It is not the first time that an Indian masterpiece has broken records at an auction. The latest Indian creation to have made headlines and the broken record is a masterpiece by Indian artist Bagta. Sold at Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art auction held by Bonhams, this artwork stunned one and all when it exceeded six times its high estimate price of $50,000 and fetched a cool $3,203,225 when the hammer went down for the third time.
The previously unrecorded work by the Indian artist and the cover lot of the sale is a portrait of the imposing figure of Rawat Gokal Das celebrating ‘Holi with his consorts. It was consigned by a collector who bought the piece nearly two decades ago for a mere $125. Dated 1808 and measuring 16 x 22 inches, this work is a class apart. The masterpiece sold at the auction is one of the rare representations of the artist’s large-scale creations. Given that it fetched six times its estimated sum, I am sure the bidding battle to acquire this piece must have been an exciting one.
[Artdaily]