Kanwal Krishna | Tuli Research Centre for India Studies

Introduction

Zodiac sign: Capricorn
Age: 83
Place of Birth: Mongomery, Punjab, Undivided India | Present-day Pakistan
Place of Death: New Delhi, NCT of Delhi, India
State Country of Birth: Punjab, Undivided India | Present-day Pakistan
State Country of Death: NCT of Delhi, India

Chronicled Highlights 41940 – 1999

Kanwal Krishna — Mongomery, Punjab, Undivided India | Present-day Pakistan.

1940

Public Auction HighPainting

Bonhams · The Collection and Archive of Sir Basil Gould CBELondon · 05 June 2025

In 2025, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at his enthronement (1940), offered in the The Collection and Archive of Sir Basil Gould CBE by Bonhams, which concluded on 05 June 2025 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,77,65,337.84 ($207,120.4). 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.

Krishna, Kanwal (Artist). Portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at his enthronement, 1940 | Painting

Selling price

INR1,77,65,338

Within estimate

Estimate

INR 1,74,39,795 – 2,32,53,060

Rate per sq in

INR 25,168

Medium

Oil on canvas laid to board

Dimensions

27.2 × 26 in (69 × 66 cm)

Signature

Signed, dated and inscribed 'Kanwal/5-40/Lhasa' (l.r.)

Lot

36 · Bon.Lon/05.06.25

Provenance

The collection of Sir Basil Gould CBE. CIE. By direct descent to the current owners.

1951

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 A Tibetan Monastery (1951), offered in the Winter Online Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 14 December 2023 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹10,95,600 ($13,200). 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, Kanwal (Artist). A Tibetan Monastery, 1951 | Painting

Selling price

INR10,95,600

428% above high estimate

Estimate

INR 1,24,500 – 2,07,500

Rate per sq in

INR 7,409

Medium

Watercolour on paper

Dimensions

10.4 × 14.2 in (27 × 36 cm)

Lot

76 · Sa.Onl/14.12.23

Provenance

Property from the Jane and Kito de Boer Collection

Research Categories

02Modern and Contemporary Indian Fine Arts

1986

Literary Reference & Public Auction HighPainting

Osian's · Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series VIIIMumbai · 31 January 2007

‘Light reveals the secret of darkness…’ ‘Shadows give form to Light; otherwise Light is all blankness…’ ‘…In Art Forms, Light creates shadows and not shadows create Light…’ ‘…Light reveals to us; Darkness makes us conscious…’ ‘ We can reach Light only through our shadows; otherwise the source of Light we can never trace. The realisation of our own weakness is the true source of our new energy…’ ‘New Art Forms are born and not created…’

In 2007, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Homage To Light Series (1986), offered in the Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series VIII by Osian's, which concluded on 31 January 2007 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹7,80,000 ($17,659). 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, Kanwal (Artist). Homage To Light Series, 1986 | Painting

Selling price

INR7,80,000

Below low estimate

Estimate

INR 8,00,000 – 10,00,000

Rate per sq in

INR 1,289

Medium

Mixed media on paper

Dimensions

20.9 × 28.9 in (53 × 73 cm)

Lot

109 · Os.Mum/31.01.07

1999

Image 1/2

First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCPainting

Bonhams · Modern and Contemporary Indian PaintingsLondon · 16 June 1999

On 16 June 1999, Kanwal Krishna made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Preparing Curd was presented as Lot 30 in Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings, 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, Kanwal (Artist). Preparing Curd, 1938 | Painting

Medium

Grey wash on paper

Lot

30 · Bon.Lon/16.06.99