Page 283 - AstaGuru Masters Legacy April 2024

Husain & The Patels

The family shared a close bond with the iconic artist
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The presented lot is originally from the collection of Baishi. Baishi’s work too depicted horses with minimal
Rajni Patel, who shared a close bond with Maqbool lines yet immense movement and served as inspiration.
Fida Husain. The artist also shared a rapport with Asha Other influences include European artists Franz Marc
and Amit Patel. The lot is an important work that shows and Marino Marini and icons of ancient Greek civilization
Husain’s prowess and fascination with horses. like the Trojan horse and Bucephalus. He intended the
powerful depiction of the horse to signify grace and
Even as a young boy M F Husain was enamored by horses, freedom. The artist stated “My horses like lightning, cut
first realising his fascination for them while witnessing across many horizons. Seldom their hooves are shown.
the tazias taken out during Muharram processions. He They hop around the spaces. From the battlefield of
was often seen drawing several horse forms in chalk “Karbala” to Baukura terracota, from the Chinese Tse pei
or coal on his school’s walls and notebooks. Later on Hung horse to St. Marco horse, from ornate armoured
in life, the artist travelled to China where he was able “Duldul” to challenging white of “Ashwamedh”... the
to study Song dynasty horse pottery and meet artist Qi cavalcade of my horses is multidimensional”.