Lot 818
  • 818

Alexander Nikolaevich Benois

Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
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Description

  • Alexander Nikolaevich Benois
  • L'Hôtel Carnavalet, Paris and Le Jardin du Roi, Versailles
  • one signed and inscribed in Latin and dated 15 avril 1941 l.l. and l.r., further signed and inscribed in Latin, dated 1941 and stamped with inventory stamp on reverse; the other signed in Latin l.r. and dated 25/7/1942 and inscribed 5-6 h. du soir l.l.

  • both watercolour and ink over pencil on paper, one with gouache
  • 30 by 39.5cm, 11 3/4 by 15 1/2 in.; 33 by 44cm, 13 by 17 1/4 in.

Condition

Hotel Carnavalet: the edges of the sheet are unevenly cut and there are some small tears to the edges. There are a few minor creases in places. The sheet has discoloured and there is a layer of light surface dirt. Jardin du Roi: the sheet is discoloured and slightly undulated. There are spots of foxing to the sky and in places elsewhere, although mostly on the mount. Held in a carved wooden frame and under 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

 

"I am shocked and delighted with its beauty and splendour" wrote Benois to Princess Tenisheva on first moving to Paris in 1896. He was overwhelmed by the variety of impressions and the pace of  the city that would become his home for much of his life, and yet as he later recalled 'The mood of Paris at that epoch, the Parisian air itself, which seemed to us extraordinarily vivifying, even intoxicating and light, was particularly to our liking'.  The present group of watercolours are lovely examples of his appreciation of the capital's streets, gardens, churches and rooftop views, matched by his interest in the collections of the Louvre, the Bibliothèque nationale and the Hôtel Carnavalet, which he describes lovingly in his memoirs.