Maqbool Fida Husain

Acquired from Raisa Husain, 2001

P. Bhaggeria and P. Malhotra, Elite Collectors of Modern and Contemporary Indian Art, Elite Media Pvt Ltd., New Delhi, 2008, cover (detail) and illustration p. 96 

A founding member of the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group, Maqbool Fida Husain gained international recognition for his depictions of India’s religious and cultural diversity. Throughout his oeuvre, he adapted the stories and characters of Hindu mythology to celebrate and commemorate the gods and goddesses universally known in the country, and created a recognizable visual language synonymous with Indian modern art.

In the present lot, Laxmi’s hands are fashioned in two important mudras. Her left hand is in the form of the abhayamudra, a gesture of fearlessness that provides divine protection and peace, while her right hand is in the form of varadamudra which is associated with the granting of boons, in this case golden coins. As goddess of wealth and good fortune, Laxmi is adorned with jewels whilst an elephant decorates her with a garland. Another white-headed elephant emerges from her left side and a jewelry box displays a bounty of gold and gemstones. The sun, a popular motif in the painter's work, is rendered in a luminous gold color. The bright tones and religious iconography are quintessentially Husain and pay homage to his Indian heritage.