The growing popularity of Indian miniature paintings

One of the most precious miniature paintings from India ever sold at auction was Nainsukh of Guler’s ‘Musicians Playing a Raga for Balwant Dev Singh During the Rainy Season’. It fetched $2.2 million (Rs 9.7 crore) in March 2008. The marvelous work exuded all the qualities that collectors or dealers, yearn for: excellent subject, size and condition.

There was a marked shift in the art market domain in the early 1970s, with the west starting to play a larger role. This was due to the passage of the Antiquities & Art Treasures Registration Act. Sandhya Jain-Pate, an associate vice president at Christie's and a specialist in Indian-South East Asian art, mentions in a recent India Today article:

“Auction prices demonstrate that works which are visually appealing and bought with such passion are likely to do well in years to come, if and when they are sold again. One should also ask specialists lots of questions, decide realistically on how much one has to spend, do research and, most importantly, enjoy. They can make one's heart pound, render one speechless, and even cause one's eyes to well up in emotion.”

Of course, art enthusiasts can always enhance their knowledge and passion for collections. It is important to compare and study major collections around the world. Though, many of the magnificent miniature works are now in the public and private collections, still many beautiful paintings are available at auctions.

Over the last few years not only their richness but also accessibility has been demonstrated. Christie's offered ‘A Maiden with a Toy’, inscribed with painter Ustad Abu Qasim’s name (dated to 1793-94) in September 2008. Christie's again sold a Mughal period painting made in Oudh (1775) in March, 2009. A Mughal painting, ‘The Annunciation’ (circa 1615) went for $684,102 (Rs 3 crore), in October 2010 in London - more than eight times its original estimate. This indicates the growing popularity of Indian miniature painting.