Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky

Acquired from an estate sale by the present owner, 1983

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting is in very fresh and in good condition painted on an unreinforced single piece of mahogany. The paint layer is stable, cleaned and varnished. We're unaware of any retouches and recommend the picture be hung in its current state.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Works such as The Puppet received great acclaim and popularity following their display at exhibitions of the Saint Petersburg Society of Artists. In the present composition, the girl's thick hair, mischievous facial expression, coquettish look and vibrant smile convey her unrestrained nature as a child. The idealisation of her features and realistic style are typical of Makovsky's portraits. The contrast of light and dark illuminates the central aspects of the piece—the dress, the toy puppet and the face—effectively conveying the theme of childhood simplicity in the Russian countryside.