April 22, 2009 in New York held a spring auction of Russian Art Sotheby's. At the tender exhibited works by Russian artists, works of art, the first half of XX century and contemporary artists, including a unique collection of icons and objects of decorative art from the collection of the imperial family. Today, 17 April, was called to attend the pre-exhibition.

Painting XIX - early XX century

Most lots in the auction section of paintings of XIX - beginning of XX century will work Ivan Aivazovsky , Nicholas Roerich , Alexander Yakovlev , Polenov Basil and David Burliuk . Ivan Aivazovsky presented monumental canvases «Departure of Columbus from Palos» ( estimeyt: 1-1,5 million dollars ). In 1893 Aivazovsky represented the Russian art at the World Exhibition in the United States. Selecting pictures for the exhibition, he remembered the upcoming anniversary of the opening of Columbus chetyrehsotletnem America. A few years before that, he wrote a series of paintings devoted to the life of Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the New World. Arriving in New York in 1892, he continued to work on these paintings. Previously, the two works in this series have been sold at auction Sotheby's in 2006 and 2008. But the monumental images of departure of Columbus 2 Aug., 1492 from Palos, the city in the Canary Islands, considered to be a better picture of this historical cycle. At the auction also exhibited Aivazovsky painting «A ship in the storm» ( 650-750 thousand dollars ).

«Portrait of girl with toys» ( 700-900 thousand dollars ) Boris Grigoriev written in 1920, at the beginning of a very fruitful creative period. At that time Grigorev much time spent in Germany, France and the United States. His canvases both conservative and revolutionary. They reflect the innovative course of the twentieth century German expressionism and French Postimpressionism. At the same time, expressive lines and dynamic compositions on canvas Grigor'eva refer to the traditions of Russian icon painting and painting of the Renaissance. «Portrait of girl with toys» since 1920 was in a private gathering, which he got after the purchase from the artist. Also at auction will be exhibited work Grigor'eva «Cooking pancakes Crepes Suzette» ( 500-700 thousand dollars ). Originally this painting was a portrait, which Grigorev gave Giovanni Pramadzhore, the owner of a popular French-Italian restaurant «At Giovanni» in Manhattan, which is often visited by Russian émigrés. In this portrait was depicted by Giovanni, zharyaschy pancakes. Grigoriev, habitue restaurant can not just observe the process. Later, at the request of Giovanni, he divided the picture into two parts. B on The majority of them, with the image of pancakes, a long time remained a «visiting card» restaurant and beautiful at the brand-name plates, menus, and match boxes. Both paintings were exhibited in the restaurant until it closed in 1980. Now the work is first put up for auction, the descendants of Giovanni Pramadzhore.

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At the auction also represented a large collection of works by Nicholas Roerich. One of the best picture is considered to be «St. Mercury Smolensky »( 500-700 thousand dollars ), which depicts the patron of Smolensk, brave warrior and a holy martyr Mercury, which is defending Smolensk, was beheaded in battle with the Mongols, as it was predicted. At the auction on display and two other works of Roerich - «Sacrament» ( 300-500 thousand dollars ) and «Monhigan, Maine (Hope)» from Series «Ocean» 1922 ( 250-350 thousand U.S. ). In 1922 Roerich visited Monhigan, deserted island off the coast of Maine, and wrote a number of exciting paintings on this theme. Visit Monhigana Roerich was a turning point in his life. It was there that he had persuaded his followers and supporters to establish a museum of his name in New York.

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In 1894 Vasily Polenov designed scenery for the play «Aphrodite», images which he later used in the «classical landscape, scenery for the opera" The Ghosts of Greece "» ( 250-350 thousand dollars ). Polenov performed many variations of this song, it has become extremely popular due to the reproduction of its reproductions on postcards and in magazines.

Alexander Yakovlev also inspired theater. He regularly attended the Asian theater, which has fulfilled a lot of drawings and paintings from nature, including «Samurai» ( 85-125 thousand dollars ), in which he tries to «explain the appeal of [eastern] art of drama and the importance it gave him ... »

David Burliuk is considered «the father of Russian Futurism», a huge influence on his art works had Humberto Bochchoni and other Italian Futurists. In his compositions, he sought to convey a sense of rhythm and continuous movement. In the «macro» ( 150-200 thousand dollars ) to be an artist painting the principles of futurism - light-colored stripes curl around the traditional healer of emotional images, creating a primitive, even ridiculous impression. By topic «Blue rider» ( 100-150 thousand dollars ) Burliuk not just back in the set pieces. A huge influence on his creativity has Vasily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, the founders of the «Blue Horseman».

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Contemporary Painting

Among the works of contemporary art is worth noting picture Komar and Melamid «Eros and Psyche» of series «anarchist sintetizm» ( 80-120 thousand dollars ). The product is based on ancient legends about Eros and Psyche. In the right pane, a burning passion Eros hovers over the Psyche. Hand of the Almighty keeps him from coition. In the left pane shows the ritual of animal sacrifice, symbolizing the sacrifice of god as an external expression of worship. Through the use of various artistic techniques picture breaks up into two separate parts, in which the academic style of the right pane of the left opposed to expressionism. According to Komar, such absurd combinations and is the embodiment of «anarchist synthesis».

Another top lot auction will be «The Birth of a hero: 15 Sculptures» Grisha Bruskin ( 150-200 thousand dollars ). World fame came to the artist by participating in the legendary auction Sotheby's in Moscow in 1988. Then, his painting was sold for a record high price. In the series includes 10 sculptures, simulating images of the Soviet ideological sculptures, as well as 5 sculptures depicting mythological characters. In creating these images, the artist tried to draw a parallel with the Soviet sculpture, many pioneers, athletes and heroes of the war, which was decorated streets and squares of large and small Soviet cities. Each sculpture represents a new type of Soviet identity, in the hands of their characters - for example, the Kremlin tower, a portrait of Lenin, hammer and sickle, etc. The inclusion of a series of mythological figures of angels and demons of an ideological counterpoint Soviet system, especially its negation of the supernatural . The purpose Bruskin was, in his words, «to look at socialism as if from the future and create a basic vocabulary of Soviet type».

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Other works of art

In the evening of the auction also includes icons and works of Carl Faberge.

Among the works of decorative art, exhibited at the April auction, provided the collection of Russian enamels. Especially interesting punch-bowl with a bucket of silver with gold and painted enamel work Fiodor Ryukkerta (Rukerta). The cup is decorated with relief images of heroes and the beauties of ancient Russia, under the soaring eagles ( 150-200 thousand dollars ). Also worth noting a small but very elegant cakes for a basket of silver with gold and enamel work Oresta Kurlyukova. Basket adorns the scene from a fairy tale «Sadko» ( 70-100 thousand dollars ). Sadko is a rich dress on the shores of Lake Ilmen and plays the lyre. Basket intended legendary conductor Arthur Nikishev, has performed in Russia in 1904.

On the road out of a bid to set a toilet Faberge works, executed by order of Prince Gorchakov ( 300-500 thousand dollars ). The set was created by the master of the St. Petersburg Julius Rappoport about 1900. The set includes: toilet mirror, two upholstered velvet box, hand mirror with velvet upholstered rear wall, two high candelabra, two high and two small glass bottles of perfume, two puff-box, two small candelabras, and two trays. In all subjects, except the toilet mirror, engraved coat of arms of princes Gorchakova. Similar sets of restrooms are often served as wedding gifts, and, judging from the date of manufacture of a set, you can assume that he was a wedding gift for Prince Alexander Gorchakov Darier Bibikova, maid of honor of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, on the occasion of their marriage in 1904.

Among the items that occur from the collection of the imperial family, it is necessary to note executed in 1879 a unique imperial silver tea service of the Nichols and Plinke, St. Petersburg ( 320-380 thousand dollars ), belonged to Anastasia Mikhailovna. Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna, granddaughter of Emperor Nicholas I, was a charismatic figure, friends and contemporaries remember her as «extremely beautiful ... perfect princess». In 1879 she married Friedrich Franz, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Shverinskogo, a relative of Emperor Alexander III. It was in this year's tea service was made. It is anticipated that the tea service was a wedding gift, dowry or Grand Duchess. Service includes zavarochny kettle, kettle, a tray with two handles, a metal kettle with stand and lamp, a pitcher for hot milk slivochnik, sugar with lid, tea-strainer, tongs for sugar, twenty-four tea spoons, each of which is decorated with engraved monogram Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna in the form of letters «AI», crowned by an imperial crown.

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At the tender will be represented by a unique collection of icons, including the rare pozdnevizantiyskuyu icon «Christmas» Crete, early XV century. ( 140-160 thousand dollars ). Virgin vozlezhit red box next to the cave on a mountain landscape, the infant Jesus Christ is near a large, sarcophagus-like cradle. On the left are depicted the three wise men, led by an angel, pointing to the Bethlehem Star. This icon is similar to the icons stored in the Institute of Hellenistic culture in Venice.

Source: press release Sotheby's

P. S. Summary Brief ARTinvestment.RU price forecast for the upcoming auctions can be viewed here .