Alexei Petrovich Bogoliubov

Acquired from the artist in St. Petersburg, 1870 by Tsar Alexander III for 450 roubles
Annichkov Palace, St. Petersburg from 1870
Alexander Palace, Tsarskoe Selo from 1870s
Alexander Palace Museum 1917-1931

Catalogue of the Collection of Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrevich, 1872, No. 268, with additional note written by Alexander III 'in Tsarskoe Selo'
Catalogue of the collection in the Alexander Palace, 1880-1890, No.191/268
V.I.Yakovlev, Alexandrovskii Dvorets-Muzei v Detskom Sele, Leningrad, 1928, p.184, No.196

Original canvas. There is a layer of surface dirt and discoloured varnish. A cluster of suface scratches are visible to the middle of the right hand edge of the work which are slightly whiter than they appear in the catalogue image. A further chip to the paint surface is visble to the top left quadrant of the work and there are smaller flecks of paintloss in places elsewhere, particularly to the lower inner frame edge. Fine lines of craquelure are visible in places throughout, and some are slightly deeper to the centre of the sky and in places at the edges. Some spots of restoration are visible in places, e.g. top right and the work would benefit from cleaning by a professional restorer. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a few spots of retouching to the lower left and lower right hand corners. Held in a moulded gold painted plaster 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."

Alexei Petrovich Bogoliubov's service with the Baltic Fleet led to a particular interest in the history of the Russian navy. He received a gold medal for his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts from 1850 to 1853, and was appointed official artist to the Supreme Naval Staff the same year. He became a member of the Academy in 1858, and in 1860 was officially titled 'Professor of Seascapes'.

In 1870 Bogoliubov accompanied the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich on a European tour, which encompassed visits to many countries, including Holland. In his memoirs, Notes of a Sailor-Artist, the artist recalls, "We savoured the museums of each city, starting with Amsterdam and The Hague. To the Grand Duke's credit, he viewed everything meticulously and lovingly, for which he is indebted to his mother who encouraged a love of art in all her children. Harlem, Utrecht, Rotterdam and the other cities and towns – we visited them all with learning in mind." Bogoliubov frequently painted views of these cities, which combine realistic foreshortening and an expressive palette with precise and recognisable architectural motifs.

Alexander bought View of Arnhem directly from Bogoliubov in St Petersburg in 1870 for 450 roubles, evidently as a souvenir of his tour of Europe with the Grand Duke. In the nineteenth century, Arnhem was a beautiful port on the right bank of the Lower Rhine, built on the remains of medieval fortifications. In this large-scale picture the artist has painted several vessels under construction, testifying to the trading port's importance; a panoramic view of the city with the tall spires of the medieval cathedrals forms the background. With its 93 meter spire, this late Gothic cathedral built during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, was one of the tallest in the Netherlands.

Bogoliubov masterfully incorporates the various planes within his composition; the delicate palette captures the lighting perfectly, and distinguishes this as the work of an artist at the peak of his creative brilliance. It preserves the artist's perception of the city's vibrant spirit despite being completed from sketches, and is an excellent example of Bogoliubov's artistic style.

We are grateful to Rifat Gafifullin, Curator of Archives at the Pavlovsk State Museum, for providing additional cataloguing information and to Dr. Elena Nesterova, Professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, for writing the note for this lot.