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Devayani Krishna

Devayani Krishna

Cancerb. 08 Jul 1918, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Indiad. 05 Sep 2002

Personality.Artist
On this Page
Introduction
Chronicled Highlights7
Economics of Art12
Research Centre64
All64
Library40Archive24Highlights4
Home/2_FineArts/Personality · Artist/Devayani Krishna
Devayani Krishna — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
08 Jul 1918
Zodiac sign
Cancer
Date of Death
05 Sep 2002
Age
84
Place of Birth
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
State Country of Birth
Madhya Pradesh, India

Chronicled Highlights 71950 – 2002

Devayani Krishna was born in 1918 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

1950
Literary ReferencePainting
Saffronart · Winter Online AuctionOnline · 14 December 2023

It is difficult to describe the power of [Devayani Krishna’s] drawings. It is as though a great choreographer compressed the total movement of the dance, such as the dance of Shiva, into a single ideograph.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The White Lion of the Snow, 1950 | Painting
Selling price
INR8,46,600
410% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,24,500 – 1,66,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,415
Medium
Gouache on paper pasted on board
Dimensions
20.7 × 28.9 in (53 × 74 cm)
Lot
140 · Sa.Onl/14.12.23
Provenance
Property from the Jane and Kito de Boer Collection
1960
Public Auction HighPainting
Saffronart · Winter Online AuctionOnline · 14 December 2023

In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1960), offered in the Winter Online Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 14 December 2023 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹37,84,800 ($45,600). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1960 | Painting
Selling price
INR37,84,800
660% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 3,32,000 – 4,98,000
Rate per sq in
INR 676
Medium
Conte and charcoal on paper
Dimensions
59.3 × 94.5 in (151 × 240 cm)
Lot
141 · Sa.Onl/14.12.23
Provenance
Property from the Jane and Kito de Boer Collection
Research Categories
02Modern and Contemporary Indian Fine Arts
1960
Literary ReferenceDrawing
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary PaintingsMumbai · 05 December 2002

I was angry with Kan (Kanwal Krishna, her husband), who was in a phase of transition, formulating ideas and techniques after his travels in Europe. For not communicating what I sought to learn. And lines were the most direct way of expressing my feelings swiftly through three big drawings. The beginnings of such forms with the same idea of transparency. The series emerged as ‘The effect of the moon on the mind and the brain’, which may be sourced to the words of a saint that I had once heard. The drawings were so large that I achieved the sweeping circular strokes by stretching the arm that held the crayon and rotating my entire body while sitting on the drawing.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Effect Of The Moon On The Mind & The Brain, 1960 | Drawing
Selling price
INR4,95,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 5,00,000 – 6,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 83.81
Medium
Charcoal and Conte on paper
Dimensions
61 × 96.9 in (155 × 246 cm)
Lot
83 · Os.Mum/05.12.02
1961
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · The Surya Collection: Property from Mrs. Ute RettbergLondon · 31 May 2022

In 2022, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Townscape) (1961), offered in the The Surya Collection: Property from Mrs. Ute Rettberg by Sotheby's, which concluded on 31 May 2022 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹14,79,758.11 ($19,053.31). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled (Townscape), c. early 1960s | Painting
Selling price
INR14,79,758
116% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 4,89,338 – 6,85,073
Rate per sq in
INR 872
Medium
Black conte crayon on paper
Dimensions
59.1 × 28.7 in (150 × 73 cm)
Lot
2 · So.Lon/31.05.22
Provenance
Collection from the property of Mrs. Ute Rettberg, UK
1970
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series VI: With Rare Drawings and Books on Indian Contemporary ArtNew Delhi · 01 March 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Mahakala (1970), offered in the Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series VI: With Rare Drawings and Books on Indian Contemporary Art by Osian's, which concluded on 01 March 2006 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹6,90,000 ($15,558). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Mahakala, 1970 | Painting
Selling price
INR6,90,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 8,00,000 – 10,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,086
Medium
Watercolour on paper
Dimensions
30.1 × 21.1 in (77 × 54 cm)
Lot
81 · Os.Del/01.03.06
2000
Retrospective ExhibitionSolo Exhibition Catalogue
Devayani Krishna · DevayaniNational Gallery of Modern Art · 30 April 2000

In 2000, Devayani A Retrospective 1940-2000 marked a major milestone in the exhibition history of Devayani Krishna, offering a retrospective survey of the artist's artistic production

Krishna, Devayani (Artist) and Keshav Malik (Curator). Devayani, 2000 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882952
Research Categories
02Modern and Contemporary Indian Fine Arts
2002
Image 1/2
First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCGraphic Art
Bonhams · Islamic and Indian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Paintings from the Indian SubcontinentLondon · 17 October 2002

On 17 October 2002, Devayani Krishna made their debut in the Indian public auction market when What and Where' series; Ma…' Series was presented as Lot 662 in Islamic and Indian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Paintings from the Indian Subcontinent, conducted by Bonhams in London, UK. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). What and Where' series; Ma…' Series, 1970 | 1976 | Graphic Art
Medium
Etching
Lot
662 · Bon.Lon/17.10.02

Economics of Art

Currency
This section showcases auction lots that achieved record-high sale prices, tracked by the date each record was set based on the artist's historical auction data.

Record-high lots4

Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators

  1. Annual Auction Sale Turnover
  2. Average Sale Price Per Lot
  3. Square Inch Rate Trend
Currency

Annual Auction Sale Turnover

This indicator tracks the Total Annual Auction Sales value of Devayani Krishna’s artworks, beginning in 1987 through to the present.
It aggregates all sales across global auction houses into yearly totals.

Analysis reflected in the chart:
The turnover graph highlights periods of strong growth, moments of market correction, and resilience during downturns. Peaks often align with landmark works coming to public auction, while troughs may indicate reduced supply or weaker demand. Over time, the curve illustrates the overall trajectory of Devayani Krishna’s public auction market presence.

Average Sale Price Per Lot

This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Devayani Krishna sold each year.
It smooths out fluctuations caused by the quantity of works offered and focuses on the Average Sale Price level per artwork.

Analysis reflected in the chart:
Rising average sale prices indicate growing collector confidence and a stronger willingness to pay higher amounts per work. Assuming the mix of mediums remains relatively stable over time, the proportion of works on paper typically priced lower than works on canvas adds important context to understanding these market movements.

Square Inch Rate Trend

The Square Inch Rate normalizes prices by the size of each artwork, showing the average sale value per square inch over time.
This allows fair comparisons between smaller works and larger canvases.

Analysis reflected in the chart:
The Square Inch Rate shown in the graph combines various medium types such as canvas, paper, board, and others. Historically, works on canvas and board have broadly commanded higher prices compared to works on paper.

Research Centre

P.R. Ramachandra Rao (Author), Modern Indian Painting, 1949, Authored Book
Rao, P.R. Ramachandra (Author). Modern Indian Painting, 1949 | Authored Book | 00845456
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Sikkim Series, 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Sikkim Series, 1950 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), The Owl and the Pig (Tibetan Dance Mask), 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The Owl and the Pig (Tibetan Dance Mask), 1950 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled, 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1950 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), The White Lion of the Snow, 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The White Lion of the Snow, 1950 | Painting
Indian Art, 1951, Edited Book
Indian Art, 1951 | Edited Book | 00845788
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Yak Fight, 1951, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Yak Fight, 1951 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Self Portrait, 1955, Drawing
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Self Portrait, 1955 | Drawing
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Shiv, Parvati & Ganesh, 1958, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Shiv, Parvati & Ganesh, 1958 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Elephant, 1960, Graphic Art
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Elephant, 1960 | Graphic Art
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Effect Of The Moon On The Mind & The Brain, 1960, Drawing
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Effect Of The Moon On The Mind & The Brain, 1960 | Drawing
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled, 1960, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1960 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Old Dehli, 1960, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Old Dehli, 1960 | Painting
Manohar Kaul (Author), Trends in Indian Painting, 1961, Authored Book
Kaul, Manohar (Author). Trends in Indian Painting, 1961 | Authored Book | 00845439
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled (Townscape), 1961, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled (Townscape), c. early 1960s | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Effect of the Moon on the Mind & the Brain, 1961, Drawing
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Effect of the Moon on the Mind & the Brain, 1961 | Drawing
P.V. Janakiram (Editor), Artrends, 1964, Bulletin
Janakiram, P.V. (Editor). Artrends, October 1964 | Bulletin | 00842092
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled, 1965, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1965 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Allah Series No. 4, 1968, Graphic Art
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Allah Series No. 4, 1968 | Graphic Art
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Lost in the Wood, 1969, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Lost in the Wood, late 1960s | Painting
20 of 64
P.R. Ramachandra Rao (Author), Modern Indian Painting, 1949, Authored Book
Rao, P.R. Ramachandra (Author). Modern Indian Painting, 1949 | Authored Book | 00845456
Indian Art, 1951, Edited Book
Indian Art, 1951 | Edited Book | 00845788
Manohar Kaul (Author), Trends in Indian Painting, 1961, Authored Book
Kaul, Manohar (Author). Trends in Indian Painting, 1961 | Authored Book | 00845439
P.V. Janakiram (Editor), Artrends, 1964, Bulletin
Janakiram, P.V. (Editor). Artrends, October 1964 | Bulletin | 00842092
Indian Art Since the Early 40s, 1974, Edited Book
Indian Art Since the Early 40s, 1974 | Edited Book | 00845915
D.C. Ghose (Author), Bibliography of Modern Indian Art, 1980, Authored Book
Ghose, D.C. (Author). Bibliography of Modern Indian Art, 1980 | Authored Book | 00845431
Gallery Chemould (Organiser), Collectors' Choice, 1985, Group Exhibition Invitation
Gallery Chemould (Organiser). Collectors' Choice, 1985 | Group Exhibition Invitation | 00858793
D. Devi (Author), Hand-Book of Modern Indian Art, 1986, Authored Book
Devi, D. (Author). Hand-Book of Modern Indian Art, 1986 | Authored Book | 00845429
Ebrahim Alkazi (Editor), Art Heritage 5, 1986, Journal
Alkazi, Ebrahim (Editor). Art Heritage 5, 1985-1986 | Journal | 00842126
Lalit Kala Akademi (Organiser), Nature and Environment, 1989, Group Exhibition Catalogue
Lalit Kala Akademi (Organiser). Nature and Environment, 1989 | Group Exhibition Catalogue | 00883604
Electoral Roll, 1993, Edited Book
Electoral Roll, 1993 | Edited Book | 00846109
Kanwal Krishna and Devyani Krishna, 1994, Edited Book
Kanwal Krishna and Devyani Krishna, 1994 | Edited Book | 00846125
Jayanta Chakrabarti (Author), Santiniketan Murals, 1995, Authored Book
Chakrabarti, Jayanta (Author). Santiniketan Murals, 1995 | Authored Book | 00845418
Heart (Auction House), Intuitive-Logic - The Next Step, 1999, Auction Catalogue
Heart (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Intuitive-Logic - The Next Step. 28 November 1999 | Auction Catalogue | 00861862
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Devayani, 2000, Solo Exhibition Catalogue
Krishna, Devayani (Artist) and Keshav Malik (Curator). Devayani, 2000 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882952
Osians (Auction House), India Historical Lila, 2001, Auction Catalogue
Osians (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). India Historical Lila. 20 October 2001 | Auction Catalogue | 00861881
Pran Nath Mago (Author), Contemporary Art in India, 2001, Authored Book
Mago, Pran Nath (Author). Contemporary Art in India, 2001 | Authored Book | 00845443
Bonhams (Auction House), Islamic and Indian Art, 2002, Auction Catalogue
Bonhams (Auction House). Islamic and Indian Art. 17 October 2002 | Auction Catalogue | 00861891
Saffronart (Auction House), Saffronart Online Auction, 2002, Auction Catalogue
Saffronart (Auction House). Saffronart Online Auction. 04 December 2002 | Auction Catalogue | 00861893
Osians (Auction House), Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings, 2002, Auction Catalogue
Osians (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings. 05 December 2002 | Auction Catalogue | 00861894
20 of 40
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Sikkim Series, 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Sikkim Series, 1950 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), The Owl and the Pig (Tibetan Dance Mask), 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The Owl and the Pig (Tibetan Dance Mask), 1950 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled, 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1950 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), The White Lion of the Snow, 1950, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The White Lion of the Snow, 1950 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Yak Fight, 1951, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Yak Fight, 1951 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Self Portrait, 1955, Drawing
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Self Portrait, 1955 | Drawing
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Shiv, Parvati & Ganesh, 1958, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Shiv, Parvati & Ganesh, 1958 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Elephant, 1960, Graphic Art
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Elephant, 1960 | Graphic Art
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Effect Of The Moon On The Mind & The Brain, 1960, Drawing
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Effect Of The Moon On The Mind & The Brain, 1960 | Drawing
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled, 1960, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1960 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Old Dehli, 1960, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Old Dehli, 1960 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled (Townscape), 1961, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled (Townscape), c. early 1960s | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Effect of the Moon on the Mind & the Brain, 1961, Drawing
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Effect of the Moon on the Mind & the Brain, 1961 | Drawing
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Untitled, 1965, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1965 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Allah Series No. 4, 1968, Graphic Art
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Allah Series No. 4, 1968 | Graphic Art
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Lost in the Wood, 1969, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Lost in the Wood, late 1960s | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Mahakala, 1970, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Mahakala, 1970 | Painting
Devayani Krishna (Artist), What and Where' series; Ma…' Series, 1976, Graphic Art
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). What and Where' series; Ma…' Series, 1970 | 1976 | Graphic Art
Devayani Krishna (Artist), The Tree of Knowledge, Graphic Art/Print
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The Tree of Knowledge, n.d. | Graphic Art/Print
Devayani Krishna (Artist), Affection, Painting
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Affection, n.d. | Painting
20 of 24
P.R. Ramachandra Rao (Author), Modern Indian Painting, 1949, Authored Book
Rao, P.R. Ramachandra (Author). Modern Indian Painting, 1949 | Authored Book | 00845456
Manohar Kaul (Author), Trends in Indian Painting, 1961, Authored Book
Kaul, Manohar (Author). Trends in Indian Painting, 1961 | Authored Book | 00845439
Indian Art Since the Early 40s, 1974, Edited Book
Indian Art Since the Early 40s, 1974 | Edited Book | 00845915
Rati Bartholomew (Editor), Richard Bartholomew, 2012, Edited Book
Bartholomew, Rati (Editor). Richard Bartholomew, 2012 | Edited Book | 00846403

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                          Indian Art Since the Early 40s - A Search for Identity. Madras: Artists Handicrafts Association, 1974 | Edited Book | FineArts | 00845915
                          TitleIndian Art Since the Early 40s - A Search for Identity
                          Document TypeEdited Book
                          PublisherArtists Handicrafts Association, Madras
                          Date of Publication1974
                          First Edition1974
                          Pages171
                          BindingHardbound
                          LanguageEnglish
                          Keywordsk-c-s-paniker | j-sultan-ali | josef-james | authored-edited-books | book-bka | library

                          Research Categories

                          2_FineArts

                          Related Links46

                          Masterlist45
                          K C S PanikerJ Sultan AliAuthored Edited BooksK H AraN S BendreBhupen KhakharBikash BhattacharjeeBimal DasguptaBiren DeDevayani KrishnaDhanraj BhagatV S GaitondeGanesh PyneGopal GhoseK K HebbarM F HusainJamini RoyP V JanakiramJatin DasJeram PatelJyoti BhattKanwal KrishnaKrishen KhannaKrishna ReddyK Laxma GoudLaxman PaiMohan SamantS NandagopalParitosh SenPilloo PochkhanawalaPiraji SagaraPrabhakar BarweA RamachandranK RamanujamRamkinkar BaijSailoz MookherjeaShanti DaveG R SantoshSatish GujralSomnath HoreF N SouzaK G SubramanyanSunil DasJ SwaminathanTyeb Mehta
                          Research Categories
                          02Modern and Contemporary Indian Fine Arts