A masterpiece by Indian artist Syed Haider Raza has set the record for a modern Indian work.

Raza's painting Saurashtra has sold for £2.4m ($3.5m) in London through Christie's auctioneers on June 10.

The large-scale painting was produced during a key period of Raza's career and this piece in particular was made in 1983 as homage to his homeland.

The painting has been reportedly bought by an Indian museum for substantially more then estimated price.

It was sold by a French collector who acquired it directly from Raza.
The painting was one of several paintings by South Asian artists that were auctioned including Francis Newton Souza and Tyeb Mehta. These were all sold for millions of pounds.

Saurashtra is said to integrate elements of Raza's Indian childhood and cultural heritage.
Raza, 88, has lived and worked in France since 1950, but maintains strong ties with India.
His work is mainly abstract in oil or acrylic, with a rich use of colour that features Indian cosmology and philosophy.

Raza has won numerous awards and has regularly exhibited his paintings in Paris.

Yamini Mehta, Christie's Senior Specialist, Director, South Asian Modern & Contemporary Art, London: "The global art market is receptive to the best. As international collectors converge in London this June prior to heading to Art Basel, where an increased number of South Asian Art will be on view this year, we are thrilled to be offering iconic works by the masters as well as important contemporary works, including examples by Pakistani artists. It is important that Christie's, as well as galleries, art fairs and institutions, continue - as they do - to broaden concepts of what constitutes Sub-Continental art."

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