In its upcoming Historic Masterpieces auction, scheduled for December 14-17, 2025 AstaGuru will unveil a remarkable selection of works by India’s most acclaimed modernists. The auction brings together important works by artists who profoundly shaped the trajectory of modern Indian art. Highlights include an exceptional canvas from Tyeb Mehta’s highly transformative period, exquisite M. V. Dhurandhar watercolours, evocative creations by Bengal School luminaries such as Jamini Roy and Asit Haldar, and significant pieces by members of the Progressive Artists’ Group, including F. N. Souza, K. H. Ara, Sadanand Bakre, Krishen Khanna, and K. K. Hebbar, among others.
AstaGuru on the Vision Behind ‘Historic Masterpieces’
Talking about the upcoming auction Manoj Mansukhani: Director – Marketing, said:
“With the ‘Historic Masterpieces’ auction, we are delighted to present one of the most thoughtfully curated selections in recent years, bringing together works that define the very foundations of modern Indian art. This auction not only showcases rare creations by India’s most influential masters but also traces the evolution of artistic thought across an entire century, from early Bengal School pioneers to the radical innovations of the Progressive Artists’ Group and beyond. Each work in this catalogue embodies a moment of artistic breakthrough or cultural exchange, offering collectors the opportunity to engage with pieces of genuine historical importance. For us at AstaGuru, this edition stands as a celebration of the depth, diversity, and global significance of India’s artistic legacy.”
Further Highlights from Celebrated Masters
Also featured are works by celebrated masters such as N. S. Bendre, Jehangir Sabavala, and Manjit Bawa, and Ganesh Pyne, further enriching the diversity and depth of the curation.
Historic Masterpieces auction offers a compelling journey through the evolution of modern Indian art across the 20th century, presenting seasoned collectors with an exceptional opportunity to acquire rare and significant works.
Tyeb Mehta’s 1977 Masterpiece Leads the Catalogue
Adorning the catalogue cover, lot no. 21, is an exceptional canvas from Tyeb Mehta’s highly transformative period. Executed in 1977, Created in 1977, this striking work demonstrates Mehta’s complete command. The protagonist, rendered in warm, saturated tones that contrast sharply with the cool planar background, appears suspended between composure and shock, her limbs gently unravelled by the slashing black bar that anchors the composition. This lot is expected to sell at INR 30,00,00,000 – 40,00,00,000.
Manjit Bawa’s Poetic and Formative Works
The auction will also offer two stunning canvases by Manjit Bawa. Lot no. 27, titled ‘Flying’ showcases Manjit Bawa’s fascinating artistic evolution, but more importantly is firmly attributed with his formative style. This work is estimated to sell at INR 3,00,00,000 – 5,00,00,000. Another work by him, lot no. 65, exemplifies Manjit Bawa’s poetic engagement with the human figure. This lot is estimated to sell at INR 2,00,00,000 – 3,00,00,000.
Xu Beihong and a Historic Santiniketan Connection
Lot no. 2 is a set of two sketches and a calligraphic work by Xu Beihong, who is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the formation of modern Chinese art. His visit to Santiniketan in 1939–40, at Rabindranath Tagore’s invitation, became one of the most significant cultural exchanges of modern Asia. This lot is estimated to sell at INR 25,00,000 – 35,00,000.
Somnath Hore’s Sculptural Meditation on the Human Condition
Lot no. 7 is a Somnath Hore’s sculptural work reveals a quiet yet searing distillation of his lifelong engagement with the human condition. It is estimated to sell at 1,00,00,000 – 1,50,00,000.
K. K. Hebbar’s Spiritual and Political Reflections
Two important works by K K Hebbar is also part of the auction. Lot no. 11 depicts lord Ganesha into a radiant, near-abstract presence, revealing his characteristic ability to merge spiritual iconography with modernist expression. This lot is expected to sell at INR 55,00,000 – 65,00,000. Another work by him, lot no. 48, emerges from a deeply reflective period in Hebbar’s practice. During the mid to late 1970s, he absorbed the turbulence of his times, dwelling on the psychological aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. This lot is offered with an estimate of INR 1,00,00,000 – 1,50,00,000.
Krishen Khanna and Souza: Expression and Architecture
Another important highlight of the auction is lot no. 40, a stunning rendition of Krishen Khanna’s biblical theme engagement with a work titled ‘The Last Supper.’ In this work, Krishen Khanna reinterprets one of the most iconic scenes in Western art through his distinct humanist and expressionist sensibility. This lot is estimated to sell at INR 2,00,00,000 – 3,00,00,000. Lot no. 47, is an iconic Souza landscape. It reflects a late-period return to architectural themes, reimagined through the sharper graphic language that characterised his 1990s style. This work is estimated to sell at INR 1,00,00,000 – 1,50,00,000.
M. F. Husain’s ‘Mother Teresa’ Series
Another important offering in the auction is lot no. 49, a work from M F Husain’s famed Mother Teresa Series. Husain orchestrates a tableau of movement where Mother Teresa’s presence becomes an anchoring force around which the surrounding figures, women carrying water pots, children in playful motion, circle like fragments of a larger human narrative.
Jehangir Sabavala’s ‘Conspirators’
Lot no. 87, titled ‘Conspirators’ is an important creation by artist Jehangir Sabavala. Painted in 1992, the work is one of the most evocative articulations of this period, a tableau where the monumental and the intimate converge, and where Sabavala’s lifelong quest for quiet drama finds one of its most compelling expressions. It is estimated to sell at INR 4,00,00,000 – 6,00,00,000.
Auction Overview
| Aspects | Detail |
|---|---|
| Auction Dates | December 14–17, 2025 |
| Leading Lot | Tyeb Mehta’s 1977 canvas (Lot no. 21) |
| Estimated Sale Price for Tyeb Mehta Lot | INR 30,00,00,000 – 40,00,00,000 |
| Featured Groups/Schools | Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG), Bengal School, Post-Independence Modernism |
| Cross-Cultural Significance | Works by the Modern Chinese master Xu Beihong |
| Curator’s Vision | Traces the evolution of artistic thought across an entire century of Modern Indian Art |
| Notable Artists | Tyeb Mehta, Manjit Bawa, F. N. Souza, Krishen Khanna, K. K. Hebbar, M. F. Husain, Jehangir Sabavala |
| Thematic Focus | Human condition, spirituality, war, myth, modern identity |
Key Highlights
- Tyeb Mehta’s 1977 masterpiece leads the catalogue with a record-breaking estimate
- Rare Xu Beihong works reflecting historic India–China artistic exchanges
- Strong representation of the Progressive Artists’ Group
- Significant works by Manjit Bawa from his formative and mature phases
- Krishen Khanna’s powerful reinterpretation of ‘The Last Supper.’
- Sabavala’s ‘Conspirators’ as a major late-20th-century modernist statement
- Sculptural depth through Somnath Hore’s emotionally charged work
- Spiritual-modern synthesis in K. K. Hebbar’s Ganesha artwork
- M. F. Husain’s iconic Mother Teresa series is represented in a major lot
Takeaway
This historic Masterpieces Auction 2025 is a cultural milestone that celebrates India’s modern artistic narrative. The inclusion of a plethora of artists with such meticulous curation is a phenomenal compliment for market validation. The presence of Tyeb Mehta, Souza, Husain, and Sabavala alongside Bengal School pioneers and Asian modernists like Xu Beihong transforms this auction into a living archive of India’s turbulent, visionary 20th century. It is a meticulously documented exhibit describing Indian art as a global culture. In many ways, this edition of Historic Masterpieces cements legacies.
