Vasily Petrovich Vereschagin

Acquired by the grandparents of the current owner in Mosow in 1947

Original canvas. UV light reveals evidence of possible retouching in the lower right quartile and a thick layer of opaque varnish which prevents further examination. Held in a gold painted 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."

The offered painting is a study for one of Vasily Vereshagin's most famous paintings, Prison Visit, 1868, which was exhibited in Rome (1868), London (1872) and Paris (1878) and is currently in the collection of The State Tretyakov Gallery. The finished version is mentioned in a letter written by Alexander Rizzoni to Pavel Tretyakov from Rome in 1868: 'We have just had an exhibition at the Piazzo del Populo where the a prize of 500 franks was awarded for the best work. The winner was none other than our friend Vereshagin for his painting 'A young woman visits her incarcerated husband with her child' (Pis'ma khudozhnikov Tretyakovu 1856-1869. p.205). The subject of the painting was drawn from the repressive period in Italy that followed the movement led by Garibaldi during the 1840-60s. The Kiev Museum of Russian Art owns several sketches for the work.