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Navratna Artists Show Strong Auction Demand in 2025

Jamini Roy dominates lots while Ravi Varma and Sher-Gil drive high-value sales among the nine icons

Roerich artwork
NICHOLAS ROERICH | Himalayas | 18.3 x 30.8 in | Tempera on canvas | Circa 1940 | Sold in 2022 by AstaGuru for ₹5,50,06,969 ($6,25,079)

The Navratna artists—Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Sher-Gil, Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Sailoz Mookherjea, and Nicholas Roerich—continue commanding reverence in 2025 auctions. Key turnover figures spotlight their market pull.

Sher-Gil led with ₹37.52 crore total turnover at auction in 2025. Raja Ravi Varma followed, generating ₹23.94 crore ($2.72 million) from just seven lots sold, nearly 60 per cent exceeding ₹1 crore. Rabindranath Tagore achieved ₹14.78 crore from only five lots. Jamini Roy claimed 52% share of all Navratna lots at auction that year, with 91 works sold.

Lot-wise breakup for 2025 reveals the spread: Nicholas Roerich at 14 lots, Sailoz Mookherjea at 4, Gaganendranath Tagore at 5, Abanindranath Tagore at 4, Raja Ravi Varma at 7, Amrita Sher-Gil at 25, Rabindranath Tagore at 5, and Nandalal Bose at 20.

These results affirm the Navratna artists as consistently sought-after assets with competitive bidding and long-term value retention as the Indian art market matures.

Read the full story in the premiere issue of LuxeTrope, on stands now.

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