Osian's Auction Catalogue The Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series | October 2004

THE MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY SERIES 29 ‘The paintings of A.X. Trindade exemplify the exceptional draftsmanship and handling of paint as well as the skillfully executed composition that earned him a place of honour in the history of early 20th century Indian art. His artistic style reflects the European preference, disseminated through the British instructors at the Sir J.J. School of Art and his own Western orientation as a Goan Catholic. Beyond the attainment of technique, Trindade imbued 5 Antonio Xavier TRINDADE [1870-1935/ b . Goa] Christ Series Signed in English, l.l. Oil on canvas, 1920-1 54.5 x 43.5 cm (21.5 x 17.1 in) Rs. 500,000 – 600,000 $ 10,800 – 12,950 £ 5,925 – 7,100 ‘Among Indian portrait painters, Antonio Xavier Trindade was the one with a distinctly classical approach. His Roman Catholic upbringing in Portuguese Goa greatly influenced both his technique and subject matter… In addition to perceptive oil portraits of well-known figures of his time, Trindade’s ouvre also included several intimate domestic scenes featuring his family, servants and itinerant medicants. The depth of psychological perception and purity of tones found in his oil paintings prompted one contemporary writer to dub him the “Rembrandt of the East” although the eloquence of his chiaroscuro technique is perhaps more reminiscent of the Spanish painters Velasquez and Goya. Because of his religious background, Trindade was perhaps unique among his compatriots for his penetrating versions of Christian themes.’ – Bradley L. Tindall, rpt. in Antonio Xavier Trindade: An Indian Painter From Portuguese Goa. Georgia (USA): Georgia Museum of Art 1996; p13. his portraits and his landscapes with a sense of personality, of ethnic identity and of an era.’ – Marcella Sirhandi, rpt. in Antonio Xavier Trinidade: An Indian Painter From Portuguese Goa Georgia (USA): Georgia Museum of Art 1996; pp18-9.