1950s Untitled Pen & ink on paper, 1974 Nirantar Series Oil on canvas, 1981 Pramannu Darshan Series Opaque Watercolour on paper, 1980 Yanadhi Katha Oil on canvas, 1986