M K PARANDEKAR (INDIAN 1877 - 1961),
UNTITLED (VILLAGE SCENE)
watercolour on paper, signed and dated 1938
31cm x 23cm
Framed and under glass.
Note: Born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Madhavrao Krishnarao Parandekar (known as M.K. Parandekar) initially trained under his father, a Sanskrit Pandit and painter and continued with formal study at the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay from 1900 until 1905. Abalall Rahiman, the court painter of Kolhapur State, was a strong influence on Parandekar's work and he gained considerable expertise in drawing portraits and figures. However, it was landscapes and architectural subjects which he focussed on, and with considerable success. His landscapes of the ghats of Nashik and the Mahalaxmi Temple, Kolhapur were greatly admired by critics and collectors. He secured the patronage of Lord Willingdon, the then Governor of Bombay, as well as the Maharaja of Patalia who commissioned Parandekar to paint several projects. He played an important role in the foundation of the Art Society of India and was the first member (1918). He also served as the Secretary of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1920 - 1930. Known exhibitions include: 1932 Bombay Art Society, Bombay and Simla Art Society, Simla. 2003 "Manifestations I" at Delhi Art Gallery, Mumbai and New Delhi. 2004 "Manifestations II" at Bombay Art Gallery, Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. 2005 "Manifestations III" Delhi Art Gallery, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi Nehru Centre, Mumbai. M.K Parandekar's work is recorded in numerous collections within India including: The Palace of Bikaner, The Royal Family of Cooch Bihar, Aundh Museum (Aundh), Sangli Museum (Maharashtra), The Philadelphia Consul and Delhi Art Gallery. Western auction records detail only one of M.K Parandekar's pictures having appeared at auction in recent years. This was a small untitled watercolour of the Golden Temple, Amritsa which featured in Christie's (New York) auction of 20th March 2020 lot 22 and sold for US$10,000 (premium).