Nikolai Petrovich Bogdanov-Belsky

The canvas has been lined and the paint surface is slightly dirty. There are minor wear and frame abrasions to the edges. There is an area of paint shrinkage approximately 10cm above the vase in the lower right corner. UV light reveals a U-shaped line of retouching underneath the chair and further small areas of retouching in places. There is a layer of uneven discoloured varnish. Held in a dark wooden frame. Unexamined out of frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In the summer of 1907, Bogdanov-Belsky left St Petersburg and moved into his dacha named ‘Seagull’ on Lake Udomlya in Tver province. Working alongside Korovin and Zhukovsky, Bogdanov-Belsky took particular interest in daily life of the local village and school. Watching the children learn he remarked: ‘...their spontaneity, and talents, ...naturally led them to be the main characters of my paintings" (N. Lapidus, Bogdanov-Belsky, Moscow: Belyi-gorod, 2005, p.16).

A year later, workshops were opened at the dacha to teach the local children crafts. Pupils held musical evenings here, in which which Bogdanov-Belsky often took part, playing the piano and balalaika and singing in a rich baritone. The aspirations of the local children towards education, art and music became a frequent subject in Bogdanov-Belsky's most famous compositions.

The offered lot is thought to have been executed during this late Russian period between 1907-1920, before the artist left for Riga. The atmosphere of carefree domesticity is enhanced by the vivid red and purple tones of the children’s garments, with their lack of self-consciousness complemented by the apparent lack of order and scattered objects. Such large-scale works from Bogdanov-Belsky's pre-emigration years are exceptionally rare. There are two other known versions of the present lot: Children playing the Piano (1918, The State Tretyakov Gallery, 106.5 by 135.7cm); the second illustrated in an early edition of Riga’s periodical, Perezvony, under the title Sotsializatsia (fig.1). Each version differs subtly in the details, notably the porcelain on the floor and in the basket.

We are grateful to Nina Lapidus for providing additional cataloguing information.