- 73
IVAN BILIBIN 1876 - 1942
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 EUR
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Description
- The Archer's wife before the Tsar and his Retinue
- watercolor, brown ink and pencil on paper laid on card
signed with initials in Cyrillic and dated 1919-1925 l.r., further signed in the margin in Latin l.r. - 33,5 x 24 cm ; 13 by 9 1/2 in.
Provenance
A gift from the artist to his eldest son
Thence by descent to the widow of the above
Christie's London, 21 April 1988, lot 127
Jacques Grange Collection, Paris
Thence by descent to the widow of the above
Christie's London, 21 April 1988, lot 127
Jacques Grange Collection, Paris
Condition
The sheet, which has discoloured in line with age, has been laid on card. Minor foxing is present throughout the composition, except in the faces, this is mostly visible on the reverse. Very minor horizontal scratches in the lower part of the composition are barely visible to the naked eye.
Framed and glazed.
Overall in very good condition.
"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
After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg under Ilya Repin, a founding member of Mir Iskusstva (World of Art), Bilibin also joined the group. His interest in Russian folk tales, or bylini, led him to work in book illustration and with the striking combination of his modern graphic style with ancient folk subjects he soon achieved renown. In 1920 Bilibin left Russia for Egypt where he spent five years before eventually settling in Paris. There he worked predominantly as a theatre artist, contributing to the Ballets Russes and designing set and costume designs for productions of Rimsky-Korsakov's Tsar Saltan, Borodin's Prince Igor and Stravinsky's Fire Bird.
Dating to his post-emigration period and therefore signed in Latin, the present lot illustrates a scene from the popular Russian folk tale Go I Know Not Whither and Fetch I Know Not What. For a similar, but later work, see S. Golynets, Ivan Bilibin, Leningrad: Aurora, 1988, pl. 167.