LAHORE: Renowned watercolourist Pirzada Najmul Hassan passed away here on Monday. He was 64.

A painter of nature who had his own style when it came to painting trees, clouds and skies, he met an unexpected tragic death.

Fifteen days ago, he sat in a rickshaw. The moment the driver turned the ignition key an LPG cylinder fitted in the vehicle caught fire and exploded.

The rickshaw driver died after five days of the accident.

Mr Hassan, who received about 10 per cent burn injuries on his face and right side, was admitted to Mayo Hospital where he was recovering fast.

On Sunday night he insisted on going home at Walton Road where he was living with his sister. He passed away around 11 am on Monday.

His nephew Abdullah told Dawn that he was recovering fast at the hospital, but he was feeling uncomfortable there.

Mr Hassan was born in Lahore on March 16, 1951.

Known watercolourist Dr Ajaz Anwar, Nayyer Ali Dada, cartoonist Javed Iqbal, Hamial Art Gallery owner Jamil, Coopera Art Gallery Director Mohammad Javed were among prominent people who attended Mr Hassan’s funeral at Walton Road.

His qul will be held near his residence after Zuhr prayers on Wednesday.

Dr Ajaz Anwar said Mr Hassan basically belonged to Karachi. He got his education in art from Karachi School of Arts. In 1981 he shifted to Lahore for good.

He said Mr Hassan had his own particular style. His forte was trees, clouds and skies.

He never used white highlights watercolourists use to hide the weak portions of the painting, such an accurate hand was he, Mr Anwar added.

He said Mr Hassan was a dervish type artist who managed his bread and butter by selling his paintings. He never did a job.

Dr Anwar said the incident which resulted in the artist’s death should be seen as a threat to people who travelled in rickshaws and vans and urged the government to ban the use of faulty cylinders in vehicles.

Renowned architect Nayyer Ali Dada said Mr Hassan had a major role in the Lahore’s history of fine arts where he had a great contribution as a watercolourist in the visual art scene.

Mr Dada said Mr Hassan was a dervish who had full commitment to his work. He was among top watercolourists of the country.

Cartoonist Javed Iqbal, a close friend of the late artist, told Dawn that Mr Hassan was a very down-to-earth person. He was a regular feature of all exhibitions of artworks in the city. He would always meet with a smile on his face. His death was an extreme loss for the artist fraternity, he added.