"Молодой man, I know all!" @- archive Davidovich in "ArtMaximum" 22 Sep

[Лотта]

Rare photos of Nicholas II and members of Royal family, dignitaries and high society of the Russian Empire, images of parades of the Russian Imperial army and maneuvers during the First World war @- in the collection of the fourth auction. Items come from the archive of the heirs of Jacob Ivanovich Davidovich (1899-1964).
Yakov Davidovich was a great lawyer of Leningrad, in different years he taught at leading educational institutions of the city on the Neva— Leningrad state University, Leningrad Institute of law, Military@Academy ndashюридической finally, Higher school of MIA USSR. The history of the Russian Imperial army was the real passion of the scientist-правоведа. His knowledge in this area is not inferior to his professional legal knowledge, and the home collection, painstakingly and lovingly collected for decades,—вполне could not compete with the other Museum Fund. The origins of Hobbies Davidovich, apparently, are rooted in the circumstances of his youth, namely—службе in the Volunteer army during the Civil war. This fact of his biography of James I., for obvious reasons, carefully concealed. About erudition Davidovich evident in the following episode. Literary critic Irakly Andronikov was engaged in the attribution of the so-called "vulturescu portrait". Think about it in academic circles differ: some, including myself Andronicus, believed that it depicts Mikhail Lermontov, and others with skepticism objected, believing that this portrait of an unknown officer 1830-х years, which is less than-то and like a great poet, but the statement that it was really very controversial. Andronicus turned to for advice by the Executive.

"Come to his house, asked from the threshold:
— Yakov Ivanitch, in the form of a shelf could be dressed officer in the nineteenth century, if the collar it has red edges?
—, Let me -- what do you mean red? — outraged Yakov Ivanovich. — For the Russian uniform is typical of the extraordinary variety of shades of colors. Please explain what kind of red are you talking about?
— About it! — And I pulled a piece of paper on which I copied the color of the edging.
— It's not red not red and never was! — chop Yakov Ivanovich. — Is a true crimson, which, as I remember, was in the life-гвардии infantry battalions, 17-м Novomirgorod Lancer, 16-м Tver Dragoon in the Leib-гвардии Grodno shelves. Now I will check...

He opens the closet, turns the tables of uniforms of history of regiments, colored engravings.
— While all well — confirms it. — Go further... If epaulettes on the uniform of the cavalry, in this case infantry battalions disappear. Remain Dragoons, lancers and hussars of Grodno. Tver and Novomirgorod, too, must be ruled out: in these shelves buttons and epaulettes "was commanded to have a Golden." And your portrait of this silver. Therefore, it must be the Grodno... And it looks like the portrait? I showed him the picture.

— You child! — exclaims Yakov Ivanovich. — Is the coat of a cavalryman of the thirties. At this time, in the Grodno regiment introduced changes and Dolman has blue edging. But coats of olive color are saved to 1845, and by 1838 they had left a crimson edging... so — concludes Yakov Ivanovich, piling books high stacks — all converge in favor of Grodno.
— Yakov Ivanovich, — I exclaim, — you don't even know how important the message you do! Because based on your words it turns out that this is you...
— Sorry, — stops me Yakov. — I do not say That! While it is established that an officer of the Grodno hussar regiment. And no more. And Lermontov Lermontov or not — is not on my part".

Another similar case we find in the memoirs of the daughter of Davidovich—писательницы Ludmila Shtern. Her friend and frequent visitor was the future Nobel prize winner, and then just began his career, the young poet Joseph Brodsky. Lyudmila recalled how one day his father took them to Joseph in the Russian Museum. They stopped in front of a monumental painting by Ilya Repin, "the Ceremonial meeting of the State Council of 7 may 1901 on the day of the centennial anniversary of its establishment", which depicts more than 80 dignitaries of Imperial Russia. Brodsky ironically asked the father of his girlfriend if he knows of at least one of them. Davidovich smiled indulgently and replied: @- a Young man, I know all!

And a few hours, sometimes venturing on to the smallest biographical details, telling biographies of each of them.
Items from the unique collection Davidovich became the real decoration catalogue of the auction "ArtMaximum".


Auction will be held on Saturday, September 22, at the address: Germany, Hamburg, St. Valentinskamp, 62 DE-20355.
Beginning at 17-00 (GMT).
When buying lots worth more than 1000 euros, the auction house offers to deliver purchased items anywhere in Moscow and St-Петербурга.