Artist Amrita Sher-Gil's rare portrait of her husband Victor Egan was sold at an exorbitant price of ₹ 10.86 crore (approx) at AstaGuru's recent "Modern Indian Art" online sale. The artwork was purchased by renowned art collector Manoj Israni. Reports say was an "impressive bidding" and the highest price achieved in the sale.
The portrait showed Egan, a Hungarian army doctor in his uniform. Since this painting was personal to Sher-Gil, the auction reportedly had more buyer interest. As the portrait had emotional sentiments attached to it, the auction saw a big price. The auction house said, "They shared a spiritual bond, which inspired her to capture his presence in glory".
In 1939, the couple decided to shift base from Hungary to India. The painting was created as a parting gift to Sher-Gil’s husband's family. The couple then moved to Lahore in 1941.
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According to the auction out, the Amrita Sher-Gil painting showcases reflects on Sher-Gil's proficiency as a portrait artist. The magnificent artwork expands up to a total of 23.5 feet and comprises of four canvases.