LONDON.-Nuffield College, Oxford, is to sell three modern Indian paintings which were relegated to the shadows for half a century but which are now estimated to sell for close to �400,000, in Bonhams next sale of Modern and Contemporary Indian and Pakistani Art on May 21st.

The College is selling the pictures which have either been in storage since the early 60’s or rather overlooked. Now with the explosion of interest in modern and contemporary Indian paintings these pictures have emerged from relative obscurity into the auction room limelight.

Nuffield College has a tradition of offering its post-graduate students a collection of paintings, which, for a small charitable contribution they are free to hang in their rooms. But according to the College very few students ever showed any interest in these three paintings, so they languished for almost half a century in College cupboards offices or dining rooms.

The three pictures from Nuffield College being sold at Bonhams are:

`Thrown Bull’ by Tyeb Mehta – estimate �150,000 to �200,000
`Crucifixion’ by Tyeb Mehta – estimate �15,000 to �25,000
`Townscape’ by Francis Newton Souza – estimate �120,000 to �180,000

The three pictures were donated to the College having been acquired for sums ranging from �18 to �40. Money raised by their sale will be used to acquire Modern British paintings for the College’s distinguished collection.

The Souza `Townscape’ which depicts Catholic buildings is almost certainly an Italian scene. In 1960 Souza went to Italy on an Italian Government scholarship, where he completed a series of paintings, later exhibited under the title, `Twenty Seven Paintings from Rome’ at Gallery One in London.

This Souza was stuck in the back of a Junior Commons Room cupboard and was then stored in the Porter’s Lodge en route to the dump when it was retrieved by the Warden. Now it is set to make �180,000 at Bonhams.

`Thrown Bull’ by Mehta is a good early work by this artist and is executed in a style very different to his later more commercial works; and the same applies to the `Crucifixion’ which is an unusual subject for this artist. This picture hung for
many years in the Warden’s office. Crucifixion by Mehta hung in the Fellows’ Dining room.

Paintings by Souza, Mehta and Husain are once more set to dominate prices at Bonhams next sale of Modern and Contemporary Indian and Pakistani Art.

Claire Penhallurick, Director of Indian and Islamic art at Bonhams. says: “The phenomenon of Modern Indian artists finally receiving recognition internationally with their work commanding six-figure sums in London and New York is all part of the booming international art market which is being driven in part by the dynamic growth of emerging economies in India, Russia and China. There is also a growing understanding and appreciation of the Indian style pioneered by artists like Souza, Mehta and Hussain. The three pictures from Nuffield College should do very well as they come fresh to the market.”

The Bonhams sale includes eight oils by Francis Newton Souza, (India, 1924-2002), including one titled `Head’ which is estimated to sell for �120,000-150,000.) Oil on board, it is signed and dated '57 upper right. Framed 90 x 61 cm. Provenance: Private UK collection: acquired in the early 1980s.

A Landscape by Souza is estimated to attract bids of �100,000-120,000. Oil on board, signed and dated 1961 upper left, framed 61 x 76 cm. Provenance: Private UK collection.

There are also several works on paper by this increasingly sought-after artist

The Indian art renaissance has been almost as impressive as that occurring in China. The single-artist sale of works on paper by Francis Newton Souza at Bonhams in May 2006 was the first occasion that any Indian artist was offered this distinction.

The other great name in Bonhams forthcoming sale is Maqbol Fida Husain (India, b. 1915); his painting `Two women with elephants’, from the 'Kerala' series, is estimated to sell for �150-200,000. Oil on canvas, signed upper left, framed, 121 x 81 cm.

Three works by Bakre are also attracting interest. Paintings by Bakre sold very well in Sept with a top price of �48,000. Works by Jamini Roy will also do well. A strong group of works by the less well-known artist, Prabha, are likely to attract interest and keen bidding.