S H Askari

Title: Still-life by S.H Askari, Medium: Oil on board Contact: unicornartgallery@yahoo.com, unicornartgallery@gmail.com

Syed Hasan Askari was born on 29 December 1907 at Jhansi in India. From 1926 to 28 he studied at the Government School of Art and Craft in Lucknow. From 1935 to 39 Askari studied in London at the Royal College of Art under Sir William Rothenstein. Upon his return he painted large murals and portraits, his artworks were purchased by the Nawabs of the day, ruling princes, governors, ministers, presidents and high officials and their wives.

Syed Hasan Askari was one of the group of Academic Realists whose pioneer was Raja Ravi Varma of Travancore (India) who first began Western style oil painting in India. When Askari began his art career in the late 20s, the well-established academic realists were Atul Bose and Hemen Majumdar. Among his contemporaries Askari admired Gangoli and Lal Kaka, both Bengali artists. Askari also taught art in India and the U.K. Amongst his students was Lady Halett who was married to Sir Morrie Halett (Governor of the United Provinces in India).

During the forty years of his artistic career, Askari must have painted many hundreds of paintings including that of: Queen Nur Jehan, wife of Emperor Jahangir, done in 1932, Princess Roshan Ara, daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb, painted in 1960. The other portraits represent Jodha Bai, wife of Emperor Akbar, Mumtaz Mahal, wife of Emperor Shah Jehan, Zeenat Mahal, wife of Emperor Aurangzeb. Portraits of Jahan Ara, daughter of Shah Jehan, and two of Princess Zebunnissa, daughter of Aurangzeb – painted between the years 1932 to 1957.

S H Askari died in the year 1969.

Rarely, if ever, are his paintings available in resale. This still-life is an exquisite traditional painting available exclusively at Unicorn Gallery.