'It is with deep sadness that I learnt of the passing away of one of India's greatest artistic talents, MF Husain,' said Manmohan Singh.
Expressing his "deep sadness" over the death of celebrated Indian painter MF Husain, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said the nation has lost an "iconic artist" whose "genius left a deep imprint on Indian art".
"It is with deep sadness that I learnt of the passing away of one of India's greatest artistic talents, MF Husain," prime minister said in a statement issued here.
"In the passing away of MF Husain, the nation has lost an iconic artist and the art world one of its most colourful personalities, whose genius left a deep imprint on Indian art," said Manmohan Singh, who in his initial reaction had described the demise as a "national loss".
Calling him one of the brightest stars in the Indian art firmament, which he dominated for nearly seventy years," Manmohan Singh said that Husain came from "humble origins" and began his life as a painter painting cinema hoardings.
"His paintings covered a breathtaking range from evocative life portraits to massive murals. The beauty and feeling of his paintings were appreciated by one and all and he made an immense contribution to popularising Indian art both within the country and abroad," he said.
The prime minister said Husain captivated art lovers with his deep appreciation of the human condition and his bold and imaginative strokes.
"I convey my most sincere condolences to his family, friends and millions of well-wishers," he added.
Husain, one of the world's most celebrated artists, died in a London hospital early Thursday at the age of 95, family sources said.
He was living away from India in self-imposed exile after being targeted by Hindu radicals.
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