This may mark the end of an era. An era which was defined by the greatness of intellect and exquisite artistic abilities, Maqbool Fida Husain is no more. He passed away in the early hours of the day (09-June-2011).
Reminiscing his dear friend, painter Jatin Das said, "He was a very dear friend. But sadly people of India didn't protect him, he had to leave his country. It's a great loss to Indian art."
He was 95.
Popularly known as MF and regarded as the 'Picasso of India', the artist breathed his last at the Royal Brompton Hospital at 2.30 am local time.
Husain had been keeping 'indifferent health' for the last one-and-a-half month, family sources said. They said that funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.
M F Husain, described by the Forbes magazine as the 'Picasso of India', was born on September 17, 1915 in Pandharpur, India.
The painter, who courted controversy over his paintings of Hindu gods, had been living abroad in self-exile since 2006.
His paintings on Hindu goddesses -- Durga and Saraswati - invited the wrath of Hindu groups. His house was attacked in 1998 by Hindu groups and his art works were vandalised.
In February 2006, Husain was charged with hurting sentiments of people because of his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses.
Mr. Husain repeatedly expressed a yearning to return to India. "My heart will always be in India...it is my beloved land," he said in an interview to NDTV in March last year. "I never felt I was betrayed," he said of India, stressing that he was proud of India's democracy.
Three of Husain paintings recently topped a Bonham's auction here, going under the hammer for Rs2.32 crore with an untitled oil work in which the legendary artist combined his iconic subject matters -- horse and woman -- fetching Rs1.23 crore alone.
The nonagenarian painter's work is typically a blend of cubism and classical Indian styles that fetches millions on international art markets.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Mr Husain's death is 'a national loss.' President Pratibha Patil said his death 'left a void in the world of art.'
He was 95.
Popularly known as MF and regarded as the 'Picasso of India', the artist breathed his last at the Royal Brompton Hospital at 2.30 am local time.
Husain had been keeping 'indifferent health' for the last one-and-a-half month, family sources said. They said that funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.
M F Husain, described by the Forbes magazine as the 'Picasso of India', was born on September 17, 1915 in Pandharpur, India.
The painter, who courted controversy over his paintings of Hindu gods, had been living abroad in self-exile since 2006.
His paintings on Hindu goddesses -- Durga and Saraswati - invited the wrath of Hindu groups. His house was attacked in 1998 by Hindu groups and his art works were vandalised.
In February 2006, Husain was charged with hurting sentiments of people because of his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses.
Mr. Husain repeatedly expressed a yearning to return to India. "My heart will always be in India...it is my beloved land," he said in an interview to NDTV in March last year. "I never felt I was betrayed," he said of India, stressing that he was proud of India's democracy.
Three of Husain paintings recently topped a Bonham's auction here, going under the hammer for Rs2.32 crore with an untitled oil work in which the legendary artist combined his iconic subject matters -- horse and woman -- fetching Rs1.23 crore alone.
The nonagenarian painter's work is typically a blend of cubism and classical Indian styles that fetches millions on international art markets.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Mr Husain's death is 'a national loss.' President Pratibha Patil said his death 'left a void in the world of art.'
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