Lev Feliksovich Lagorio

Acquired by the present owner in France in the 1950s

Original canvas, which is slightly slack on the stretcher. There are frame abrasions with associated paint loss along the edges. There are cracks to the sandy path in the foreground and fine craquelure in places. There are flecks of gold paint along the left and bottom edges. Inspection under UV light reveals an area of minor retouching to the sky. Held in its original gold painted 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."

Lots 6 and 7 represent two major strands in Lagorio’s oeuvre, coastal views of the Crimea and the valleys of the Caucasus. A native of Feodosia, Lagorio began his training in 1839 in the Crimean studio of Ivan Aivazovsky, who had recently graduated from the Imperial Academy of Arts. Throughout Lagorio's life he would often turn to the Crimea for inspiration, working from his studio in Sudak during summer. Lagorio was also drawn in turn to the Caucasus, visiting the region in 1851 on a scholarship from the Imperial Academy. It was a group of Caucasian views from the early 1860s that earned him the prestigious Order of St Anna and praise from Alexander II. Following this official recognition, he was invited to join the 1863 Caucasian campaign as part of the entourage of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich.

Lagorio revelled in the play of light at different moments of the day and the offered paintings demonstrate his skill in depicting both shadow and light. In both scenes the figures are dwarfed by the beauty and drama of the sea and the mountains. The offered lots have remained in the same family since the 1950s and are sold in their original frames manufactured by the Beggrov workshop in St Petersburg.