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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, FRANCEJOSÉ PALOU: THE ARTIST COLLECTORThe late José Palou, the mother of the present owner of lots 1-5, was a well-respected young artist practicing in the vibrant Parisian art scene of the 1950s and 60s. It was during these years, through Galerie de Ventadour in Paris, that Madame Palou, came to meet the Indian modern masters Syed Haider Raza and Akbar Padamsee, and later, Maqbool Fida Husain. In 1957, the prestigious gallery owned by Helen Ventadour even held an exhibition of works by Madame Palou, Raza and Padamsee, displaying them alongside works by other prominent artists of the time such as Bernard Buffet. The catalogue for this exhibition, Le Christ, shows the names of the artists featuring together and captures this formative period in the lives of Palou and her contemporaries as collaborators.The connection between the Palou family and India went further still. Marc Palou, José's husband, was during the same period, 1954 to 1958, the Director of Air India International. Through this position the family's opportunity to experience modern Indian art grew, and they went on to develop a friendship with M.F. Husain, during this early period of their respective careers. Husain, Padamsee and Raza became close friends with José and Marc, often spending time at each others' homes and with their families. A photograph taken in July 1961 at Raza’s home in Saint Fargeau shows the artist with José Palou and her newborn daughter. Over the course of these friendships, the Palou family acquired several important works directly from the artists, developing a collection of French and Indian art which boasted significant works by Padamsee, Husain and Raza. In one particular instance, Husain even painted a series of iconic figures and animals at work and play (lots 1-3) on the sitting room floor of the Palou family home. José Palou's daughter fondly recalls being a young child and watching excitedly as Husain unrolled several pieces of paper and executed this series of works in her home. Each of these images are now instantly recognisable in the artist's oeuvre as the subjects of his series of wooden toys, lithographs and even major works on canvas from the 1950s.
MAQBOOL FIDA HUSAIN (1913-2011)
Untitled
Details
MAQBOOL FIDA HUSAIN (1913-2011)
Untitled
pencil and gouache on paper
20 1/8 x 16¾ in. (51.1 x 42.5 cm.); 23 x 15 1/8 in. (58.4 x 38.4 cm.); 27 5/8 x 15¼ in. (70.2 x 38.7 cm.)
Executed circa 1950s; three works on paper
3
Untitled
pencil and gouache on paper
20 1/8 x 16¾ in. (51.1 x 42.5 cm.); 23 x 15 1/8 in. (58.4 x 38.4 cm.); 27 5/8 x 15¼ in. (70.2 x 38.7 cm.)
Executed circa 1950s; three works on paper
3
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist in Paris by the French artist, José Palou
Thence by descent
Thence by descent
Brought to you by
Alicia Churchward