Vladimir Vasilevich Lebedev

The family of the artist
Phillips London, Russian 20th Century and Avant-garde Art, 27 November 1989, lot 34
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Original canvas, which is undulated in places throughout and is slightly loose on the stretcher. There is a layer of light surface dirt and fine lines of craquelure in the lower half. UV light reveals no apparent signs of retouching. Held in a gold and green painted frame. Unexamined out of frame. To be sold unframed.
"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."

Executed in 1931

In the early 1930s Vladimir Lebedev began to use a much wider palette not dissimilar to that of Manet and the Impressionists. In his still lifes from this period, especially those depicting flowers in glass vases, the subjects dissolve into the light and spacious settings losing their sharply delineated edges and becoming painterly in style. Through the simple device of 'gathering' the dark areas at the centre of the composition and brightening the outer edges, Lebedev produces a distinctive shimmering surface in his paintings. Set against the light, the bouquets demonstrate his adroit use of contre-jour, which creates the glow of semi-precious stone through the cloudy yellow water. In Still Life with Flowers, softly gleaming colour expresses this lyric intelligence which characterised Lebedev's talent.

We are grateful to Natalya Kozyreva, Head of the Department of Drawings and Watercolours from XVIII-XXI centuries at the State Russian Museum. St. Petersburg, for providing this note.