Vasily Dmitrievich Milioti

The panel is sound, the edges are slightly uneven. An extremely fine vertical join approximately 6cm in from the right hand edge is just visible in the panel. There is a slight indentation in the lower left edge. Just above the indentation is a very small chip in the panel which has been restored. There are slight frame abrasions at the edges with associated minor paint loss, particularly in the corners. There is very fine craquelure in places, such as the figure of the woman, which is lifting slightly in the bouquet, along the edge of her dress and above her head. There is a light covering of surface dirt. Minor flecks of paint loss are just visible in places such as just above the train of her dress and 10cm from the right and 4.5cm from the bottom edges. On the reverse five old woodworm holes are visible. Held behind glass in a double sided metal 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."

On the reverse of the present lot is a study of a family portrait in an interior.

The present lot is a stunning example of a rare work by the Blue Rose member Vasily Milioti. Young Woman in a Garden belongs to the so-called ‘second wave’ of Russian Symbolism and was painted in the same year as Morning (fig.1) in the collection of the State Russian Museum. In this painting Milioti uses his characteristic, highly ornamental technique, decorating the surface with a series of ‘peacock eyes’. The woman’s dress is made up of interlaced patterns and lines, and the flowers in the garden through which she promenades are echoed in her clothes and the cascading bouquet which tumbles from her hands. This depiction of the garden is a reflection of the inner world of the artist, one of reverie and recollection. The viewer is reminded of the paradise of the Garden of Eden, entirely distant and unreal, and it is precisely this profound, enchanting otherworldliness which draws the viewer in.