Russian-Russian battle

[SergeiSK]

Tatiana Markina on auctions Bonhams, Christie `s, MacDougall` s and Sotheby `s
(nothing new, but as a generalization is quite readable)

Auction of Russian Art will go to London all next week, Monday through Friday. Participants are the same. Has the percentage of their presence - so far to evaluate its possible the number of lots and auction and according to preliminary estimates (the real balance of forces will show the results of auctions).

Sotheby `s only scheduled an evening auction of Masterpieces (part of their show in Moscow at the pre-auction exhibition). In addition, the auction house will hold a big auction day painting XIX - first half of the twentieth century, to which is added bit of contemporary Russian art, and an auction of arts and crafts. Overall, Sotheby `s plans to get at least £ 19 million addition, a further £ 500 thousand is going to gain by selling consists of Sotheby` s in the Association London house Morton & Eden, dealing with coins, medals and decorations. Inside Sotheby `s in New Bond Street he would submit a Russian imperial awards bestowed in 1837 by Tsar Nicholas I after the British in Russia John George Lambton, first Earl Durham.
On the heels of Sotheby `s coming MacDougall` s with his three auctions and general estimeytom over £ 12 million MacDougall `s hold auctions paintings (in two sessions - the" classical "and modern), a separate auction of icons and a separate (the first time in its history) auction schedules.
Christie `s noticeable slow down in the field of painting and scored for trades of 57 lots along with nonconformists. Section of arts and crafts, including Faberge, obviously moved by this auction house in the foreground. Christie `s will hold an auction (in two sessions) at its main site on King Street and one, quite modest, in the department of South Kensington.
Bonhams, last year performing a depressing effect, however, cheered. Bidding at this auction house all alone, but among the paintings, and in the section of DPI is quite interesting things, and everything in general looks very dignified.

Each of the participants of the week created by Russian experts-auctioneers image of Russian art has turned his own. It is clear that the auction is selling what he brings clients, but a personal taste of each auction house you can see.

Sotheby `s - is a serious set of artists from the first lines of the list of the most expensive. Cover art directory of evening trading masterpieces decorated with a portrait of Zinovei Grzhebin 1919 brush Yury Annenkov (£ 0,8-1,2 million). Portrait comes from a family Grzhebin. And for all its virtues can be noted that the artist is not too racked my brains over finding individual solutions for each of their models, he wrote rather a portrait of the era who had pulled people from their usual life, make everything cubist and futurist break change. Perhaps more worthy of admiration "Titi and Narang, daughter of the chief Eki Bondo" Alexander Yakovlev (1926, £ 700-900 thousand). From the images of these black beauties from the Mangbetu tribe, with half-closed eyes glued to each other, going crazy all over Paris: exhibition of the results of the Black Raid "Citroen (artist on the expedition was Yakovlev) was held at the Louvre and had a runaway success, and the picture later, ideally joined the al-dekoshny interior director autocompanies Georges Marie Haardt. Rendezvous in the Park "by Konstantin Somov - another ace Sotheby` s (1919, £ 500-700 thousand). The situation on a small canvas certainly inspired by the Hermitage "Capricious" Watteau - and simultaneously parodying her. Knight at the birch trees are just as coquettish, as a young lady, who, waiting for him, flirting with the audience.
Annenkov, Yakovlev, Somov - are artists not from the pictures in the textbook "Native Speech" and became in demand with collectors are not so long ago. Sotheby `s offer and perfect the classics, whose popularity already fifty years. Ivan Shishkin (Chernolese ", 1876, £ 1-1,5 million) and Ivan Aivazovsky (" Sunset over Iskey ", 1857, £ 600-800 thousand) - two pillars on which rests the building Russian art market. Candidate for the role of the third whale to choose more difficult. At auctions Sotheby `s is, perhaps, Konstantin Korovin - sold his" View of the south of France "(£ 300-500 thousand) and" Portrait of a dancer "(£ 150-200 thousand). Among the most prominent names in the auction is impossible not to mention Nicholas Roerich ("City Candy", 1919, £ 500-700 thousand) and Petr Konchalovsky ("Portrait of the artist's wife, Olga Vasilievna Surikova", 1903, £ 300-500 thousand ). On the record for the painting of the artist claims "Portrait of the future Duchess of Henri de Buazhelen" 1924 Leon Bakst, it is estimated at £ 300-500 thousand

MacDougall `s does not hold some evening auction, so in his catalog of works that can claim the status of masterpieces, interspersed with original paintings of Parisian artists of the school of the second series, which began with the auction house. In addition, the catalog many female nature, and more naked. However, the tone of the entire collection set, perhaps, a few pieces of mystical or mysterious, gloomy mood.
"Mountain Arsenal Niko Pirosmani (1907-1908, £ 0,9-1,2 million) could be used to see in Moscow, on Russian Antique Salon, that does not detract from the greatness of the painting. Blue southern night with the moon shining and bright fire on the black rocks - this picture makes indelible impression on all who saw it (from Cyril Zdanevich and Lili Brik). The second dark night and a spectacular landscape - "Black Gobi" by Nicholas Roerich (1928, £ 500-700 thousand). It was written after a dramatic trip Roerich Central Asia (in the heart of Tibet, Lhasa, was unable to penetrate, five members of the expedition were killed). Sticking out in all directions, black stones, covered with writing, make eye will scatter (rather than, as in European painting, to strive toward the center and in depth). Infinity and silence - these are probably the main feeling of this mystical landscape.
Another top lot - though not the night, but melancholic. This "Self-Portrait in a Paris cafe, Robert Falk (1837, £ 250-300 thousand), in which he portrayed himself, as if accidentally caught in an environment of random people, all written rather dirty iridescent colors. "The lady with the guitar" by Konstantin Korovin (1912, £ 250-500 thousand), on the contrary, and burns bright flowers outside blue evening dress and ladies and her face lit up the hot color. Another hot cloth - "The Wedding" by Alexander Volkov, the brightest representatives of Turkestan vanguard. The picture shows at a recent exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery (1917, £ 450-600 thousand).
MacDougall `s also sells a product of non-conformists among them early, abstract Matador and bull Oleg Tselkov (1957, £ 100-150 thousand) and a collection of Russian unofficial art collected by the spouses Parisians Lily and Michel Brochet. At the auction schedules allocated bed "Merchant" Boris Kustodiev (1916, £ 120-150 thousand) and drawing from the series "Analytical head" Pavel Filonov (£ 100-150 thousand).

Section of Painting Christie `s offers a rather uneven collection in which stand out sharply against several works. For example, charming bed "Reclining Nude" Zinaida Serebryakova, one of the best of its kind (1930, £ 400-600 thousand). Or a dark head of the series "Faces of Russia" Boris Grigoriev (1920, £ 400-600 thousand). The original painting existed as a double portrait, and so exhibited, then the artist cut a second person (it was obviously not a peasant, a man in a hat with a disgusted expression on his face), leaving only one character in a red shirt. Quite interesting to compare the picture with a small canvas Grigorieva Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin (no later than 1922, £ 250-350 thousand). It depicts a blond-haired boy Vasya with a stern face, near the icon. Orthodox spirituality and quality of stoicism as the main Russian - current issue now, which can raise the price of an already unique piece. From the standpoint estimeyta home painting at Christie `s - the academic fabric of Mikhail Klodt" Animal Farm on the banks of the river "(1858, £ 700-900 thousand).
Section of Applied Art Christie `s will put 45 items from the collection of Faberge unnamed European royal family. The most expensive - the clock in the frame of jade works of Henrik Vigstrema (£ 80-120 thousand). It is very rare for a public auction two works seem Duchess Maria Tenisheva, artist and patron, the founder of art and industry workshops in their own behalf Talashkino. This bronze casket with enamels, in the form of a dove and in the form of fish (1908, £ 100-120 thousand each).

Bonhams a collection, which mainly represented not too expensive works of artists with names. There is a jade elephant Faberge (£ 150-180 thousand), marina Ivan Aivazovsky (the most expensive - £ 80-120 thousand), a tiny landscape by Ivan Shishkin (£ 10-15 thousand), reading peasant girl Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky ( £ 50-70 thousand), a portrait of American Nicholas Feshina (£ 80-100 thousand). Among the amusing curiosities - a little-known genre painter of the XIX century Little Russian Matvey Ponomarenko, which from a purely Odessa humorously depicted in the painting read the funeral prayer for his own grave with a rich marble cross (£ 30-50 thousand). In the section of contemporary art at Bonhams is fairly rare things. For example, polychrome Portrait Alika Ginsberg Vladimir Weisberg, known for its white metaphysical still lives (1960, £ 50-70 thousand). Or, "Portrait of Olga Andreeva, written in 1966 by Erik Bulatov in its early, Falkowski, in the words of Andrei Erofeev, period (estimate £ 80-120 thousand). But the most expensive painting at auction Bonhams - abstraction Andre Lansky 1950 with estimeytom £ 100-150 thousand

Tatiana Markina
("Businessman Weekend" № 21 dated 04.06.1910.)