Lot 115
  • 115

Vassily Grigorievich Khudiakov and Friedrich Adolf Hornemann

Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Vassily Grigorievich Khudiakov and Friedrich Adolf Hornemann
  • Portrait of a Lady and Portrait of a Gentleman
  • Portrait of Lady: signed in Cyrillic and dated 1853 m.r.
    Portrait of a Gentleman: signed in Latin and dated 1857 l.l.
  • oil on canvas
  • Portrait of a Lady image size: 73 by 56cm, 28 3/4 by 22in.; Portrait of a Gentleman image size: 73 by 58cm, 28 3/4 by 22 3/4 in.

Condition

Portrait of Lady Original canvas. There is a repair to the canvas visible on the reverse. There are frame abrasions along the edges with some minor associated paint loss. There are areas of lines of stable craquelure throughout, particularly around the right shoulder of the sitter, likely caused by impact. UV light reveals retouching to the aforementioned repair in the middle right as well as some minor scattered retouching, but a thick layer of discoloured varnish prevents a conclusive analysis. Held in a gold painted wooden frame with plaster moulding. Unexamined out of frame. Portrait of a Gentleman Original canvas which is attached possibly to its original wooden stretcher. There are abrasions around all four edges of the canvas with some associated paint loss. There are abrasions and scratches with minor associated paint loss in the areas around the painted oval. There are pinholes along the top and bottom edges. There is stable and fine craquelure throughout. UV light reveals retouching along the edge of the painted oval and some very minor scattered retouching in places, but a layer of discoloured varnish prevents a conclusive analysis. Held in a gold painted wooden frame with plaster moulding. 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

Painted only a few years apart, these two portraits are thought to form a pair, possibly depicting husband and wife. The male portrait was painted by Friedrich Adolf Hornemann, a German artist working in Hamburg who is known to have travelled to St Petersburg on several occasions, and who was a honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts. While in the Russian capital it is possible that he met Vassily Khudiakov, the author of the female portrait. It is interesting to note that the same year Khudiakov executed the present portrait he also painted one of his best-known works, Skirmish with Finnish Smugglers (1853), the first ever painting by a Russian artist to be acquired by Pavel Tretyakov. On 10 (22) May 1856, Tretyakov received a receipt from Khudiakov for the 450 roubles he had paid for the work. This date is generally considered to be the founding date of the Tretyakov Gallery.