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

35 MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY III 6 RAO BAHADuR M.V. DHuRANDHAR (1867-1944 / b. Kolhapur, Maharashtra) Portrait of a Parsee Priest S/d in English l.r. Charcoal on paper, 1940 57.5 x 35.8 cm (22.6 x 14.1 in) Slight tear in l.r. corner with minor creasing in the lower section of the work Rs. 275,000 – 350,000 US$ 6,700 – 7,200 GB£ 3,350 – 3,950 RAJA RAVI VARMA The Begum’s Bath Oil on canvas PESTONJI BOMANJI Still Life with Fruit Oil on canvas M.F. PITHAWALLA Portrait of Lawyer Oil on canvas OSIANs S.I.R. ANALYSIS Present Estimate 862.99 Previous High 1,840.64 [So.Lon/17.06.99] Previous Average 757.41 (for works on paper) Auction Average 289.84 Opinion Lot 6 represents probably the finest portrait to come up for public sale by M.V. Dhurandhar. The artist has still not received his due, given his historical significance. One reason for this neglect has been that very few of the high quality works by the artist have come up for public sale. Instead we have seen a surfeit of the small watercolours on paper which were mere studies, rather than complete major works of art. This situation will change in the very near future, as a major collection of one of his royal patrons will reach the market.