Alexei Petrovich Bogoliubov

Acquired by the great-great grandfather of the present owners in France in the late 19th century

Illustrated in the etching Bogoliubov at Work by Vasily Mathé, 1897

Original canvas on its original stretcher. There is a small brown paper label bearing the number 21 in the lower left corner. Held in a gilt wooden frame with swept corners. In excellent condition and ready to hang.
"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."

Alexei Bogoliubov loved visiting Venice, and he often painted its romantic, picturesque views. Even in his youth, the vision of this city on water with its architectural monuments created a strong impression on him. In his autobiographical work, Notes of a Sailor-Artist, he wrote: 'the wonders of Venice struck me so deeply, and so etched themselves in my memory, that I have painted the city from every angle, at all times of day, on numerous occasions, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life….'

Bogoliubov’s superior knowledge and faithful reproduction of Venice’s architectural monuments was always combined with the precise depiction of ships and boats. The artist probably created no fewer than 100 paintings and graphic works depicting the Venetian landscape, and was especially prolific in the 1870s and 1880s. They were shown at the exhibitions of the Peredvizhniki.

The offered lot presents a striking view of the magnificent architectural ensemble of the famous church of Santa Maria della Salute, completed in 1687, from the banks of the Grand Canal.

Situated on the opposite bank, this church is an important focus in the panorama of the city. On the right we see the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Campanile and the lively piazza, and moored sailing vessels. In the boats we see the figures of the gondoliers, while on the banks we observe the fishermen gathering their nets, a group of Catholic priests, and the well-dressed, promenading public. Such lively, energetically rendered figures almost always make an appearance in Bogoliubov’s work and are worth examining.

A very similar view, except taken from the water and a more distant view point, is depicted in the painting Venice (oil on canvas, 39 by 61cm) from the collection of the Tver Regional Art Gallery (fig.3)

The present lot is a stirringly romantic perception of the distinctive Venetian way of life and features every one of those traits noted by Bogoliubov’s contemporaries that distinguish his best works: 'the remarkable strength of composition, the wonderful attention to detail, the marvellous use of colour and superior draughtsmanship' and not least the 'strong poetic feeling'.

We are grateful to Lyudmila Pashkova of the Radishchev State Museum of Fine Arts for providing this catalogue note.