Displaying the painting — $18 million at ShowKeen

Yesterday evening marked a rare encounter with legacy and artistic excellence. Yashoda and Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma—recently valued at a record-breaking ₹167.2 crore (approx. $18 million)—was presented at ShowKeen at Nehru Centre, Mumbai. It offered a remarkable opportunity to engage with a work distinguished by its provenance, profound cultural significance, and enduring relevance.

Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla with the iconic Yashoda and Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma

The painting’s sale marks a historic milestone in the Indian art market. Held on April 1, 2026, at Saffronart’s Spring Live Auction in Mumbai, it achieved the highest price ever paid for an Indian artwork at auction.

This landmark result surpassed the previous record of ₹118 crore set by Untitled (Gram Yatra) by M. F. Husain, establishing a new benchmark in the country’s art history. Originally estimated at ₹80–120 crore, the masterpiece far exceeded expectations following an intense seven-minute bidding battle.

Yashoda and Krishna, 35×28.2 inches, Oil on Canvas by Raja Ravi Varma, Circa 1890s

Painted in the 1890s, the work was commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III for the Baroda court. It beautifully portrays the tender, mythological bond between Mother Yashoda and the child Krishna, rendered through Varma’s distinctive fusion of Indian themes with European oil painting techniques.

The buyer, Cyrus Poonawalla, has expressed his intention to make this “national treasure” accessible to the public, with plans to display it at his residences in Mumbai or Pune.

If you are in Mumbai, this is an exhibition not to be missed.
On view at Nehru Centre, Dr Annie Besant Rd, Worli, Mumbai
11–12 April 2026