Lot 9
  • 9

Ilya Efimovich Repin

Estimate
250,000 - 350,000 GBP
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Description

  • Ilya Efimovich Repin
  • Self-Portrait
  • signed in Cyrillic and dated 1917 l.l.
  • oil on linoleum
  • 53 by 76cm, 21 by 30in.

Provenance

Vasily Levi, Finland, 1919
Karl Lenbom, Sweden, 1921
Christie's London, Russian Pictures, 30 November 2005, lot 162

Exhibited

New York, Kingore Galleries, The Ilya Repin Exhibition, 1921, no.14

Literature

C.Brinton, The Ilya Repin Exhibition, New York, 1921, no.14 illustrated in b/w

Condition

The linoleum support is buckling and the texture of the material is visible through the paint surface. Nails are visible along all four edges. Inspection under UV light reveals some scattered retouching throughout, in particular to the sitter's shirt and cloak in the lower right quarter of the canvas. Held in a hand carved wooden frame. 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

First exhibited in New York in 1921, the present self-portrait can be compared to Repin’s portraits of Sir George Buchanan, the British Ambassador to Russia, as well as of Alexander Kerensky, the leader of the Provisional Government. Like most of Repin’s works from the time of the First World War, these are all painted on linoleum since the artist had a limited supply of primed French canvas.

According to the exhibition catalogue, the present lot was painted in Kuokkala in 1917, but it is known from letters that it was in fact paid for in 1916 by M.Medvedeva, while the painting was still unfinished. That same year Repin painted a portrait of Medvedeva. She reminded the artist of the unfinished self-portrait throughout 1917. He was busy working on other paintings however, and the events that unfolded in Russia would prevent him from fulfilling the contract. On the 24th of November, in the uncertain period following the October Revolution a celebration was held in Repin’s honour at the foyer of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in Petrograd. This would be his last visit to the city and to his native Russia – Kuokkola and Repin’s estate ‘Penates’ would henceforth be on Finnish territory following Finland’s independence in early 1918.

War and Revolution had taken everything from Repin, but he continued to paint in his studio at ‘Penates’. Over 70 years old, he did not have the energy to organise exhibitions and it was not until 1920 that Vasily Levi, a notary and amateur artist who had left Petrograd to settle across the border in Terijoki, convinced Repin to agree to a large solo exhibition in America. The agent organising the show was the Swedish businessman Karl Lenbom. On 20 May 1920, Levi writes to Repin that he has received payment in full for the works which he had sold on to Lenbom. The catalogue lists over forty works including the present lot, he last self-portrait he painted in Russia. In 1920, Repin would paint another self-portrait also on linoleum (fig.3), which is now on exhibition in Repin’s winter studio at ‘Penates’.

We would like to thank Lyudmila Andrushchenko, senior researcher and curator of the Repin estate museum ‘Penates’, for providing additional catalogue information.