Originals
Untitled
A.M. Mali
Medium: Watercolour on Paper
Size: 6 7/8 x 9 3/4
Date: 1915 A. M. Mali Mali had trained under renowned court artist Abalal Rahiman. Thereafter, initially he worked at the Chitrashala Press Poona, which brought him acclaim and patronage. He was a contemporary of M. V. Dhurandhar and Raja Ravi Varma. Impressed by his talent and versatility as an artist, Mali was employed as an assistant to Ravi Varma at the ‘Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Works’. Amongst his jobs was that of breaking down the colours in the ‘flat bed’ printing process. Mali opened his own art space - Gurudas Studio. He also did illustrations for the famous writer of mythology and epics Kanhayalal M. Munshi. Mali was a versatile artist and worked in almost all genres, ranging from mythological scenes, still-life, portraits, to landscapes. His paintings are in various museums and private collections. Mali’s works have featured in auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s.Price on Request
Untitled
Balkrishna Dattatreya Shirgaonkar
Medium: Oil on Canvas
(Portrait of a lady)
Size: 22 n x 16 n Shirgaonkar, encouraged by his father, started painting from a very early age. His family hailed from Kasaba Tarle, a place near Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Renowned artist Abalall Rahiman was the inspirational force behind Shirgaonkar dedicating his life to art. He joined J. J. School of Arts, where later he took arts class as faculty and eventually headed the Department of Painting. Shirgaonkar extensively traveled across USA and Europe which broadened his horizons as an artist and improved his artistic style. Shirgaonkar was a master at portraiture and was equally deft across other genres. Through his body of works, he leaves a message of importance of dedication and constant self improvement that an artist must constantly thrive to achieve. His works are in private collections in India and abroad.Price on Request
Untitled
P.A. Dhond
(1908 - 2001)
Medium: Watercolour on Paper
Size: 15 n x 22n Dhond was born at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra on November 11, 1908. Dhond took his primary and secondary education in Malvan. He moved to Mumbai for his matriculation and joined Sir J.J. School of Art in 1930 and completed a Diploma in 1934. He became Dean of Sir J. J. School of Art in 1958. ⠀ Dhond did over 7,000 landscapes spanned over seven decades. The prolific artist held several solo shows at Santiniketan (1949), Jehangir Art Gallery (1971, '73, '98), Artists Centre (1991) and Goa kala Academy (1996). ⠀ ⠀ Initially, he was into portraits, but soon switched to landscapes in watercolour after the water colors of Russel Flint whose oeuvre consisted wholly of seascapes, also greatly influenced him. He stuck to the same medium after taking advice of renowned art critic Rusi Von Lyden. Dhond devoted his life to water colors that he mastered as a medium. ⠀ The pristine seascape of the Konkan belt inspired him greatly. Picturesque settings of Konkan and Goa - waves, boats, fishermen and coconut palms - were ideal settings for him. Famous artists like B. Prabha, Dattatray Padekar and Prafulla Dahanukar were students under his tutelage. Dhond also served as the Director of Art for Maharashtra. ⠀ ⠀ One of India's oldest surviving contemporary painters, Pralhad Anant Dhond, longed to express till his last breath, therefore at the age of 92, he visited the Kerala backwaters to capture some beautiful images. He came to be known as one of India's celebrated landscape painters. He often said: "I feel like a child at my heart for whom this world is a novelty”⠀Price on Request
Taj Mahal
S.L. Haldankar
Medium: Watercolour on Paper
Size: 13 1/2 n x 18 1/2 S. L. Haldankar (Kalamaharshi) showed a keen interest in art since his childhood. He enrolled himself in the Sir J. J. School of Art to pursue his dreams. 1907 onwards he started participating in open exhibitions and competitions and won innumerable medals and prizes. Glow of Hope, alternately titled "Woman with the Lamp" is a painting, a watercolor masterpiece by S.L. Haldankar. It is now housed in the Jaychama Rajendra Art Gallery at the Jaganmohan Palace in Mysuru, Karnataka. It is one of the most prized possessions as well as a major attraction at the gallery. He sent his paintings to UK and won two of the total four of the Commendation Certificates at an annual exhibition organized by The Royal British Society of Art, London. In 1953/54 a portrait painted by him titled, "Swatmanand” was acquired by Academy of Art, Moscow, USSR for their collection. An Italian art critic considered him to be one of the three top water colourists in the world. He founded The Haldankar's Fine Art Institute, in 1908. Along with some artist friends, he also established The Art Society of India in 1918 and was the President for several years. On Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's request he painted a life sized portrait of Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya for the Parliament House. In 1962, Fellowship was bestowed upon him by the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. Dr. Rajendra Prasad felicitated him in 1964 and awarded him the title of "Kalamaharshi".Price on Request
