Auction house Bonhams will be traded portraits of Paul I and his wife Maria Feodorovna. The portraits will be sold together with other objects from the collections of major English art dealer Lady Pidzhen

1 October 2008 to bid the British auction house Bonhams will be exhibited unique portraits of Grand Duke Paul, later became the Russian Emperor Paul I, and his wife Maria Feodorovna. The two paintings, estimated at 30-50 thousand pounds had been met in a workshop Alexander Roslyn , a Swedish painter who worked at the court of the Russian Empress Catherine II at the end of XVIII century. They are part of decoration of the so-called «Russian lounge» suburban estates Great Brampton House in the English county of Herefordshire. His owner - Lady Pamela Pidzhen (Lady Pamela Pidgeon) - exhibited paired portraits for sale, along with other items from the mansion. At the auction, which will be held in the mansion itself, will be presented to more than 900 lots, among which are items of decorative art, antique furniture, Asian ceramics, and paintings.

79-year-old lady Pidzhen bought this XVIII century mansion in the late 1960's, when there was just beginning her career in the antique business. Soon it turned into a kind of antique store, where the Lady Pidzhen exhibited objects from its constantly growing collection. Rumors of Great Brampton House have spread quite rapidly, and the lady Pidzhen a different clientele, mainly consisting of very rich people. These include, for example, called Luciano Pavarotti and AVU Gardner. To receive a high-ranking guests at Great Brampton House was built helicopter landing ground, and those who arrives by plane, at the insistence of the hostess at the airport met the driver at the «Rolls-Royce».

lady Pidzhen recently decided to sell the mansion and all its contents. Cost of Great Brampton House, the sale of which will also Bonhams, estimated at about two million pounds.

Auction house Bonhams, founded in London in 1793, is one of the three leaders on trafficking in art objects and antiquities. Bonhams conducts about 700 auctions a year around the world. Twice a year at the London New Bond Street auction are works of Russian art. The nearest one is 24 November.

material produced Catherine Onuchin

Sources: rian.ru , lenta.ru , bonhams.com , dailymail.co.uk , artinvestment.ru