Paintings by MF Husain that were specially commissioned by the Mittal family in London will be on public display for the first time ever this summer between May 28 and July 27 at famous Victoria and Albert Museum here.

The exhibition, titled “The Indian Civilisation Series”, and supported by Christie’s auctioneers, will comprise eight monumental triptych paintings, each 12 feet wide and six feet high, which represent Husain’s vision of the richness of Indian culture and history. A painting of Ganesha is also included in the series. All told, these represent Husain’s final nine paintings.

A spokesperson for Christie’s said, “They capture India’s vibrant cities, colourful Hindu festivals, iconic figures and historic events.” In the UK, Husain is being depicted as one of the leaders of the modern art movement in India. His art has even been compared to that of Picasso. But that is where the comparison ends. Unlike Picasso, who was pro-Left and anti-establishment, Husain was seen a “chamcha” of the Indira Gandhi coterie and was reviled during his lifetime for his sycophancy.

He later got into trouble with right-wing Hindu extremists for painting pictures of Hindu deities in the nude. Equally controversial was his boot-licking depiction of Indira Gandhi as Ma Durga during or just after the worst years of Emergency. Husain was born in Pandharpur and spent his early years in Indore before starting his career as a painter of cinema hoardings after attending an art school in Mumbai. He depicted Indian subject matter in the style of contemporary European art movements, particularly Cubism.

The Indian Civilisation series, also known as Vision of India through Mohenjo-daro to Mahatma Gandhi, was commissioned by the Mittal family in 2008 and have never been on public display previously.

Usha Mittal, who has lent the paintings to the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, where the artist completed a residency in 1990, commented: “Spanning mythology, architecture and popular culture, the Indian Civilisation Series is the final achievement of MF Husain, an artist whose work was continually inspired by traditions of India. I was privileged to see this series as it was created and am delighted that it will be shown at the V&A, a lasting tribute to Husain and his vision.” The paintings were made in London, where Husain spent his final years immersing himself in books about Indian history.

Each panel explores a different theme, creating a personal vision of India, which Husain called “a museum without walls”. Interweaving religious and symbolic iconography with historic figures and events, the paintings also incorporate memories from the artist’s own life.