A 16th-century Mughal painting attributed to court artist Basawan has shattered records, selling for £10 million ($13.6 million) at Christie’s London auction on October 30. The work hammered at £8.5 million ($11.2 million)—a stunning 12 times its low estimate of £700,000 ($925,000).
Titled A Family of Cheetahs in a Rocky Landscape, the miniature depicts a family of cheetahs relaxing in a rocky terrain, rendered in opaque pigments with gold-flecked blue borders. Measuring just 29.8 cm by 18.6 cm, this early natural history study exemplifies Mughal artistic innovation.
Created around 1575–80, the painting emerged during Emperor Akbar’s reign, when Basawan served as one of the Mughal court’s leading artists. Known for blending European artistic techniques with Mughal traditions, Basawan revolutionized Indian painting through his exploration of atmospheric perspective and naturalistic detail. The work has been widely exhibited globally, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to the British Museum in London.
The piece represented part of the historic Sadruddin Aga Khan collection, a philanthropist and former UN High Commissioner for Refugees who amassed the collection over 45 years. The entire sale of 45 works generated £45.76 million ($60 million), becoming the highest-grossing South Asian art auction globally—surpassing Saffronart’s September record of $40.2 million.
Christie’s head of Islamic and Indian art Sara Plumbly described the painting as “a breathtaking and unforgettable example of early Mughal painting,” noting its exquisite observation and expressive naturalism. Institutions and private collectors from India and abroad competed vigorously for the work.
The record sale underscores growing international demand for classical Indian art. Though close to M.F. Husain’s 1954 Gram Yatra ($13.7 million in March), this Basawan achieves the highest price for a classical Indian or Islamic painting ever sold at auction.
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