Lot 51
  • 51

Sergei Arsenievich Vinogradov

Estimate
70,000 - 90,000 GBP
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Description

  • Sergei Arsenievich Vinogradov
  • Beggars at the Monastery Gates
  • signed in Latin and dated 1929 l.l.
  • oil on canvas
  • 71.5 by 89.5cm, 28 1/4 by 35 1/4 in.
  • 27 by 34 1/2 in.

Provenance

A gift from the artist's widow to the family of the present owner in the 1940s

Exhibited

Possibly Paris, Galeries d'Alignan, Exposition d'art russe, 1931, nos.314 or 315

Condition

Original canvas. There is craquelure throughout the composition which is slightly raised in places. The canvas is slightly warped in places and there are faint stretcher bar marks, most notably along the upper edge. There is a light covering of surface dirt and some discolouration of the varnish layer. Examination under UV light reveals very minor areas of scattered retouching throughout the composition. Held in a 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."

Catalogue Note

In the present lot Vinogradov depicts a group of beggars standing at the gates in Petrovsky Tower, at the very entrance to the Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery complex. His skillful use of colour brings the architecture to life, the faithfully observed lilac shadows contrast with the whitewashed walls of the gates. Just visible at the top of the composition is the icon of the Hodegetria Mother of God, richly decorated with pearls and precious stones and the painted inscription, a verse from Psalms, which reads 'The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob'.

Almost all the works from Vinogradov's Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery complex series found buyers immediately after they were painted in 1928-1929. The present lot was one of the very few which the artist held on to and it was most likely exhibited at the Galeries D’Alignan in Paris in 1931 and later at his personal exhibition in Riga in 1935. The mother of the present owner assisted Irina Kazimirovna, the artist’s widow, to immigrate to Canada and in gratitude Irina presented the owner’s family with this canvas.