| Jamil Naqsh | |
| Birth Date: | 25 December 1939 |
| Birth Place: | Kairana, United Provinces, British India |
| Death Date: | 16 May 2019 (aged 79) |
| Death Place: | London, England |
| Nationality: | Pakistani, British |
| Awards: | Pride of Performance, Sitara-i-Imtiaz |
| Education: | Ustad Haji Sharif |
| Known For: | Painting |
| Website: | http://www.jamil-naqsh.com/ |
| Notable Works: | Reclining Nude, Woman with Pigeon |
Jamil Naqsh (ur|{{Nastaliq|جمِیل نقش), (25 December 1939 - 16 May 2019) was a British Pakistani painter who lived a reclusive life in London from 2012 until his death. He briefly studied at National College of Arts but left before obtaining a degree. His work has been described as idealized and sensual.[1] [2] [3]
Jamil Naqsh was born in Kairana, India in 1939, and later moved to Karachi, Pakistan during the partition
. In his early teens, he had the experience of travelling alone through Chittagong, Calcutta and Colombo. He learned a lot about life during that harsh journey. He also gained a great respect for the art traditions of the past while travelling. This journey's impressions later influenced his thinking and work.
Naqsh trained as a miniaturist under former National College of Arts professor Ustaad Haji Sharif in Lahore beginning in 1953.[2] [1] He left the National College of Arts without completing his degree as he felt it was the experience not the qualification that was important.[2] He left Pakistan in 2012 and settled in London, United Kingdom.[4] [5]
On 7 May 2019, due to pneumonia, Naqsh was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in London,[6] where he died nine days later at the age of 79.[1]
Naqsh mostly painted pigeons. He also painted women, often integrating them with the elements of horses, pigeons or children. He grew up seeing pigeons flutter around in his courtyard; thus, much of his work included drawings of pigeons.[7] He set up his Karachi studio in a rooftop garden where pigeons were allowed to move around freely and were welcomed as visitors.[2]
Naqsh was influenced by the works of Indian, Pakistani and European masters, including Pablo Picasso and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. In June 2012, an untitled piece by Naqsh was sold for about PKR 6.3 million at Bonhams.[8]
Some of his exhibits are listed below:
Naqsh also painted Islamic calligraphy in his modern style with unique and bold brush strokes. His calligraphic style maintained the basic elements of art, with special emphasis on 'line'.[2] Since 1996, the Jamil Naqsh Foundation and Museum have been run by his family members in Karachi, Pakistan.[7] [1] In December 2017, the Jamil Naqsh Museum was inaugurated by Aitzaz Ahsan in Defence Housing Authority, Karachi.[12] [13]