Francis Newton Souza’s Painting Sells for €1.47 Million at Bukowskis Auction in Stockholm

Francis Newton Souza, *Portrait of a man,* 1956, oil on panel © Bonhams

Francis Newton Souza’s painting “Portrait of a Man” fetched an astounding €1,470,000 at Bukowskis auction in Stockholm this June 12, 2024. The sale far exceeded its initial estimate of €135,000-€180,000, making it the most valuable work by Souza ever sold in Europe.

Amanda Wahrgren, Specialist in Modern Art at Bukowskis, expressed her elation, stating, “I am incredibly happy with the final price for this fantastic portrait by Souza. With many bidders online and over the phone, today’s results solidify Bukowskis’ position on the international auction market.”

Priya Singh, Bonhams Head of Sale for Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art, also commented on the significance of the sale: “This is a sensational portrait by an artist celebrated for his raw, intense style. I am not surprised by the interest from collectors throughout the globe. Works by F.N. Souza resonate throughout the world.”

Francis Newton Souza, born in 1924 in Goa, India, moved to Bombay with his mother during his childhood, where he attended a school run by Jesuit priests. The religious iconography he encountered there significantly influenced his artistic vocabulary.

In 1947, Souza co-founded the Progressive Artists Group (PAG) with other avant-garde artists. The group aimed to merge India’s classical culture with innovative Western techniques, playing a crucial role in the development of modern art in India.

Souza moved to London in 1949, seeking a more liberal art audience. His first solo exhibition at Victor Musgrave’s Gallery One in 1955 was a significant success, establishing him as a prominent figure in the London art scene.

Throughout his career, Souza experimented with various styles, but his figurative paintings with sharp black lines from the 1950s and 60s are the most sought-after. The 1956 work, inspired by Medieval and Renaissance portraiture, was taken to Sweden by Souza while he was en route from Germany to London.

An impromptu exhibition at St Nicolaus gallery in Stockholm received harsh reviews, prompting Souza to angrily dispose of many of his works in Sweden, making the surviving pieces particularly rare and valuable.

The reaction to his Stockholm exhibition underscores how Souza was ahead of his time. His intense and emotional portraits, exemplified by “Portrait of a Man” (1956), capture the essence of his subjects in a raw and unfiltered manner. These portraits go beyond mere physical likeness, delving into inner emotions and psychological states. Today, Souza is celebrated as one of the most influential modern artists from India and of his era.

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