Page 21 - Historic-Masterpieces-Dec24

Dhanraj Bhagat’s

Iconic Sculptures

Renowned works by the artist
sold in past auctions

DUAL PERSONALITY
54 x 30.3 x 18 in (54 x 30.3 x 18 cm)
Reinforced concrete, 1953

SHIVA’S DANCE
82.6 x 39.7 x 19.6 in (210 x 101 x 50 cm)
Mild steel, 1996

CHILDREN WITH PUPPIES
With base: 13.5 x 25 x 4 in (34.3 x 63.5 x 10.2 cm) | Wood
PRESENTED LOT

Dhanraj Bhagat, a trailblazing modernist sculptor, member and later as the esteemed Head of the
earned renown for his innovative figurative Department of Sculpture.
compositions, marked by distorted and elongated
forms. He is celebrated as one of the first Indian Bhagat’s early works focused on realistic depictions
artists to break free from the constraints of academic of rural life and landscapes in painting. However,
realism. In 1949, Bhagat co-founded the Delhi Silpi as his artistic journey progressed, he developed a
Chakra alongside Kanwal Krishna, B C Sanyal, P N distinctive style, characterised by the use of diverse
Mago, and K S Kulkarni, contributing significantly to materials and geometric forms. Starting with clay,
the development of modern Indian art. he later transitioned to wood, creating notable works
such as the Monarch series (1966). His experiments
Born in Lahore in 1917, Bhagat studied sculpture at encompassed materials such as cement, plaster
the Mayo College of Art, Lahore. Over a distinguished of Paris, iron filings, papier-mâché, wood, wax, VEENA PLAYER UNTITLED
career spanning three decades (1947–1977), he aluminium, copper, brass, and steel, reflecting his 24 x 12 x 7 in (61 x 30.5 x 17.8 cm) 36 x 23.4 x 1 in (91.4 x 59.5 x 2.5 cm)
served at the Delhi Polytechnic, initially as a faculty innovative spirit. Aluminium Fibreglass, C. 1970