17 ژوئن, 2008 - Published 10:10 GMT

Indian painting sold at record price

A Christie's official said the sale of Francis Newton Souza's oil painting, Birth, had set a world auction record for the artist - and for any Indian modern art. Souza, who died in 2002, was born in Goa and lived in Britain and America. He painted his record-breaking picture in London in the mid-fifties. Christie's describe that time as the peak of Souza's career - and the auction house says that Birth is the best painting he produced in this period.

The picture was previously in a private collection in the United States. It shows a nude woman in labour, lying on her back with her eyes closed in concentration. Standing to her left is a man who bears a striking resemblance to the artist himself.

The Indian art critic, Madhu Jain, says Souza's work has always fetched high prices. She describes him as controversial and ahead of his time, and says he was one of India's most significant artists. Now Souza's portrayal of a woman about to give birth has become the most valuable modern painting by an Indian artist in the world.

Jason Caffrey, BBC

set a world auction record for the artist
در اینجا: گران تر از هر اثر دیگر هنرمند(سوزا) به فروش رفت

record-breaking picture
اثر نقاشی که از نظر قیمت رکورد شکن( بی سابقه) است

the peak
نقطه اوج

in labour
در حال زایش، در حال وضع حمل

in concentration
در حال تمرکز فکری، در اینجا: تمام حواسش متوجه به دنیا آوردن نوزادش است

bears a striking resemblance to
به .....شباهت زیادی دارد

fetched high prices
به قیمت زیادی فروش رفت

controversial
بحث انگیز

ahead of his time
پیشرو، آینده نگر

portrayal
توصیف، تصویر