Osian's Auction Catalogue ABC Series III | March 2007

ABC Series III 13 4 M.F. PITHAWALLA (1872–1937) Portrait S/d in English ‘M.F. Pithawalla 1925’ l.r. Inscribed in English ‘Born: 11th Nov 1903 Died: 3rd Dec 1924’ l.l. Oil on card, 1925 23.0 x 16.7 in (58.5 x 42.5 cm) INR 800,000 – 1,000,000 USD 18,050 – 22,550 ‘M.F. Pithawala was one of the greatest portrait painters of modern Indian art. Sir Jamshedji Jijibhai, a foremost philantropist & industrialist of his time, gifted funds to set up the Sir J.J. School of Art. His intention was that: “Under proper guidance, the people of India would attain a degree of prociency in painting and sculpture which would lead to an extended taste for such objects…[and] would enable India once more to take up an advanced position among manufacturing countries of the world.”’ (From J. Jijibhai’s letter to the Governor of Bombay [dt. 9.5.1853) – Partha Mitter rpt. in Art and Nationalism in Colonial India 1850-1922: Occidental Orientations ,1994. p387.