Akbar era miniature sells for ₹119.49 crore

A miniature depicting a family of cheetahs relaxing on a patch of luxuriant grass in a rocky landscape, attributed to one of Akbar's favourite artists, Basawan, has set the record for the most expensive classical Indian art at Christie's London auction on October 28.

- PTI

Sold for GBP 10,245,000 (approximately Rs 119.49 crore) at Christie's auction of "Exceptional Paintings from The Personal Collection of Prince & Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan", the painting, titled "A Family of Cheetahs in a Rocky Landscape” circa 1575-80, sold for 14 times over its estimate.

The “highly important work" in the history of early Mughal art, sold close to M F Husain's 1954 Untitled (Gram Yatra), that became the most expensive Indian painting after selling for USD 13.75 million(Rs 118 crores) at a Christie's New York auction in March. According to the lot essay, this study of a family of cheetahs is "one of the most outstanding and unforgettable early Mughal paintings".