On Wednesday, September 18, 2019, the original painting for Sidharth Chaturvedi’s Basic Plains from Throne of Eldraine was sold via auction on the MTG Art Market for $4,000.
Plains by Sidharth Chaturvedi, oils on board, 11.8” x 15.7”
Basic Plains by Sidharth Chaturvedi is a work of oils on board measuring approximately 11.8 inches by 15.7 inches. It was one of four different illustrations commissioned as a basic land for Magic’s Fall expansion, Throne of Eldraine. The set transports players to a fantasy-meets-fairytale world, where lush landscapes and faerie circles as we see here abound. This is his very first basic land for Magic.
The auction was run by the artist’s agent, Vorthos Mike, exclusively on the MTG Art Market, and opened immediately at the $3,000 initial ask. The work remained at that number until the 15 minute to-go mark, when a private challenger increased the bid by $100. This sparked off a short stint of bidding as the painting began to climb, eventually summiting at a $4,000 public bid from known collector Joshua Patel.
Sid’s Basic Plains has some of the thickest brushstrokes you’ll find in the game today, and you can see every stroke and every intention to make this work sing at both card size and in a frame on your wall. Next time you open one, take a couple seconds to look close; it may soon become one of your favorite basics as it has become one of mine.
About the Artist:
Sidhart Chaturvedi is a fast rising star among Magic illustrators, having illustrated 49 cards as of the writing of this article. He has created some of the most dynamic works of the past several sets—Daring Archeologist, for example—and is an artist to watch as he continues to knock his Magic commissions right out of the park.