FILE - In this June 7, 2007 file photo, M.F. Husain, India’s most famous artist, finishes off a canvas he painted together with Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, unseen, during a fund-raising auction in central London’s auction house. News reports say Hussain has died in London Thursday, June 9, 2011. (AP Photo)
London, June 9 (PTI): Celebrated Indian artist MF Husain, who earned both fame and wrath for his paintings, died in London today after being unwell for over a month. He was 95. Popularly known as MF and regarded as “Picasso of India”, the artist breathed his last at the Royal Brompton Hospital at 2.30 am local time. Husain had been keeping “indifferent health” for the last one-and-a-half month, family sources told PTI. The last rites will be held in London, however the arrangements are yet to be finalised.
Born in Pandharpur in Maharashtra on September 17, 1915, Husain courted controversy over his paintings of Hindu goddesses. In February 2006, Husain was charged with hurting sentiments of people because of his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses. In the wake of legal challenges and death threats in his home country, Husain had been living abroad in self-imposed exile since 2006.
As he had not responded to summons from an Indian district court in Haridwar, his properties in India were attached as per court orders and a bailable warrant was issued against him by the court. Three of Husain paintings recently topped a Bonham’s auction here, going under the hammer for Rs 2.32 crore with an untitled oil work in which the legendary artist combined his iconic subject matters -- horse and woman -- fetching Rs 1.23 crore alone.
In 1952, Husain’s first solo exhibition was held at Zürich and over the next few years, his work was widely seen in Europe and the US. In 1955, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Shree. In 1967, he made his first film, Through the Eyes of a Painter. It was shown at the Berlin Film Festival and won a Golden Bear. Husain was a special invitee along with Pablo Picasso at the Sao Paulo Biennial in 1971. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1973 and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1986.
He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1991. Between 1990 and 2011 Husain went on to become the highest paid painter in India. He also produced and directed a few movies, including Gaja Gamini with his muse Madhuri Dixit who was the subject of a series of his paintings which he signed as Fida.
Born in Pandharpur in Maharashtra on September 17, 1915, Husain courted controversy over his paintings of Hindu goddesses. In February 2006, Husain was charged with hurting sentiments of people because of his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses. In the wake of legal challenges and death threats in his home country, Husain had been living abroad in self-imposed exile since 2006.
As he had not responded to summons from an Indian district court in Haridwar, his properties in India were attached as per court orders and a bailable warrant was issued against him by the court. Three of Husain paintings recently topped a Bonham’s auction here, going under the hammer for Rs 2.32 crore with an untitled oil work in which the legendary artist combined his iconic subject matters -- horse and woman -- fetching Rs 1.23 crore alone.
In 1952, Husain’s first solo exhibition was held at Zürich and over the next few years, his work was widely seen in Europe and the US. In 1955, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Shree. In 1967, he made his first film, Through the Eyes of a Painter. It was shown at the Berlin Film Festival and won a Golden Bear. Husain was a special invitee along with Pablo Picasso at the Sao Paulo Biennial in 1971. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1973 and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1986.
He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1991. Between 1990 and 2011 Husain went on to become the highest paid painter in India. He also produced and directed a few movies, including Gaja Gamini with his muse Madhuri Dixit who was the subject of a series of his paintings which he signed as Fida.
