Russian Paintings Day Sale

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Lot 424
  • 424

Sviatoslav Roerich

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • Sviatoslav Roerich
  • Portrait of an old Tibetan

  • signed with the artist's monogram l.r.

  • charcoal and pastel on paper
  • 61.5 by 43cm, 24 1/4 by 17 in.

Provenance

Georges Chklaver, Centre Roerich de Paris
Acquired by the present owner in 2005

Condition

There are some creaes and pinholes in the top left corner of the sheet, There are some light scratches in places and some surface dirt. Held in a carved wooden frame behind glass. 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."

Catalogue Note

Sviatoslav Roerich studied architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and continued his education in the US, but the allure of the Orient eventually prevailed and in 1931 he joined the rest of his family in India. Unlike his brother Yuri who returned to the USSR after their father's death, Svyatoslav lived there permanently, married a leading Indian film star and grew to prominence as an artist, classicist and philosopher. Nikolai Roerich admired his son's ability to 'bring the beautiful to life' and the 'harmonious intensity' of the portraits for which Svyatoslav is famed. Following in the tradition of Indian miniatures, he prepared many of the striking colours himself from local Himalayan plants and in his portraiture strove for mood and spirituality above realism, writing that 'a successful portrait is more than just resemblance'. His celebrated portraits of Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru hang in the Central Hall of the Indian Parliament.