Russian Art

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Lot 337
  • 337

Alexandre Iacovleff

Estimate
300,000 - 400,000 USD
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Description

  • Alexandre Iacovleff
  • Pénélope, 1927

  • signed A. Jacovleff and dated 1929 (lower right)

  • tempera on canvas
  • 83 by 67 in.
  • 211 by 170 cm

Provenance

Collection of Alex Liberman, Paris
Collection of Roger Prigent (acquired directly from the above circa 1980)
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Exhibited

Paris, Galerie Vendôme, Alexandre Iacovleff, November--December, 1965, no. 46

Literature

Galerie Vendôme, Alexandre Iacovleff, Paris, 1965, no. 46, pp. 12, 18, 20, illustrated
Musée des Années 30, Alexandre Iacovleff: Itinérances, Somogy: Paris, 2004, pp. 108, 113, illustrated

Catalogue Note

In Greek mythology, Penelope was the wife of the hero Odysseus.  During Odysseus' absence after the Trojan war, Penelope was besieged by numerous suitors.  In order to eschew the imminent indignity and keep the suitors at bay, she conspired to weave a burial shroud for Odysseus' father Laertes, claiming that only after the shroud's completion would she consider remarrying.  For three years Penelope wove the shroud during the day only to unravel her work at night, craftily delaying the day she would be forced to choose another husband. Although her maidens discovered and revealed her deception, Odysseus' timely return confirmed her fidelity.

The present work was purchased by Roger Prigent from the collection of Alex Liberman, artistic director of Condé Nast publications and husband of Tatiana Yakovleva (Alexandre Iacovleff's niece). Mr. Prigent purchased the work in the 1980s while working as a photographer for Vogue.