KBRN, Singapore: Sotheby's auction house is set to offer two rare paintings by Raden Saleh, the legendary Indonesian painter renowned as the first Asian artist to receive formal art training in Europe.

Known for his ability to blend European Romantic styles with Indonesian natural elements, Raden Saleh created works that combined the beauty of nature with profound emotional depth. His paintings often depict the grandeur and mystery of nature, captivating art enthusiasts.

The first painting to be auctioned is "Javanese Landscape: View of Talagabodas," an oil on canvas measuring 35.8 x 61 cm, estimated to fetch between US$ 95,000 and US$ 204,000.

Additionally, a larger "Javanese Landscape: View of Merbabu and Merapi" (1862), measuring 77 x 102 cm, will be offered with an estimate starting at US$ 731,000 and reaching up to US$ 1.6 million.

Both paintings have been in private collections for over a century and depict the Javanese landscape, a primary source of inspiration for Raden Saleh upon his return from Europe.

Over the past 30 years, around ten Raden Saleh paintings have been auctioned, finding their place in prestigious museum collections such as the National Gallery Singapore and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Jasmine Prasetio, Head of Sotheby's Southeast Asia, said that this auction presents a rare opportunity for art collectors to acquire historic works that have influenced the development of art, from Raden Saleh to Marc Chagall, as quoted by rri.co.id.

By hosting this auction during Singapore Art Week, Sotheby's aims to celebrate the art world with exceptional works that will captivate the global art community.

Alongside Raden Saleh's works, Sotheby's will also offer paintings of other Indonesian artists, including S. Sudjojono, Le Pho, Vu Cao Dam, Christine Ay Tjoe, and I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih.

Sotheby's modern and contemporary art auction in Singapore will take place on January 18, 2025, at Jiak Kim Street Number 5. The artworks to auction can be viewed in an exhibition from January 13 to 18, 2025. ***