Abraham Manievich

Property from an Estate, New York

Baltimore, Peabody Academy, 1923-1924 (probably)
Philadelphia, Philadelphia Art Alliance, 1923 (probably)

This painting on canvas mounted on board has most likely been fairly recently cleaned and if the liner of the frame were to be freshened, the picture could be hung as is. The colorful palette employed by the artist reads quite strongly under ultraviolet light yet there do not appear to have been any damages or retouches. The canvas is well adhered to the board, except in the upper left where there are a couple of small areas that have become slightly detached. Overall the condition is excellent. 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 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."

Lyrical Landscape typifies the high level of artistry that brought Abraham Manievich prominence and acclaim in Russia from the early 1910s until he immigrated to the United States in 1921. Created either shortly before or after his arrival in America in early 1922, this painting, with its elegant arabesques, passionate color and forms suggestive of Hebrew letters, is characteristic of Manievich's work from this period. The artist's mystical artistic imagery reflects the fundamental concept in Jewish thought that the world is created from letters. His haunting symbolism includes a goat, possibly suggesting the Biblical scapegoat, followed by a rooster which may allude to resurrection and the coming of the messiah. This work is probably the painting exhibited with the same title at the Peabody Academy in Baltimore in 1923-1924 and at the Philadelphia Art Alliance in 1923. It relates to two other Manievich paintings: the later Bronx River Park (circa 1923) and the earlier Through the Trees, Fairy Park (circa 1920, reproduced in Russian Jewish Artists, Prestel, 1995).