Gaitonde's recently discovered masterpiece in Sotheby sale

A recently discovered masterpiece by abstract artist Vasudeo S Gaitonde is set to be the highlight of Sotheby's sale of modern and contemporary South Asian Art in London on June 11.
The auction comes hot on the heels of the Amaya collection, the first Evening Auction of Indian Art by the auction house.
Gaitonde's work "Painting No 1" was previously owned by John D Rockefeller III, one of the earliest western collector champion of Indian art. It was acquired in New York during the 1960s.
Estimated to fetch between 250,000-450,000 pounds, the 1962 oil on canvas has the hallmark radiance and incandescence of Gaitonde's key works from this important year in his career.

"The painting has many similarities to Painting No.4, also from 1962, which is in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York," according to auction house.
The sale also features two works by Maqbool Fida Husain which are offered at auction for the first time - one from the collection of a former Indian Ambassador. This year also happens to the centenary year of the birth of the painter.

Husain's exceptional 1961 oil on canvas 'Jhoola' (estimated between 220,000-250,000 pounds) was acquired directly from the artist during the 1960s.
"A second work by Husain, 'Elephants One', estimated at 100,000-150,000 pounds is offered for sale for the first time since it was acquired by the owner's husband in New York in 1964, where he was posted as a representative of the Indian delegation to the United Nations," according to a statement by the auction house.

Also offered for sale for the first time since it was acquired by a Dutch collector in Paris in 1968, Sayed Haider Raza's Black Moon (estimated to fetch between 50,000-70,000 pounds).