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George Keyt — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
17 Apr 1901
Zodiac sign
Aries
Date of Death
31 Jul 1993
Age
92
Place of Birth
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Place of Death
Colombo, Sri Lanka
State Country of Birth
Sri Lanka
State Country of Death
Sri Lanka

Exhibitions

  1. 1928

    1. Memorial Exhibition in honour of W.W. Heling, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  2. 1929

    1. Group Show with other Sri Lankan artists, W.W. Beling, Winzer and Justin Daraniyagala, Ceylon Art Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  3. 1930

    1. Group Show with W.W. Beling and Winzer, Ferguson Memorial Hall, Sri Lanka
  4. 1932

    1. Joint Show with W.W. Beling, Motor Show room, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  5. 1936

    1. Joint Show with Justin Daraniyagala, Organised by Dr. G.P. Malasekhara & Ceylonese Society of Arts, Colombo Art Gallery, Colom
  6. 1946

    1. Exhibition in India, Organised by Mulk Raj Anand, Anil de Silva & others
  7. 1953

    1. Exhibition Organised by All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi and Group 43, Colombo in New Delhi, India
  8. 1954

    1. Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, UK,
    2. Art Institute of Rotterdam, Netherlands
  9. 1956

    1. Exhibition Organised by Peradeniya University, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  10. 1967

    1. Stained Glass Wall designed for the Sri Lanka Pavilion, Expo '67, Montreal, Canada
  11. 1968

    1. Samudra Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  12. 1969

    1. Selected Paintings & Drawings by George Keyt, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, India
    2. Exhibition of Recent Drawings, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai, India
  13. 1972

    1. Lionel Wendt Memorial Exhibition, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    2. Lionel Weldt Memorial Exhibition, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  14. 1974

    1. Recent Paintings and Drawings, Commonwealth Art Gallery, London, UK
  15. 1975

    1. Selected Paintings and Drawings by George Keyt, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, India
    2. Exhibition of Recent Paintings, Organised by French Embassy, Kalagaraya Gallery and French Club of the University of Sri Lanka
  16. 1993

    1. Recent Work Selected Poems and Some Previously Unexhibited Work from Private Collections, Presented by George Keyt Foundation,at National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka (17 - 22 April)
20 of 59

Chronicled Highlights 221929 – 1995

George Keyt was born in 1901 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

1929
Public Auction HighPainting
Bonhams · Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art & Art of PakistanLondon · 24 October 2018

In 2018, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Triptych 1929 (1929), offered in the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art & Art of Pakistan by Bonhams, which concluded on 24 October 2018 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,54,46,096.25 ($191,351). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Triptych 1929, 1929 | Painting
Selling price
INR1,54,46,096
81% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 57,03,174 – 85,54,761
Rate per sq in
INR 7,623
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
67.7 × 29.9 in (172 × 76 cm)
Lot
30 · Bon.Lon/24.10.18
1932
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · The Indian SaleLondon · 23 May 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1932), offered in the The Indian Sale by Sotheby's, which concluded on 23 May 2006 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹49,41,504 ($108,557). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Untitled, 1932 | Painting
Selling price
INR49,41,504
723% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 4,28,950 – 6,00,530
Rate per sq in
INR 15,873
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
20.3 × 15.4 in (52 × 39 cm)
Lot
111 · So.Lon/23.05.06
1935
Public Auction HighPainting
Bonhams · Modern and Contemporary Indian PaintingsLondon · 16 June 1999

In 1999, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Two Women (1935), offered in the Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings by Bonhams, which concluded on 16 June 1999 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹5,13,817 ($11,897). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Two Women, 1930's | Painting
Selling price
INR5,13,817
50% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 2,06,214 – 3,43,690
Rate per sq in
INR 1,189
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
26.8 × 16.1 in (68 × 41 cm)
Lot
33 · Bon.Lon/16.06.99
1936
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 Lovers (1936), 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 ₹21,85,000 ($49,267). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Lovers, 1936 | Painting
Selling price
INR21,85,000
9% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 16,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,860
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
44 × 26.7 in (112 × 68 cm)
Lot
43 · Os.Del/01.03.06
1944
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · Indian Contemporary Paintings: Islamic Works of Art and Indian, Himalaya and South-East Asian ArtLondon · 19 October 1995

In 1995, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Woman with Mirror (1944), offered in the Indian Contemporary Paintings: Islamic Works of Art and Indian, Himalaya and South-East Asian Art by Sotheby's, which concluded on 19 October 1995 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹4,04,211 ($11,788). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Woman with Mirror, 1944 | Painting
Selling price
INR4,04,211
199% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 81,113 – 1,35,188
Rate per sq in
INR 893
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
17.2 × 26.3 in (44 × 67 cm)
Lot
251 · So.Lon/19.10.95
1945
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings: One Hundred YearsLondon · 08 October 1996

In 1996, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Woman Bathing (1945), offered in the Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings: One Hundred Years by Sotheby's, which concluded on 08 October 1996 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹4,45,120 ($12,501.61). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Woman Bathing, c.1945 | Painting
Selling price
INR4,45,120
100% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,11,280 – 2,22,560
Rate per sq in
INR 2,875
Medium
Oil on canvas laid down on card
Dimensions
10.6 × 14.6 in (27 × 37 cm)
Lot
26 · So.Lon/08.10.96
Provenance
The Property of Martin Russell, Esq.; purchased directly from the artist by the present owner circa 1945
1945
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & BooksMumbai · 27 November 2003

In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Women (1945), offered in the Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & Books by Osian's, which concluded on 27 November 2003 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹7,70,000 ($16,779). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Women, mid 1940s | Painting
Selling price
INR7,70,000
413% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,348
Medium
Tempera
Dimensions
28.7 × 19.9 in (73 × 51 cm)
Lot
41 · Os.Mum/27.11.03
1946
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · The Indian SaleLondon · 08 May 1997

In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Seated Woman with Flowers (1946), offered in the The Indian Sale by Sotheby's, which concluded on 08 May 1997 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹5,00,827 ($13,988). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Seated Woman with Flowers, 1946 | Painting
Selling price
INR5,00,827
23% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 2,90,334 – 4,06,468
Rate per sq in
INR 295
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
49.6 × 34.3 in (126 × 87 cm)
Lot
287 · So.Lon/08.05.97
1951
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · India Historical Lila: Auction of Indian Modern and Contemporary Paintings, Drawings and Graphic ArtMumbai · 20 October 2001

Keyt’s paintings are altogether traditional: they are meant to function as screens within which diverse pictographic images are spread. He sometimes even introduces perspective of a primitive kind, but not sufficient to make his paintings ‘windows or stages’: the subjects are almost static, elaborate, and clearly delineated forms in which ancient symbols such as the eye, the sun, and the moon are part of the assemblage. By the very simplicity of his method Keyt has, as it were, set himself apart from all the trends by which contemporary art is classified. That and that alone I think is its greatest claim to greatness.

Keyt, George (Artist). Woman, 1951 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,15,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 2,50,000 – 3,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 733
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
27 × 15.9 in (69 × 41 cm)
Lot
49 · Os.Mum/20.10.01
1951
Literary ReferencePainting
Saffronart · Spring Live AuctionMumbai · 13 March 2024

If he speaks the language of Picasso, he does so in a rich and meaningful idiom of his own.

Keyt, George (Artist). Untitled (Pindapatha), 1951 | Painting
Selling price
INR50,40,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 50,00,000 – 70,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 4,226
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
43.9 × 27.2 in (112 × 69 cm)
Lot
35 · Sa.Mum/13.03.24
Provenance
Sotheby's, London, 14 July 2005, lot 14 Private Collection, Maharashtra
1952
Public Auction HighPainting
Christie's · South Asian Modern and Contemporary ArtLondon · 11 June 2013

In 2013, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Gopika Vastra Paharana (1952), offered in the South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 11 June 2013 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,00,87,173 ($171,185). 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.

Keyt, George (Artist). Gopika Vastra Paharana, 1952 | Painting
Selling price
INR1,00,87,173
83% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 36,72,236 – 55,08,354
Rate per sq in
INR 2,932
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
70.2 × 49 in (178 × 124 cm)
Signature
Signed 'G Keyt 52' t.l.; further bearing artist label and Martin Russell label on verso
Lot
91 · Ch.Lon/11.06.13
1959
Literary ReferencePainting
DeRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern ArtOnline · 27 August 2022

Symmetry is not essential to my work, nor concealment, nor softness even: but curvature is, and roundness is, and if I must dislocate and rearrange my forms, the rearrangement must itself be in curves.

Keyt, George (Artist). Untitled, 1959 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,80,800
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 4,00,000 – 6,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 2,281
Medium
Pastel on paper
Dimensions
16.7 × 10 in (42 × 25 cm)
Lot
15 · De.Onl/27.08.22
12 of 22

Economics of Art

20 of 50

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