- 181
Dmitri Semenovich Stelletsky
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description
- Dmitri Semenovich Stelletsky
- L'Armée aux drapeaux déployés
- signed in Latin l.r.: further inscribed in Cyrillic on the reverse
- gouache over pencil on paper
- 69 by 51cm, 27 1/4 by 20 in.
Provenance
Acquired by Henri Le Boeuf in Brussels in 1928
Acquired from the above by Mrs. Neuhauser
A gift from the above to the parents of the present owner in 1955
Acquired from the above by Mrs. Neuhauser
A gift from the above to the parents of the present owner in 1955
Exhibited
Brussels, Palais des Beaux Arts, Exposition d'Art Russe ancien et moderne, May-June 1928, no.911
Literature
Exhibition catalogue Exposition d'Art Russe ancien et moderne, Brussels, 1928, p.81, no.911, listed as "L'armée aux drapeaux déployés"
Condition
The sheet is time stained and there is scattered spots of foxing. The sheet has undulated slightly along the top and bottom edges. There is a layer of surface dirt. The sheet is hinged to the mount in three places along the top edge. Held in a simple 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."
"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
The present gouache is from the second set of illustrations Stelletsky made for The Tale of Igor’s Campaign, the famous 12th century epic poem. The set consists of 54 works, 24 of which were shown at the Exposition d'Art Russe ancien et modern in Brussels in May 1928. Stelletsky and Dobuzhinsky worked on the decor of this exhibition. The present lot is listed in the catalogue under no.911 as belonging to Henry Le Bœuf of Brussels, a famous banker, patron of the arts and music lover, who financed the construction of the Palais des Beaux-Arts designed by Victor Horta.
The art critic Sergei Makovsky (1877-1962) regarded these illustrations for The Tale of Igor’s Campaign together with the decoration for the Church of St Sergei of Radonezh as Stelletsky’s two major accomplishments. The fact that the remainder of the second version was stolen from Stelletsky when he was living in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, makes the works acquired by Henry Le Bœuf especially rare.
The inscription in pencil on the reverse may either be the artist’s own hand or dictated by him, relate to the mighty warriors of Prince Igor on parade in the present work. Many elements follow the traditions of icon painting and are taken from Russian illuminated manuscripts, as well as from paintings from the old monasteries of Central and Northern Russia dating from the 12th to the 16th centuries, which the artist has studied first-hand before the Revolution.
Stylistic details such as the isocephalic arrangement of the pointed helmets; the treatment of the faces, hands and drapes which recalls icon painting; the horses' bodies made up of flat planes with strong outlines; the economy of form and the free treatment of the faces and details; the restrained colours and the flexible bodies; and the unrealistic colours of the horses’ robes lend this icon work a certain magic.
The art critic Sergei Makovsky (1877-1962) regarded these illustrations for The Tale of Igor’s Campaign together with the decoration for the Church of St Sergei of Radonezh as Stelletsky’s two major accomplishments. The fact that the remainder of the second version was stolen from Stelletsky when he was living in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, makes the works acquired by Henry Le Bœuf especially rare.
The inscription in pencil on the reverse may either be the artist’s own hand or dictated by him, relate to the mighty warriors of Prince Igor on parade in the present work. Many elements follow the traditions of icon painting and are taken from Russian illuminated manuscripts, as well as from paintings from the old monasteries of Central and Northern Russia dating from the 12th to the 16th centuries, which the artist has studied first-hand before the Revolution.
Stylistic details such as the isocephalic arrangement of the pointed helmets; the treatment of the faces, hands and drapes which recalls icon painting; the horses' bodies made up of flat planes with strong outlines; the economy of form and the free treatment of the faces and details; the restrained colours and the flexible bodies; and the unrealistic colours of the horses’ robes lend this icon work a certain magic.
We are grateful to Cyril Semenoff-Tian-Chansky for providing this catalogue note.