Ahora

Important Russian Art

OVERVIEW

Exceptional twentieth century works in the upcoming Evening sale showcase émigré artists who brought Russian sensibilities to new territories, among them Zinaida Serebriakova, Nikolai Roerich and Vasily Shukhaev. A rare Cubist masterpiece by Natalia Goncharova, Femme Cubiste, (£600,000-800,000) highlights her place at the forefront of artistic innovation in Modernist Paris. Lado Gudiashvili also caused a stir in the city with his exotic compositions, such as the magnificent work currently on offer, Temptation(£400,000-600,000), which was first exhibited at the Salon d‘Automne in 1922.

A group of paintings by David Burliuk display his unique Cubo-Futurist and Radio-Style techniques. Two of the works were exhibited in Japan in the early 1920s, and the third was used to illustrate Burliuk’s own Radio-Style manifesto after his move to the United States. Nikolai Fechin also settled in New York and his depiction of a family meal, Mrs. Fechin and Daughter (£500,000-700,000), radiates with longing for his native Russia. It has remained in a private American collection for the last forty years.

Nineteenth century highlights include superb landscapes and cityscapes by Vasily Polenov, Ivan Pokhitonov and Alessio Issupoff. A spectacular work by Petr Vereshchagin transports us back to imperial St. Petersburg. Entitled View of Palace Square (£300,000-500,000), it has remained in the same private collection since it was purchased from the artist 120 years ago. Also fresh to the market is Carlo Bossoli’s monumental View of the Moscow Kremlin from Ustinsky Bridge (£150,000-200,000).

The undisputed mastery of Ivan Aivazovsky comes to the fore in a trio of works: the rare Neapolitan viewFishermen at Dawn (£200,000-300,000), the dramatic Hauling a Horse and Cart Out of Ice (£250,000-350,000) and Ukranian Landscape at Night (£300,000-500,000), which was once in collection of the last Ottoman Ambassador to Russia.

We look forward to seeing you in our New Bond St galleries from Friday 31st May to see these highlights and other masterpieces from the Important Russian Art sale, which will take place on the evening of Monday 3rd June.