Konstantin Makovsky

Sale: Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, 19-23 November 1957, lot 2280
Private Collection, Switzerland (sale: Sotheby's, London, 1 December 2005, lot 25)
Sale: Sotheby's, London, 30 November 2010, lot 148
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

The canvas has not been lined and it is providing a stable support. Ultraviolet light reveals some minor retouching, primarily to a circa 5cm repaired tear in the left half of the ceiling (patched on the reverse) and a few scattered spots in the lower right corner and in the wall near the centre of the left edge. There are some minor fine lines of craquelure consistent with an unlined painting of this age, for example under close inspection in the left door of the cupboard in the wall. This painting is in good condition and, although its appearance could be further enhanced with a light surface clean if desired, it is ready to hang. Held in a decorative gilt frame. The colours in the original are richer and more contrasted than in the catalogue illustration.
"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."

This highly original and animated scene of a schoolroom is testament to Makovsky's fascination with life in Cairo when he visited the city in 1873. Rather than focus on obvious subjects like views of the city or the interiors of the grand Mosques and souks, he was drawn to more intimate, 'behind-the-scenes' vignettes of daily life in the Egyptian capital. Here, he captures two school lessons in progress in an authentic, unidealised interior: the children's books lie open on their book stands; everyone has removed their shoes, which stand in rows or have been shoved pell mell into the cupboards let into the walls. Some of the children sit on rolled up straw carpets, and the whole scene is illuminated by daylight coming through the mashrabiye screens covering the high windows. In the background the classroom entrance opens onto a narrow Cairo street. Egypt's culture and traditions went on to inspire his most important Orientalist work, the monumental Transportation of the Holy Carpet from Mecca to Cairo (fig.1).

Makovsky's choice and close observation of such an everyday subject is testament to his deeply held artistic convictions. He had started out as a history and portrait painter, but disenchanted with the rigid traditionalism of the Imperial Academy of Arts in St Peterburg while studying there, he and twelve other students, including Ilya Repin, resigned from the Academy in 1863 and went on to found The Wanderers, an artists' society calling for the regeneration of art. Adopting a Realist manner and touring their paintings across Russia, these artists took as their subjects scenes from the lives of peasants and the common people, intended to arouse pity or inspire the oppressed to better themselves. The reversal of official policy that their campaign engendered led to Makovsky being made an academician in 1867, a professor in 1869, and a full member of the Academy in 1898.