Maqbool Fida Husain

Acquired directly from the artist by Ramola Bachchan

Osian's Mumbai, 2 December 2005, lot 40

Minor wear is present along the edges. Minor accretions are visible across the surface which appear inherent. A small yellow stain is noticeable on the neck of the first horse upon close inspection, along with two brown spots along the left edge of the work. This painting is in good original condition overall but would benefit from a clean. UV Light: Drips of what appears to be varnish fluoresce under UV light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

So fascinated was Husain by the horse, that the the subject remained a leitmotif throughout his storied artistic career and appeared frequently in his paintings. Husain believed that horses were symbols of raw energy and power. "The horses are rampant or galloping; the manes, the fury, the working buttocks, the prancing legs, and the strong neighing heads with dilated nostrils are blocks of colour which are vivid or tactile or are propelled in their significant progression by strokes of the brush or sweeps of the palette knife. The activity depicted is transformed in the activity of paint". (E. Alkazi, M. F. Husain: The Modern Artist and Tradition, New Delhi, 1978, p. 3).

In the present work, an exposition of animalistic beauty and power, three horses, majestic and playful, are shown galloping across open plains, their elegant strides displaying immense power, a testament to Husain’s ability to depict a sense of movement through his lines. Husain has said, “Art has to evolve from your very being, like my horses…I see them as ageless and immortal. They draw chariots, in the great epics, they stand proudly in the poorest stables, they are embodiments of strength like the dragons of China”. (M. F. Husain with Khalid Mohammed, Where Art Thou, Mumbai, 2002, p. xxii).