The gallery Mikhail Suslov told us that this is a sketch for the famous "Paris cafe" - the most expensive painting by Ilya Repin, sold in 2011 at Christie's for 4.52 million pounds. Tried to look at the picture of the prototype, in large faces immediately found, but may in the depths.
Ilya Repin Parisian cafe. 1875
Oil on canvas. 120,6 x 191,8
Estimate: £ 3-5 million
Result: 4.52 million pounds
Christie's. 06/06/2011. Lot number 22
That's what we've previously written about the "Paris cafe"
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The appearance of the product at Christie's in July 2011, Repin's painting "Parisian Cafe" was an event for the market of the artist. The work never exhibited in Russia and did not leave the private collection since 1916.
Repin "Parisian Cafe" during a trip to Europe in the years 1873-1876. In this journey of a young artist intoxicated creative freedom that prevailed in the French capital, at the time turned from glory to his Russian subjects and turned to the atypical subject for themselves. He portrayed the representatives of Parisian bohemia at tables boulevard cafes. Among the prototypes heroes canvas researchers call, for example, the famous salon painter Jean-Leon Gerome, poet and artist's model Katyulya Mendes Emil White. All eyes turned to the cafe visitors who came to the cafe without escort lady (Ann Zhyudik).
This picture can be called Repin prototype of the future group impressionistic portraits, depicting the world of bustling Parisian cafe. It realistic brushwork Repin to a new level. Artists, however, have criticized Vladimir Stasov and Ivan Kramskoi a retreat from the Russian material when choosing a topic.
Auction house Christie's, I do not know, honestly not, but at least strongly encouraged Russian museums to buy this work, citing the fact that "such a possibility it may not be for a century." Official information on who paid for the "Parisian Cafe" 4.52 million pounds, no. We only know that after a struggle betting pattern went unknown buyer, a seller on the phone. One would think that whether this is one of the state museums, the news would have spread the purchase as soon as possible. So, most likely, we will not see the "Paris cafe" on the museum walls.