The auction Historic Masterpieces by AstaGuru proposes in 2025 an itinerary through a century of modern Indian art, between museum masterpieces and rare unpublished collectibles.
How the curatorial project of Historic Masterpieces was born
In the catalog of the upcoming auction Historic Masterpieces, scheduled from December 14 to 17, 2025, AstaGuru brings together works by some of the major protagonists of modern art from the subcontinent.
Alongside the canvases from the most innovative period of Tyeb Mehta appear refined watercolors by M. V. Dhurandhar, works by masters of the Bengal School like Jamini Roy and Asit Haldar, as well as important works by members of the Progressive Artists’ Group.
Among these stand out works by F. N. Souza, K. H. Ara, Sadanand Bakre, Krishen Khanna, and K. K. Hebbar, alongside works by other protagonists of the post-independence period. Furthermore, the collection builds a continuous narrative of the formal and conceptual transformations of 20th-century India.
What Asta Guru says about the vision of selling Indian art
Commenting on the auction, Manoj Mansukhani, Director – Marketing of AstaGuru, emphasizes the highly considered nature of the selection, defined as one of the most curated in recent years.
For Mansukhani, this edition not only presents rare creations by the most influential masters but also follows the evolution of artistic thought over a century, from the pioneers of the Bengal School to the radical tensions of the Progressive Artists’ Group.
Each lot is described as a threshold between stylistic turning points and cultural exchange, offering collectors access to works of actual historical relevance. Overall, for AstaGuru, the exhibition celebrates the depth, variety, and international scope of India’s visual heritage.
Which other masters enrich the catalog
In addition to the most well-known protagonists, the sale includes works by highly sought-after artists such as N. S. Bendre, Jehangir Sabavala, Manjit Bawa, and Ganesh Pyne, expanding stylistic and thematic registers.
Together, these names make the auction a dense synthesis of 20th-century modern Indian art. However, the structure remains readable, distributing the masterpieces by thematic and chronological nuclei, useful to both experienced collectors and new buyers.
Why does the 1977 painting by Tyeb Mehta lead the sale?
Opening the catalog, even visually, is lot no. 21: a canvas from 1977 by Tyeb Mehta, attributable to his most transformative phase, chosen as the cover of the sale.
The main figure, modeled in warm and saturated tones, stands out against a cold and segmented background, suspended between composure and shock. Additionally, a diagonal black bar crosses the body, breaking up the limbs and organizing the entire formal structure.
This work testifies to the full linguistic control achieved by the artist in those years. The painting is offered with an estimate between INR 30,00,00,000 and INR 40,00,00,000, among the highest of the session.
How does the auction enhance Manjit Bawa
Particular emphasis is given to Manjit Bawa, with two important paintings to be presented. Lot no. 27, titled Flying, is considered a key work for understanding his formative phase.
The canvas shows the evolution of his poetic vocabulary, linked to the suspension of figures and the calibrated use of color. This lot is estimated between INR 3,00,00,000 and INR 5,00,00,000, confirming the growing interest in his production.
Lot no. 65, on the other hand, expresses the artist’s lyrical dialogue with the human body, through essential volumes and rarefied fields. It is offered with an estimate between INR 2,00,00,000 and INR 3,00,00,000, in line with mature works from the same period.
What is the significance of the works of Xu Beihong and Somnath Hore
A particularly relevant nucleus in a transnational key is lot no. 2, which brings together two drawings and a calligraphic work by Xu Beihong, a central figure in defining modern Chinese art.
The presence of these sheets refers to the journey made by the artist to Santiniketan in 1939–40, at the invitation of Rabindranath Tagore, one of the most significant cultural exchanges in modern Asia. The lot is estimated between INR 25,00,000 and INR 35,00,000, consolidating the international character of the sale.
Of a different nature, but of equal intensity, is lot no. 7, a sculpture by Somnath Hore that concentrates his long reflection on the human condition in essential but emotionally incisive forms. That said, here too the material becomes memory and wound, with an estimate between INR 1,00,00,000 and INR 1,50,00,000.
How does K. K. Hebbar combine spirituality and history
Two significant lots are dedicated to K. K. Hebbar. Lot no. 11 reworks the iconography of Ganesha in an almost abstract and radiant presence, an example of his fusion between spirituality and modernist language.
The divine figure emerges through synthetic signs and chromatic vibrations, so much so that the image seems to oscillate between recognizability and pure formal energy. The work is offered with an estimate between INR 55,00,000 and INR 65,00,000, consistent with its relevance in the artist’s journey.
Lot no. 48 belongs instead to an introspective phase of the mid to late seventies, in which Hebbar absorbs the tensions of his time, reflecting on the psychological consequences of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. This canvas is valued between INR 1,00,00,000 and INR 1,50,00,000, testifying to the ethical strength of his work.
The role of Krishen Khanna and F. N. Souza in the catalog
Among the most anticipated moments is lot no. 40, a reinterpretation of the Last Supper by Krishen Khanna, in which the artist revisits a key scene of Western iconography through a humanist and expressionist register.
The composition centers on the relationship between the characters, focusing on gestures and gazes more than on the literal citation of the Renaissance model. This work is estimated between INR 2,00,00,000 and INR 3,00,00,000, in line with the importance of the subject in Khanna’s work.
Lot no. 47, on the other hand, presents an iconic landscape by F. N. Souza, linked to his last period. Here the artist returns to architectural themes, filtering them through the sharp graphic synthesis that characterizes his production of the nineties. Additionally, the work is accompanied by an estimate between INR 1,00,00,000 and INR 1,50,00,000, reflecting interest in this late phase.
How are M. F. Husain and Jehangir Sabavala presented
Another highlight is lot no. 49, belonging to the famous series dedicated by M. F. Husain to Mother Teresa. In this large painting, the figure of the nun serves as a symbolic fulcrum for an animated scene.
Around her presence gravitate women with water-filled jars and children in motion, constructing a choral narrative of care and solidarity. Compared to other series by Husain, this one explores the ethical dimension of the gesture with particular intensity, while maintaining the typical dynamism of his painting.
The symbolic closure of the catalog is lot no. 87, titled Conspirators by Jehangir Sabavala, dated 1992. The work is described as one of the most intense formulations of that period, where monumentality and intimacy meet in a suspended balance.
The scene appears as a silent theater, where narrative tensions and geometric construction coexist. Additionally, the work is offered with an estimate between INR 4,00,00,000 and INR 6,00,00,000, placing it among the peaks of Sabavala’s late production.
What is the overall structure of the Historic Masterpieces Indian art auction
The project covers the entire span of the 20th century in India, from the Bengal School to post-independence, including the Progressive Artists’ Group and subsequent languages. Additionally, it integrates an important chapter of Asia-Asia exchanges thanks to the presence of Xu Beihong.
| Aspects | Details |
| Dates | December 14–17, 2025 |
| Leading lot | 1977 painting by Tyeb Mehta (lot no. 21) |
| Leading lot estimate | INR 30,00,00,000 – 40,00,00,000 |
| Present movements | Progressive Artists’ Group, Bengal School, post-independence modernism |
| Intercultural dimension | Works by modern Chinese master Xu Beihong |
| Curatorial vision | Traces a century of elaboration of modern Indian art |
| Key artists | Tyeb Mehta, Manjit Bawa, F. N. Souza, Krishen Khanna, K. K. Hebbar, M. F. Husain, Jehangir Sabavala |
| Themes | Human condition, spirituality, war, myth, modern identity |
Compared to other thematic sales, the structure functions as a true museum anthology of Indian modernity, translated into the language of the market. In this sense, the curatorship works as a bridge between historical narrative and collecting dynamics.
Why can this edition be considered a milestone?
The Historic Masterpieces auction 2025 is configured as a crucial passage in the public narrative of modern Indian art, thanks to the concentration of authors, periods, and languages.
The coexistence of figures like Tyeb Mehta, Souza, Husain, and Sabavala alongside the pioneers of the Bengal School and Asian masters such as Xu Beihong transforms the sale into a true living archive of the 20th century.
That said, the catalog of this Indian art auction does not just exhibit but rigorously documents a history made of traumas, utopias, and changing identities, returning Indian art as a fully recognized global culture.
Overall, this edition of Historic Masterpieces contributes to consolidating many of the present careers, also in terms of market validation.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
