Konstantin Vasilievich Kandaurov

Acquired by the grandfather of the present owner in Moscow in 1917

Possibly Moscow, Mikhailova Art Salon, The 2nd Exhibition of Contemporary Decorative Art, 1917

There is a tear in the sheet in the neck and the head of the horse in the foreground. There are flecks of paint loss in places, notably to the sixth tree from the left and the blue garment of the male figure at the far right. Fine patterns of craquelure are visible in places, notably to the area below the pond and to the tree trunks. There are surface scratches in places. The surface is covered in a light layer of dirt and there are glue stains and flecks of dirt in places. The sheet is attached to the mount along all four edges. 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."

Konstantin Kandaurov was a celebrated theatre designer and secretary of the World of Art group. A well-connected and entrepreneurial artist, in addition to his association with the World of Art he organised a series of exhibitions independently in Moscow in the 1910s. The Mikhailova Art Salon on Bolshaya Dmitrovka was a commercial exhibition space which existed between 1912 and 1917 and the site of three such shows. It was here at Kandaurov’s 2nd Exhibition of Contemporary Decorative Art of 1917 that this work was apparently acquired by the present owner’s grandfather who was then a delegate to the Commission for Relief in Belgium.