Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sher-Gil’s Indian art ‘The Story Teller’ sets record

The 1937 artwork went for `618 million (£6m) in New Delhi last Saturday (16) at Saffronart's Evening Sale: Modern Art

Sher-Gil’s Indian art ‘The Story Teller’ sets record

AVANT-GARDE artist Amrita Sher-Gil’s oil on canvas The Story Teller has unseated Sayed Haider Raza’s Gestation as the most expensive work of Indian art sold at auction worldwide.

The 1937 artwork went for `618 million (£6m) in New Delhi last Saturday (16) at Saffronart’s Evening Sale: Modern Art. Featured in the auction were some 70 art pieces by eminent artists such as MF Husain, VS Gaitonde, Jamini Roy, and FN Souza.


Raza’s 1989 Gestation, also an oil-on-canvas painting, was sold in August for `517m (£5.02m) by Pundole’s auction house in Mumbai. At the time, it was the most expensive Indian artwork that was ever sold at auction.

“We are delighted to have set multiple artist records at our Evening Sale. Most significantly, the record price achieved by Amrita Sher-Gil’s The Story Teller is an important mile stone in the Indian art market and testament to the artist’s immense skill and enduring legacy as one of India’s art treasures,” said Dinesh Vazirani, CEO and co-founder of Saffronart.

The Story Teller, said to be among the 12 works Sher-Gil considered her most important works, is widely seen as an example of the artist’s most honest and expressive compositions. It was first exhibited at her successful solo exhibition at Faletti’s Hotel, Lahore, in November 1937.

Sher-Gil’s other well-known portraits of women include Three Girls, Women on the Charpai, Hill Women, and Young Girls. Born to an Indian father and Hungarian mother on January 30, 1913, in Budapest, Hungary, Sher-Gil came to be known as one of the greatest avant-garde women artists for her oeuvre.

From the early age of five, she immersed herself in drawing and painting with watercolours. Her early works consisted of vibrant illustrations of Hungarian fairy tales.

In 1921, her family moved to India and settled in the northern town of Shimla. Sher-Gil died at the young age of 28 in 1941, and in 1976, she was declared one of India’s nine ‘National Art Treasure’ artists by the Archaeo logical Survey of India.

Besides Sher-Gil, the auction smashed a few other records as well. Renowned painter and art educator KK Hebbar’s 1959 untitled work, sold for `26.4m (£256,593) – more than seven times its estimate – set a record for the highest price achieved by the artist globally.

Raza’s monumental work Earth fetched `192m (£1.86m), early expressionist Tyeb Mehta’s Red Figure sold for `90m (£874,731) and Souza’s Caribbean Palm for `45.6m (£443.155).

More For You

Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Wider reshuffle includes changes in Starmer’s private office and communications.
  • Appointment comes ahead of a budget expected to include further tax rises.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi putin

Before their formal meeting, Putin offered Modi a ride in his Aurus limousine.

X/@narendramodi

Six key takeaways from the SCO summit

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Modi pressed for ending the Ukraine conflict at the earliest, reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia, and discussed trade and border issues with Xi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afghanistan earthquake

Afghan volunteers and Taliban security personnel carry an earthquake victim evacuated by a military helicopter from the Nurgal district of Kunar province onn September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 800, thousands injured

A MAJOR rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan on Monday after a powerful earthquake and several aftershocks destroyed homes in a remote mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, according to Taliban authorities.

The quake struck just before midnight and was felt as far as Kabul and in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ganpati festival

The Ganpati festival celebrates Ganesha as the god of new beginnings, and the god of wisdom and intelligence. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Hindu community centre in London damaged in fire after Ganapati Visarjan event

A HINDU community centre in east London caught fire on Saturday evening, causing major damage to the building. The London Fire Brigade brought the fire under control and confirmed that no injuries were reported.

The incident took place at the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre on Cleveland Road in Ilford, which had been decorated for a Ganapati Visarjan event attended by members of the Hindu community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi ,Xi & Putin

Narendra Modi talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

SCO declaration slams Pahalgam attack, calls for united action on terror

Highlights:

  • SCO condemns terror attack in Pahalgam and echoes India’s stance on “double standards”.
  • Leaders call for justice for perpetrators of attacks in Pahalgam and Balochistan.
  • Declaration criticises Israeli military strikes in Gaza causing civilian casualties.
  • SCO stresses UN’s central role in global counter-terrorism strategy.

THE SHANGHAI Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and agreed with India’s position that “double standards” in tackling terrorism are not acceptable.

Keep ReadingShow less