Page 231 - Iconic Masters October2023

Lot No. 190
JEHANGIR SABAVALA
1922-2011

THE SKY LIKE A FURNACE BURNING
34 x 36 in (86.3 x 91.4 cm)
Oil on canvas
1968
Signed & Dated: Bottom Left

` 3,50,00,000 - 4,50,00,000 | $ 411,765 - 529,412
Provenance: Property from the collection of Homi Adajania.
Artwork was acquired by the family directly from the artist.

Jehangir Sabavala was born in the year 1922 in or in the shadows. Later, the human form disappeared
Bombay. He enrolled at the Sir J.J. School of Arts and entirely from his narrative and he would simply depict
received his diploma in the year 1944. Thereafter, he landscapes of areas prior to their discovery by man.
pursued further education in some of the most reputed The large swathes of land seemed to have not yet
colleges in Europe such as Heatherley School of Art in been visited by its inhabitants, but at the same time did
London, Academie Andre Lhote, Academie Julian and not seem to be affected by their lack of habitation.
Academic de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris.
As seen in the presented lot, he had an inherent skill for
His art is defined by its calm and refined nature. His early creating masterful cubic compositions, not only with his
works saw human figures that were rendered to seem brushstrokes but also using the interplay of light and
miniscule, overshadowed by the larger image and its shadow. He preferred to use veiled light and middle
stillness. Jehangir Sabavala’s art traversed various tones as opposed to executing loud imagery. There is
realms and terrains in order to capture the fragmented an intricate depth in his landscape works - while the
outer reality. The human figure has seldom been of land may seem barren and desolate, his utilisation of
primary focus in his works, often illustrated as veiled texture and depth lends them peace and tranquillity.