Konstantin Ivanovich Gorbatov

Private Collection, Hamburg (acquired in 1974)

Thence by descent to the present owner 

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Privatsammlung, Hamburg (erworben 1974)

Seitdem durch Erbschaft beim derzeitigen Eigentümer 

Views of Capri form an important part of Konstantin Gorbatov’s oeuvre. He first visited Italy in 1912, on a scholarship from the Imperial Academy of Arts, staying in Rome, and then, on the invitation of Maxim Gorky, on Capri. After travelling extensively around Europe, he returned to Russia to pursue his career as an artist. Like many of his colleagues, Gorbatov left Russia permanently after the Revolution, settling first on Capri, before moving, in 1926, to Berlin, where he would live for the rest of his life. The present work dates most likely from the 1940s, when, not able to leave Germany due to his Russian origin, Capri was just a distant memory. The painting most likely remained with the artist until his death and therefore remained unsigned. The signature on the reverse was most likely added by another hand.