Husain paintings fetch $ 4.2 million at Christie's auction

The high price for the 'Sprinkling Horses', an oil on canvas signed 'Husain' in Hindi and Urdu, is a sign that his work continues to be a hot favourite among art connoisseurs across the world,

The painting, one of the hallmarks of Husain's work, was among the 13 paintings that went under the hammer at Christie's auction of South Asian modern and contemporary art.

The 13 paintings were sold for a total of 4.2 million dollars, a clear sign that paintings by the late artist continue to be a collector's item and will command high prices.

Hunsai's other painting 'Yatra', a representation of rural India, was sold for 932,5000 dollars, while 'The Three Graces' depicting two women and horses fetched 482,500 dollars.

An untitled painting, that portraits three heads, was sold for 31,250 dollars, fetching the lowest price among the 13 paintings.

More Husain art will be on sale at Sotheby's, which will present Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art including Indian miniature paintings as part of its week of Asian art auctions here today.Husain, a legendary artist who often landed in controversy because of his paintings, passed away in June this year at the age of 95.

He was among the first and few artists from India to be in the 'one million dollar club', with his work often selling for such a high amount.

His 'Empty Bowl at the Last Supper' was sold for USD two million in 2005, which was at that time the highest sum ever paid for a work of modern Indian art.

In early 2008, Hussain's 'Battle of Ganga and Jamuna: Mahabharata', a large diptych from the Hindu epic, fetched USD 1.6 million, setting a world  record at Christie's South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale.