Osian's Auction Catalogue The Osianama Series |February 2013

57 1927-28 25 George Keyt 17 April 1901 – 14 June1992 Panteru Dancers Series Gouache on paper, 1927-28 16.8 x 13.9 in (42.6 x 35.2 cm) Provenance The Private Collection of Neville Tuli; acquired from Sotheby’s (New York), Lot 183, 25 September 2005 ` 500,000 – 1,000,000 US$ 9,090 – 18,180 GBP 6,250 – 12,500 24 George Keyt 17 April 1901 – 14 June1992 Panteru Dancers Series Gouache on paper, 1927-28 14.8 x 10.8 in (37.5 x 27.5 cm) Provenance The Private Collection of Neville Tuli; acquired from Sotheby’s (New York), Lot 183, 25 September 2005 ` 500,000 – 1,000,000 US$ 9,090 – 18,180 GBP 6,250 – 12,500 Illustrative Reference Please refer to Russell, Martin. George Keyt . Bombay: Marg 1950. Illustrations from the Panteru Dancers Series (oil on canvas; Plate2) works for which counterpart studies were executed on paper as in Lots 24 and 25. “Keyt’s early paintings, done in the period from 1927 to 1929, sometimes show the direct influence of (C.F.) Winzer in their treatment of the figure; Plates 1, 2 and 12 will illustrate this point. These paintings are characterized by the assimilation of Winzer’s conception of the gracelessness of Sigiriya with the use of the calligraphic line and the acceptance of a high degree of European naturalism. The first of these ideas - the recovery of an ancient grace - was somewhat artificial, for although such grace does exist among the people of Ceylon, and can be seen by the observant, the grace depicted by Winzer was the grace of the men rather than that of the women, and was not therefore truly based on Sigiriya.” Refer to Russell.1950; p.40. These paintings represent the earliest period for the artist from when he began to dedicate all his energies to painting with the encouragement of his foremost patron, friend and supporter, Lionel Wendt.