AstaGuru to Offer Raja Ravi Varma’s Rare Royal Portrait Little Prince of Courage in ‘Collector’s Choice’ Auction

Mumbai, June 17, 2026: AstaGuru is pleased to present Collectors’ Choice, an exceptional online auction taking place on 22–23 June 2026, bringing together a distinguished selection of rare and significant works by some of the most celebrated names in Indian art.

Featured on the cover and leading the sale is Lot No. 51, Raja Ravi Varma’s Little Prince of Courage. Widely regarded as one of the most compelling royal portraits by the pioneering master, the painting depicts the young Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman, Prince of Pudukkottai, in regal splendour. Beyond its artistic excellence, the portrait is imbued with a remarkable historical narrative. The young prince would later relinquish his throne to marry the Australian woman he loved, Molly Fink, defying colonial expectations and royal convention. Through Ravi Varma’s masterful observation, the work transcends portraiture to become a poignant reflection on destiny, individuality, and the enduring power of personal conviction.

The sale features museum-worthy paintings, sculptures, and works on paper by some of the most celebrated names in Indian art, including Raja Ravi Varma, M.F Husain, F.N Souza, K.H Ara, J Swaminathan, Sakti Burman, Ram Kumar, Himmat Shah, Satish Gujral, Hemendranath Mazumdar, Jogen Chowdhury, K.G Subramanyan, Dhanraj Bhagat, Ganesh Pyne, Rameshwar Broota, and others. A notable highlight of the auction is a remarkable group of 22 sketches by master artist M V Dhurandhar, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire works by one of the most influential figures in the history of Indian academic art.

Speaking about the auction, Mr. Manoj Mansukhani, Director – Marketing at AstaGuru, said:

“Collectors’ Choice brings together some of the most compelling works to emerge on the market in recent years. Beyond their rarity and provenance, these works embody remarkable stories of artistic innovation, cultural change, personal conviction, and historical legacy. The selection has been thoughtfully assembled to highlight both celebrated masterpieces and significant works that illuminate lesser-known chapters in the history of Indian art. The breadth of the catalogue reflects the richness and many directions Indian art has taken over the last century, offering collectors a meaningful opportunity to engage with works of exceptional quality and significance.”

Another major highlight is Lot No. 33 by M F Husain, titled Savani | Des (Diptych), painted circa 1960. The work belongs to a pivotal phase in Husain’s career when he became increasingly engaged with the emotional and symbolic dimensions of Indian classical traditions. Inspired by the ragas Savani and Des, the diptych transforms music into image through a dynamic interplay of colour, rhythm, and movement, exemplifying Husain’s ability to merge Indian aesthetic traditions with modernist expression.

Among the most anticipated works in the auction is also Lot No. 9, Ganesh Pyne’s The Conversation. Painted in 1977, the composition exemplifies Pyne’s singular visual language of poetic ambiguity, psychological depth and haunting introspection. Through an enigmatic encounter between a skeletal woodcutter and a white bird, the work meditates on mortality, memory, and redemption, revealing the artist’s extraordinary ability to transform personal mythology into universal reflection.

Rameshwar Broota’s Scripted in Time II (Lot No. 46) is another important highlight of the sale. Created in 1995, the work belongs to Broota’s acclaimed ‘Man’ series and reflects his sustained exploration of time, mortality, and human existence beyond identity and history through his distinctive technique of layering and scraping paint.

Further strengthening the auction’s sculptural offerings is Lot No. 16 by Dhanraj Bhagat, titled Standing Figure. Executed in 1955, the sculpture captures a transformative moment in Bhagat’s practice as he moved away from academic realism toward a more distilled and modern sculptural vocabulary. The elongated female form, defined by rhythmic contours and lyrical balance, exemplifies his enduring exploration of form, movement, and materiality.

Another standout work is by K G Subramanyan, titled Figures With Mystical Birds (Diptych) (Lot No. 29). Rich with references to folk traditions, mythology, and modernist experimentation, the composition demonstrates Subramanyan’s remarkable ability to merge diverse visual languages into a dynamic and deeply personal artistic idiom. Animated by birds, figures, and organic forms, the work embodies the playful intelligence and layered symbolism that define the artist’s celebrated oeuvre.

The auction also features Hemendranath Mazumdar’s Saaqi (Lot No. 5), an exceptional work that reflects his mastery of academic realism and his nuanced treatment of the female figure. Inspired by Persian literary traditions, the painting transcends conventional genre imagery through its quiet introspection, luminous handling of light, and refined technique, underscoring Mazumdar’s enduring appeal among collectors of early modern Indian art.

Collector’s Choice will be conducted online on 22–23 June 2026. Collectors and art enthusiasts are invited to explore the complete catalogue and register to participate in the auction at AstaGuru’s official website www.astaguru.com.