Lot 1
  • 1

LEV FELIKSOVICH LAGORIO | Caucasian Landscape

Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 GBP
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Description

  • Lev Feliksovich Lagorio
  • Caucasian Landscape
  • signed in Cyrillic and dated 1873 l.r.
  • oil on canvas
  • 60.5 by 98cm, 23 3/4 by 38 1/2 in.

Condition

Structural Condition The canvas is unlined and is securely attached to what certainly appears to be the artist's original keyed wooden stretcher. This is ensuring an even and stable structural support. Paint Surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. The paint surface is entirely stable. Inspection under ultraviolet light shows areas of dark fluorescence within the sky which are attributable to the artist's materials and techniques. Inspection under ultraviolet light also shows vestiges of discoloured varnish within the foliage and the foreground. This shows the painting to have been sensitively and selectively cleaned in the past. Inspection under ultraviolet light also shows a few scattered spots and lines of retouching within the sky. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in very good and stable condition and no further work is required.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Catalogue Note

Lev Lagorio was celebrated for his coastal scenes and his views of the Caucasus. In 1851 he was sent to the region by the Imperial Academy of Arts where he spent a year painting numerous landscapes, one of which was acquired by Nicholas I. Enchanted by the mountains, he returned frequently during his lifetime. Following a trip in 1861 he submitted three Caucasian views to the Emperor, and two years later he participated in the Caucasian campaign and was part of the retinue of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich. A particularly fine example, the present work shows Lagorio’s interest in the effects of weather as well as his ability to convey the vastness of the landscape; the horses and their riders are dwarfed by their surroundings and the receding planes of shadow and light add depth to the distant valleys and peaks. Recently cleaned and in very good condition, the painting is offered in its original frame which was most likely made by the Beggrov workshop in St Petersburg.