An Indian National Art Treasure is Up for Sale

Raja Ravi Verma's portrait of Maharaja Serfoji II of Tanjore - a certified national art treasure - is up for auction in Delhi on November 30.

The detailed portrait, done in the Tanjore style with the precious reddish-brown 'gomed' stones is, according to auction house Bid & Hammer, perhaps the only one of its kind in Verma's portfolio and estimated to fetch between Rs 1.35 crore to Rs 1.75 crore.

This portrait of Maharaja Serfoji II is from the private collection of a leading Chennai-based industrialist, whose family has had close connections with Travencore and Cochin's royal family since the 1920s. Verma's painting was probably presented by the royal family in the 1950s in appreciation for services rendered.


Raja Ravi Verma's portrait along with FN Souza's Picasso-esque Mary Magdalene (estimated price: Rs 1.1 crore to Rs 1.35 crore) and Nicholas Roerich's stark Monk in the Himalayas (estimated price: Rs 1.25 crore to Rs 1.50 crore) are highlights of Bid & Hammer's 'Significant Indian Paintings' auction - the preview of which starts today.


Maher Dadha, chairman and managing director of the Bangalore-based auction house said in a statement that the 'Significant Indian Paintings' sale has brought forth works of 'unsung heroes'of modern Indian art during its germination period.

So also look out for works by artists like Jamini Roy, Allah Bux, AH Muller and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

The auction will be held at Delhi's ITC Sheraton Hotel, but bids will aslo be accepted via telephone or online from across the country. For more details, check Bid & Hammer's website.