A fine assortment of works by leading modern and contemporary Indian artists as well as rare miniatures from the country will be the highlight of Sotheby's June 16 annual sale of Indian art here that is valued at nearly 1.2 million pounds (Rs 9.44 crore).

A significant number of the 86 lots on offer have exemplary provenance, having long been part of private collections.

Jogen Chowdhury's 1979 ink and pastel composition "Day Dreaming" -- which is gracing the cover of the sale catalogue -- highlights the artists distinctive style of fluid lines and simple forms defined by crosshatching, a style which derives from his appreciation of the Bengal 'pat tradition'.

The composition, which never offered at auction before and one of the largest works of its type by Chowdhury to ever come to the market, is estimated at 80,000-120,000 pounds.

An untitled painting by Manjit Bawa, which featured on the front cover of the first-ever issue of Art India in 1996, is another notable highlight and is expected to fetch 70,000-100,000 pounds.

Bawa's work questions the dynamics of the relationship between humans and the animal world and the icons and myths of both.

A group of works by noted Bengal painter Nandalal Bose will also be up for grabs.