KARACHI: Legendary artist Ahmed Saeed Nagi, official artist of the freedom movement who had the honour of painting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1944 and whose name was included in the Encyclopaedia of World Art, passed away at the Aga Khan Hospital here on Friday night. He was 90.
Born on Feb 2, 1916, Nagi acquired education in Amritsar, Lahore, Delhi and Paris. In recognition of his status and outstanding achievements as a painter, he was conferred on the President’s Award for Pride of Performance.
He also won gold and silver medals from the Simla Fine Art Society and got the second prize from the All India Academy of Fine Art, Mumbai. He exhibited his paintings in Paris, London, Zagreb, New York, Tehran, Delhi, Simla, Lahore and Karachi.
Nagi, who leaves behind three sons and a daughter, worked for the freedom movement from 1944 to 1947 and completed assignments suggested by the Quaid-e-Azam and Liaquat Ali Khan in Lahore and other cities.
He also worked as a decorator for the Commerce Ministry and decorated stalls in an international exhibition in Karachi. His two stalls — Export Pavilion and Tourist Bureau — received a gold medal after being adjudged best at the exhibition.
