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Jamini Roy — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
11 Apr 1887
Zodiac sign
Aries
Date of Death
24 Apr 1972
Age
85
Place of Birth
Beliatore, Bankura Dist., West Bengal, India
Place of Death
Calcutta
Spouse(s)
Amiyasundari devi
Children
Five sons and a daughter
State Country of Birth
West Bengal, India

Exhibitions

  1. 1929

    1. An Exhibition of Drawings and Paintings by Jamini Roy, Government School of Arts & Craft, Kolkata, India

      30 Sep 1929 to 07 Oct 1929

  2. 1937

    1. Samabaya Mansions, Kolkata, India
  3. 1938

    1. British Indian Street, Kolkata, India
  4. 1946

    1. Exhibition opened by E.M. Forster, London, UK
  5. 1953

    1. 2nd International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Presented by All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
    2. New York, USA
  6. 1974

    1. Selections from The Collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art. New Delhi: National Gallery of Modern Art
  7. 1975

    1. A Handbook of Bengal School. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, India
  8. 1980

    1. Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
  9. 1982

    1. Modern Indian Paintings, From the Collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D. C., USA
  10. 1985

  11. 1986

    1. Search for Roots. Lalit Kala Akademi ,New Delhi, India
  12. 1987

    1. 15 Apr 1987 to 17 May 1987

    2. 15 Apr 1987 to 16 May 1987

  13. 1988

  14. 1990

    1. Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
20 of 158
Roy, Jamini (Artist) and Bishnu Dey (Curator). Exhibition of Jamini Roy's Paintings, 1975 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00883002
1 / 8

Roy, Jamini (Artist) and Bishnu Dey (Curator). Exhibition of Jamini Roy's Paintings, 1975 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00883002

Chronicled Highlights 221925 – 2022

Jamini Roy was born in 11 April 1887 in Beliatore, Bankura Dist., West Bengal, India.

1925
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 Portrait Of Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn (1925), 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 ₹25,30,000 ($57,046). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Portrait Of Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn, c.1925 | Painting
Selling price
INR25,30,000
27% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 16,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 4,173
Medium
Oil on cardboard
Dimensions
30.3 × 20 in (77 × 51 cm)
Lot
40 · Os.Del/01.03.06
1929
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · India: The Passionate Detachment: Curated Auctions of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art and BooksMumbai · 24 February 2001

…(unlike) the Impressionist painters Jamini Roy never used black in his landscapes. He used ultramarine or prussian blue instead. Since he began his landscapes with these blues, the other colours of the painitngs too had to be set to the same scale. These pictures have been enriched by the unrestricted application of the brush and colours in small scale works of the artist of our country?

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Boatscape, late 1920s | Painting
Selling price
INR2,50,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 3,50,000 – 4,25,000
Rate per sq in
INR 581
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
18 × 24 in (46 × 61 cm)
Lot
57 · Os.Mum/24.02.01
1931
Public Auction HighPainting
HEART · The Intuitive-Logic II: Modern & Contemporary Indian Paintings, Drawings, Graphics, Sculpture & TapestryMumbai · 15 November 1997

In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Gopini with Offering (1931), offered in the The Intuitive-Logic II: Modern & Contemporary Indian Paintings, Drawings, Graphics, Sculpture & Tapestry by HEART, which concluded on 15 November 1997 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹3,30,000 ($8,982). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Gopini with Offering, early 1930s | Painting
Selling price
INR3,30,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 4,00,000 – 6,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 634
Medium
Tempera on cloth
Dimensions
22 × 23.6 in (56 × 60 cm)
Signature
Signed in Bengali, l.r.
Lot
15 · He.Mum/15.11.97
1941
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary PaintingsMumbai · 05 December 2002

The patua paints his pictures directly on paper, whilst Jamini Roy works mostly on canvas, the ground being prepared in two ways: with ordinary clay overlaid with a coating of white clay mixed with tamarind glue, or with an amber-coloured clay mixed with lime-stone (ghuti).

Roy, Jamini (Artist). The Last Supper, early 1940s | Painting
Selling price
INR6,05,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 7,00,000 – 8,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 998
Medium
Tempera
Dimensions
16.9 × 35.9 in (43 × 91 cm)
Lot
50 · Os.Mum/05.12.02
1945
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary ArtMumbai · 02 December 2005

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Gandhiji (1945), offered in the Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary Art by Osian's, which concluded on 02 December 2005 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹24,15,000 ($52,363.4). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Gandhiji, 1945 | Painting
Selling price
INR24,15,000
61% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 12,00,000 – 15,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 4,631
Medium
Tempera on cardboard
Dimensions
27.5 × 19 in (70 × 48 cm)
Lot
1 · Os.Mum/02.12.05
1945
Public Auction HighPainting
Christie's · South Asian Modern and Contemporary ArtNew York · 22 March 2023

In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Seated Buddha) (1945), offered in the South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 22 March 2023 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹93,16,830.6 ($113,400). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Untitled (Seated Buddha), c.1940s | Painting
Selling price
INR93,16,831
127% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 24,64,770 – 41,07,950
Rate per sq in
INR 6,774
Medium
Tempera on canvas laid on board
Dimensions
49.1 × 28 in (125 × 71 cm)
Lot
513 · Ch.NeY/22.03.23
1945
Public Auction HighGraphic Art
Christie's · South Asian Modern and Contemporary ArtNew York · 22 March 2023

In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Sita Haran) (1945), offered in the South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 22 March 2023 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹1,13,87,237.4 ($138,600). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Untitled (Sita Haran), c.1930s-1940s | Graphic Art
Selling price
INR1,13,87,237
54% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 57,51,130 – 73,94,310
Rate per sq in
INR 3,244
Medium
Embroidered carpet laid on jute
Dimensions
58.5 × 60 in (149 × 152 cm)
Lot
559 · Ch.NeY/22.03.23
1947
Literary ReferencePainting
DeRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern Fine ArtsOnline · 22 January 2022
It is sometimes asked why an orthodox Hindu who has never even read the New Testament should be interested in the subject of the Christ. Jamini Roy gives several reasons.
In the first place, he wanted to find out if his new technique could be applied with equal effect to a subject remote from his personal life. And for this purpose the Christian myth seemed a suitable choice. He was further encouraged by the fact that he had seen photo-reproductions of the Renaissance masterpieces which had left him dissatisfied. It was wrong, he thought, that these painters should attempt to convey the essentially human character of Christ by naturalistic or representational means; and he wanted to show that the human and the divine could be made one only by abstract, symbolic means…
…he (J.R.) has introduced into these portraits a new tenderness and a quality of intense homeliness which neither the Byzantine, with his abstract intensity and other-worldly mysticism, nor the humanist painter, with his essentially human conception of Christ, had ever quite captured. We are inclined to think that this has been done before only by the medieval folk-artists of Western Europe, or perhaps by the simple-minded and pious authors of the Russian icon… In particular, one can find a close parallel between Jamini Roy’s studies of Christ (Plates XI, XII) and the anonymous French folk-painters of the 12th century whom Gauguin copied.
The genuine religious feeling in Jamini Roy’s Christ studies is striking; and here again we trace the assimilating mind of Hinduism at work, for perhaps it would be true to say that only the Hindu (who 1900 years ago gave asylum to St. Thomas) can experience genuine feeling for a religious myth that is essentially foreign to his own belief
Roy, Jamini (Artist). Christ's Body with the Virgins, c.1944-1947 | Painting
Selling price
INR26,88,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 24,00,000 – 36,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,972
Medium
Tempera on canvas
Dimensions
29 × 47 in (74 × 119 cm)
Lot
2 · De.Onl/22.01.22
1949
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 Garuda On Horseback (1949), 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 ₹32,20,000 ($72,604). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Garuda On Horseback, 1946-1949 | Painting
Selling price
INR32,20,000
61% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 16,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 2,941
Medium
Tempera on cardboard
Dimensions
30 × 36.5 in (76 × 93 cm)
Lot
41 · Os.Del/01.03.06
1949
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · Indian Antiquities, Modern and Contemporary Fine ArtsMumbai · 19 June 2015

His art started a trend not only in the fine art but also in illustration, design and applied art. The discovery of folk art and revival of handicrafts is one of the major achievements of our time, but we owe to Jamini Roy the vision to reconsider the values of folk art and to incorporate it in contemporary work something of its vitality, gaiety and innocence.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). The Last Supper, late 1940s | Painting
Selling price
INR14,40,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 12,00,000 – 18,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 3,956
Medium
Tempera on cloth pasted on cardboard
Dimensions
12 × 30.3 in (31 × 77 cm)
Lot
32 · Os.Mum/19.06.15
1950
Public Auction HighPainting
Asta Guru · Modern Indian ArtOnline · 09 September 2021

In 2021, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1950), offered in the Modern Indian Art by Asta Guru, which concluded on 09 September 2021 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹83,47,135 ($113,275.64). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Untitled, c.1950 | Painting
Selling price
INR83,47,135
317% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 15,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 6,211
Medium
Tempera on cloth laid on board
Dimensions
48 × 28 in (122 × 71 cm)
Lot
1 · AG.Onl/09.09.21
1966
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · The Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary Art – Books, Paintings & SculptureNew Delhi · 15 October 2004

In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Christ (1966), offered in the The Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary Art – Books, Paintings & Sculpture by Osian's, which concluded on 15 October 2004 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹18,40,777 ($40,139). 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.

Roy, Jamini (Artist). Christ, 1964-1966 | Painting
Selling price
INR18,40,777
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 15,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 2,237
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
33.7 × 24.4 in (86 × 62 cm)
Lot
6 · Os.Del/15.10.04
12 of 22

Economics of Art

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 Jamini Roy’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 Jamini Roy’s public auction market presence.

Average Sale Price Per Lot

This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Jamini Roy 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

Posts 1

  1. All Living Souls
    Tuli Research Centre for India Studies presents All Living Souls - Expressed in the Modern and Contemporary Fine & Popular Indian Arts Curated by Neville Tuli As part of launching the 16th Research Category for India Studies - "The Animal-Human-Nature-Continuum" we present a fascinating exhibition of modern and contemporary Indian fine and popular arts and their expression of the ideas and forms related to the dialogue between animals and humans, and the larger cosmic and spiritual thoughts which abide therein. Please visit the Exhibition and see the artworks by modern and contemporary masters such as Rabindranath Tagore, D.P. Roy Chowdhury, M.F. Husain, J. Swaminathan, J. Sultan Ali, Somnath Hore, Ganesh Pyne, Manjit Bawa, K. Laxma Goud, Krishna Reddy, Jyoti Bhatt, Rekha Rodwittiya, Amit Ambalal, among others, along with vintage and rare prints from the pioneering Indian chromolithographic presses such as Chitrashala, Ravi Varma, Calcutta Art Studio, Chore Bagan & Kansaripara.

Calendar 2

  1. Self Discovery via Rediscovering India Series Part V Mahatma Gandhi
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    Self Discovery via Rediscovering India Series Part V Mahatma Gandhi
    25th April 2025
    as part of the Rediscovering India via Self-Discovery Exhibition Series Part V
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    +59 more
  2. Self Discovery via Rediscovering India Series  Part IV Building www.tuliresearchcentre.org
    ArchivedExhibitionProject 5
    Self Discovery via Rediscovering India Series Part IV Building www.tuliresearchcentre.org
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    Self Discovery via Rediscovering India Series Part IV
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