Ivan Pavlovich Pokhitonov

Private Collection, New York
Private Collection, Florida, mid 1970s

This oil on cradled panel is in beautiful condition. The painting has not been cleaned for a number of years, but is not particularly dirty. The paint layer is in beautiful condition. There are no restorations. There are a few tiny dark specks in the lower sky which will probably be removed when the varnish is cleaned. The signature in the lower right is original and the picture can be hung as is, or it can be cleaned to reveal a brighter palette in lovely condition. 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."

"If you want to refresh and relax," claimed writer Kornei Chukovsky, "turn to the miniatures of Pokhitonov. One cannot possibly find anything better—how glorious, how poetic, how light and airy the masterful brush of this wonderful artist" (as quoted in V. Petrov, Ivan Pokhitonov, 2003).

Pokhitonov's contemporaries perceived his talent in much the same way. The great Pavel Tretyakov purchased over twenty of Pokhitonov's works for his collection, and artists Alexei Bogoliubov, Vasily Polenov and Ilya Repin dubbed him the "wizard," for they all fell under his spell. Repin once wrote to him, "I always admire your beautiful creations; they will forever remain part of our Russian art. I feel these works mirror your pure and kind soul" (ibid., p. 21). Even Western Europeans were impressed; Ernest Meissonier, Jules Bastien-Lepage, Gustave Moreau and Eugène Carrière found inspiration in his miniatures, while Jules Dupré and Henri Harpignies were his friends, imparting him with their Barbizon philosophy and plein-air technique. Spring, most likely executed in Switzerland in 1887, is a beautiful example of Pokhitonov's talent for painting the outdoors.

We would like to thank Olivier Bertrand for providing additional catalogue information. This lot will be included in his forthcoming Pokhitonov catalogue raisonné under number 24.