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

42 OSIAN’S 11 UNKNOWN (AFTER AJANTA) Yashodhara Holding Flower, from Cave No.I Tempera and wash on paper pasted on canvas, c.1926 155.5 x 63.5 cm (61.2 x 25 in) Tears appearing in the t.c., t.r. and l.l. sections of the work with flaking of paint visible in the t.r., t.c. c.l. and l.l. sections of the painting. A scratch is visible in the c.l. section, across the figures right upper arm with another tear appearing in the t.c. portion, close to the figure’s forehead. Restoration work will be required on this very rare and brilliant copy of the Ajanta frescoes. Provenance Madho Thacker Family Collection, Mumbai Rs. 1,750,000 – 2,000,000 US$ 38,900 – 44,450 GB£ 21,350 – 24,400 “ In Cave I… the female figure which is on the right of the figure of Buddha presents the same simplicity and skill. The hand holding the flower is also designed with exquisite skill and elegance. The same is to be said of the other figures and details; they are executed in a keenly appreciative purity of style and form, coupled with a real aesthetic selection of colours true to nature; in fact the predominant features are the two colours blue and red beautifully harmonizing one with the other.” (Professor Lorenzo Cecconi, rpt. in Guide to Ajanta Frescoes . The Archaeological Department, H.E.H. The Nizam’s Government 1930; p.18.) “ Women are drawn in a great variety of positions, nude or so slightly clad that the shape is nowhere concealed…The draperies too, are thoroughly understood, and though the folds, may be somewhat conventionally drawn, they express most thoroughly the peculiarities of the Oriental treatment of unsewn cloth, which, without a single stitch, pin, clasp, button, or other fastening, furnishes the most graceful, convenient and comfortable garments known to mankind. Great pains are lavished on the correct rendering of the manifold fashions of hair-dressing. Sometimes it is frizzed in front with luxuriant ringlets, now unknown in feminine India. Or a chignon is tied at the back with a coronal of flowers over it, or large lotus blooms are arranged among its masses. Sometimes knots of hair are looped at the side of the head and adorned with flowers…” (John Griffiths, rpt. in Guide to Ajanta Frescoes . The Archaeological Department: H.E.H. The Nizam’s Government 1930; pp.6-7.)