Sotheby `s - the pre-auction show of watercolors by Alexandre Benois in Paris

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Sotheby `s - the pre-auction show of watercolors by Alexandre Benois in Paris

    "World of Art" began the new season
    The pre-auction show of watercolors Benoit in Paris

    In the gallery of Charpentier, where is the Paris branch of the auction house Sotheby `s, for several days exhibited 50 watercolor works by Alexander Benois. The auction house decided to first show a small part of masterpieces, stockpiled for the Russian winter auction in London. From Paris - Surya Sadekova.

    Vernissage of the exhibition can be considered the opening of a secular Russian season in Paris. In a small zalchike gathered all the beau monde: attended by the large family of Benoit-Lancer, as descendants of the French branch, and arrivals from Russia - Prince Troubetzkoy, Oscar Rabin, his shadow, Mark Ivasilevich, as well as government officials, artists and part-time art dealers and etc. The impression that this is a reception at the Russian embassy, ​​and not the opening day of the auction house. French, as usual, Russian art was not interested. The evening consisted of two parts. First, guests were offered a lecture about the artist. She read a Russian art historian, a descendant of Alexander Benois - Paul Pavlinov, Lancer. And only then were treated to champagne. The lecture was listened to attentively (though obviously very present were familiar with the works and a biography of the artist). Picture looked a little. Probably because of these potential buyers on the opening day was not there. That is the picture and were a real highlight of the evening.

    Expensive Russian art auctions in London, and this art comes to London mainly from Paris. So it was with extensive collection of watercolors (132 works), by Alexandre Benois. After the Revolution, one of the founders of the "World of Art" emigrated to France where he spent the last decade of his life. Live here and the heirs of the artist. For many years, collectors, gallery owners, representatives of the auction houses have been attempting to buy the rarest works. However, only now it has become possible. Some attributed the fact of the rainbow with the advent of the auction house Natalie Beras, who worked for many years at the French embassy in Russia and later in Kazakhstan and is now responsible for Russian art at the Paris branch of Sotheby `s.

    At the current exhibition features just over a third of what will sell in late November. The entire collection of experts evaluated from € 960 thousand to € 1,4 million, among lots - watercolor interiors with royal palaces, which the artist made before his departure from the country, which have become paradigmatic types of Versailles (16 works valued at € 46-70 thousand ), sketches for theatrical productions, "Nightingale" (€ 35-58 thousand), "Petrushka" and "Sleeping Beauty" (€ 12-17 million). Also, collectors can buy a rare work, which depicts the French landscapes, views of Venice. The scale represented is not impressive - it is stunning. All the talk about the washing away of the masterpieces of Russian art from the market on this background are unfounded.

    Until now, if the auctions appear one or two similar works, shoppers fought to the last and the price did not stand. It is difficult to predict, but in all likelihood, the sale of watercolors cause the same excitement, as once the sale of heritage Mstislav Dobuzhinsky. And we want to believe that such high-profile trades will not cause the same effect on the art market, as the works of Dobuzhinsky: Now the wizard are virtually no demand "obevshimisya" buyers. However, then estimeyty inspired his modesty and passion spurred buyers. Estimates of the same works by Alexander Benois fully comply with its quality and the situation on the art market.

 
    Source: newspaper "Kommersant"