Narayan Shridhar Bendre

Narayan Shridhar Bendre (Marathi: नारायण श्रीधर बेंद्रे) (August 21, 1910 – February 19, 1992) (N. S. Bendre) was one of India's celebrated artists of the 20th century.

Life and career

Bendre was born at Indore. In 1910, he took admission to the Holkar College, Indore and in 1933, he passed his B.A. examination from Agra University. In 1934, he passed his Diploma in Painting from the State School of Art, Indore. From 1936 to 1939 he worked as a painter and journalist for the government of kashmir. During this period he created sketches of the scenic landscapes of the kashmir valley. There after he set up in Bombay as a freelance artist. He did portraits, mural wall painting as well. He worked as art director in Chennai.It was here that he got acquainted with Mona whom he married later in 1942.

In 1945, he went to Shantiniketan and worked with Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij, and Binode Behari Mukherjee. In 1950 he joined the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara as the first Reader and Head of the Department of Painting. Later he became the Dean of the Faculty. He left the University in 1966.

Despite such exceptional career he worked for the underprivileged people whenever possible. After Independence when firebrand freedom fighter and social worker from Indore Guru Radha Kishan took the initiative to bring the first Janta Library in Delhi, which was inaugurated by Balraj Sahni along with Amrita Pritam, Santosh Anand and Aruna Asaf Ali, he along with another legendary painter BR Gurjar participated and contributed accordingly. This study centre cum library is still running with a social centre at Guru Radha Kishan Smarak Bhavan, Clock Tower, Delhi. He Died in Bombay on 19 February 1992.

Awards and honors

In 1955, Bendre received the National Award from the Lalit Kala Akademi for his work, Thorn. In 1969, he received the Padma Shri award and in 1992, he received the Padma Bhushan award. In 1974, he received the fellowship of the Lalit Kala Akademi. In 1984, the Visva Bharati University conferred him the Aban-Gagan Award and Madhya Pradesh state government conferred him the Kalidas Samman (1986–87).

Style and special Feature

He is well known as the supreme landscapist, a composer and master of colours. He was immensely influenced by miniature painting. He visited the United States, England, France and Belgium in 1947-48. It was during the visit that he studied and imbibed modern art. Assimilating this western influence he created a niche for himself in the field of art by innovating a style all his own. He successfully carried out innovative experiments depicting subtle themes ranging from everyday life to the abstract. He never believed in restricting his imagination to the rigid framework of colour, line or form.

Prominent work of art

"Hairdo"(1949), "The Sunflower"(1955), "Monkey"(1957), "The Cow and the Calf"(1948), The Female Cowherd"(1956), "Homebound", "The Bullock Cart".

External links

• Narayan Shridhar Bendre Artworks and Public Auction Prices and Economic Data
• N S Bendre Profile,Interview and Artworks
• Artist Profile