Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic oil painting Yashoda and Krishna created history at Saffronart’s Spring Live Auction in Mumbai, selling for Rs 167.2 crore.
The record-breaking sale surpassed MF Husain’s Untitled (Gram Yatra), which fetched Rs 118 crore last year.
The artwork was acquired by billionaire Cyrus Poonawalla, founder of the Serum Institute of India. He described the purchase as both an honour and a responsibility, promising to make the national treasure available for public viewing.
Painted in the 1890s, Yashoda and Krishna depicts Yashoda milking a cow while infant Krishna reaches for a goblet of milk. The domestic scene reflects a sacred narrative, blending realism with mythological depth.
The painting was initially estimated to fetch between Rs 80 crore and Rs 120 crore, but drew competitive bidding that nearly doubled expectations. Previously part of a private collection in Delhi, the sale highlights the rising global appreciation of Indian art.
Raja Ravi Varma, born in 1848 in Travancore, pioneered modern Indian art by combining European realism with Indian mythology. His lithographic press in 1894 made affordable prints of Hindu iconography, bringing his art into homes across India.
The sale of Yashoda and Krishna underscores Varma’s enduring legacy and the growing recognition of Indian cultural heritage in international markets.
