17 Tháng 6, 2008 - Published 09:15 GMT

Họa sỹ Ấn bán tranh giá cao kỷ lục

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
được bán với giá cao kỷ lục so với các bức khác của họa sỹ

record-breaking picture
bức tranh giá cao kỷ lục

the peak
đỉnh cao của sáng tạo

in labour
đang chờ để sinh con

in concentration
tập trung (vào việc sinh con)

bears a striking resemblance to
rất giống

fetched high prices
bán với giá cao

controversial
gây tranh cãi

ahead of his time
đi trước thời đại

portrayal
bức tranh mô tả, phác họa