Over 40 iconic Modern Indian artworks raked in approximately Rs 50 crores at a charity auction, conducted by Delhi Art Gallery here recently.
The sale included 70 lots by masters like Jamini Roy, M F Husain, S H Raza and F N Souza, sourced from DAG's enormous collection of 34,000 artworks.
The auction 'Smiles' hosted by British High Commissioner Sir James and Lady Bevan at their residence here on April 11, aims to benefit the foundation's cause of working for the upliftment of poor and destitute communities across the country.
Husain's "Mother Teresa" sold for Rs 1.6 crore against a pre-sale estimate of Rs 1.2 crore - 1.8 crore and was the highest selling artwork in the sale which sold 40 lots more than 50 per cent of the total lots offered, the auctioneers said in a statement today.
M S Joshi's "Varanasi", which sold for Rs 7 lakhs against a pre-sale estimate of Rs 3 lakhs was another highlight.
The Top 5 lots of sale included Akbar Padamsee, Bikash Bhattacharjee, L N Taskar and Laxma Goud.
"The Delhi Art Gallery auction proved that art collectors have a generous heart. And we are delighted that the pick of masters that found new homes became the reason for Khushii's charity being able to provide empowerment for women and education for disadvantaged children," Ashish Anand, Director, Delhi Art Gallery said.
The NGO is an initiative of a group of philanthropists headed by former cricketer Kapil Dev.
