Art of Hindustan Through The Ages

Renowned art collector and curator Nikhil Gupta has announced his upcoming exhibition, titled Art of Hindustan Through the Ages. Showcasing an exclusive private collection of rare and antique lithographs, portraits, maps, and watercolour paintings, the exhibition will depict the rich visual history of India from the late 1600s, from pre-mutiny till early independence. The exhibition will be held at Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, at Lodhi Road in New Delhi, from December 1 to December 4, 2021, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

There has been a significant interest in the requisition and restoring of Indian Art which was taken overseas during the British era. Priceless paintings of street scenes, bearers, sepoys, and more, by Mughal Artists, that were taken as souvenirs by British colonists have now begun finding their way back to their homeland. It is exactly this varied collection of timeless pieces of art that will be on display at the exhibition, featuring a range of mesmerising treasures from India’s past, painstakingly acquired by Mr Gupta.

Having launched the Navratana Art Gallery in Hauz Khas Village in 1999 with just a single piece, a Gwen Muller sketch of a nautch girl received from a relative of the Maharaja of Patiala, Mr Gupta has since then, closed shop, operating virtually and only through word-of-mouth, catering to the crème-de-la-crème of collectors and galleries. Known for one of the most astounding collections of Indian historical art in a private anthology, his repertoire also consists of rare and authentic out-of-print books and maps, vintage photographs, and several contemporary pieces of art and prints.

Some of the most prized among these include, among others:

A Stanford’s map of the Central Provinces of India, 1886
A painting of the Fakarul Masjid near Kashmiri Gate, Delhi, 1904
An intricate company school miniature painting of the Qutub Minar, circa 1850s
A painting of the Fakirs Rock on the River Ganges, circa 1830s
A signed vintage photograph of Raja H H Bhupal Singh of Udaipur, circa 1930s
A copper engraved painting of Bombay by Jan Van Ryne, 1754
A book containing chromo views of Srinagar, birds-eye-view of Islamabad, and fold out map of Kashmir, 1879

Today, Mr Gupta prides himself on his extensive knowledge, expertise, and reputation of being one of the most exclusive sellers of authentic and original pieces of Indian art, lost to time. He says, “There is a lot of new works being sold off as old pieces today. But it is my experience of over 22 years handling thousands of antique pieces that lets me recognise the fake from the authentic immediately. These maps and paintings collect stains and fungus over the years which are very hard to fake. Someone who has been collecting for years can make out by the feel of the paper itself if a piece is genuine. As a result, I take immense pride in my collection, and my reputation speaks to the same.”