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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
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
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

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