September 21 in Moscow took place the pre-auction showing Christie's, which were presented works of Russian arts and crafts, porcelain and watercolors from the collection of galleries Popoff, who is considered one of the most outstanding collections of Russian art, beyond outside Russia. Show held at the Bolshoi Theater, is ideally suited to demonstrate the unique and high quality works, which bear the unique imprint of Russia's history.

Alex Tiesenhausen, head of the International Department of the Russian art Christie's: «put up for tender this collection - it is a great honor for us. We are pleased that this event will allow us to significantly diversify the auction calendar autumn, adding a separate trading on Russian decorative and applied art and painting. Gallery Popoff is one of the world's oldest art dealers in the field of Russian art. Over the past 90 years, her clients included many prominent collectors. It must be said that an impeccable reputation, established by Alexander Alexandrovich Popov, offers its customers the best of everything that has been on the market, the rightly preserved in the gallery until the present day. The October auction at Christie's London will give collectors a unique opportunity to purchase bear the inimitable stamp of Russian history works from the collection, which will be remembered and to speak for many decades ».

Alexis Rodzianko, the head of department on work with private capital, Credit Suisse in Moscow: «Credit Suisse regards Russia as one of the key markets for the development its business, gaining a wealth of experience in the country for more than 30 years. Together with the auction house Christie's Credit Suisse happy to provide Russia's customers and investors an opportunity to get acquainted with this outstanding collection ».

At the collection is a unique fingerprint undisputed reputation of Alexander Alexandrovich Popov as an outstanding connoisseur and collector of Russian art. Work, trade, demonstrate the diversity and quality inherent in all the assembly, and the auction will allow the new generation of collectors to share the passion of Alexander Alexandrovich of Russian art.

Alexander Popov's interest in Russian art was boundless, but his special passion was porcelain. His vast experience and phenomenal intuition entered into legend. One collector recalls that when he, being still young, faces in the gallery with the already elderly owner, I was amazed at how Alexander, who had poor eyesight, to the touch to give exact specifications he had brought to his performance evaluation. It is this kind of dedication has allowed Alexander Popov create a collection that to this day remains one of the most significant private collections of Russian porcelain, located outside Russia.

Despite the fact that porcelain of XVIII century is used to most of the collection galleries «Popoff», up for auction will also be exhibited considerable collection of watercolors, dating from the beginning of the XIX century, among which are work of such prominent Russian artists, as Alexander and Karl Briullov , Peter Sokolov , Vladimir Gow and others.

pre-auction exhibition at the Bolshoi Theater includes about 40 works from the collection of a total of more than 550 lots to be offered at Christie's auction in London on 12 and 13 October 2009.

Porcelain

Top-lot section of porcelain is a rare presentation kit, consisting of a saucer and cup with lid, decorated with a double-headed eagle. Issue Imperial Porcelain Factory, St. Petersburg from this set was timed to the day of the coronation of Catherine the Great in 1762 following the overthrow of the throne of her husband, Peter III, 28 June the same year. The peculiarity of this set is the monogram of Catherine the Great, which is present in both subjects, consisting of a middle initial "E" and the Arabic numeral "2", which is specific to individual objects as they appeared in the early years of the reign of the empress. Subsequently, all studies found a roman numeral «II». Alexander Popov was the first who was able, on this basis, accurately dating this set in 1930. The uniqueness of this lot is supplemented by the fact that analogues of this work does not exist in any museum collections in Russia.

The sale will feature another presentation set consisting of a cylindrical cup with lid and saucer (estimate 140-160 thousand pounds). Design a set issued in 1798 as Imperial Porcelain Factory, St. Petersburg, similar to the coronation dinner services, release of which 5 April 1797 was timed to the day of accession to the throne of Paul I. All the service items were decorated with double-headed eagle, emblem of imperial Russia and the duke kind of emblem of Holstein-Gottorp. This coronation service was, in turn, is decorated in the likeness of the service, made by masters of the Berlin Royal Porcelain Manufactory in 1778 for the Grand Duke Paul Petrovich (future Emperor Paul I) commissioned by the Prussian King Friedrich II. Items from the coronation dinner services are extremely rare and seldom found even in the collections of major museums in Russia. In addition, trade presentation set is decorated with the Maltese cross, which appeared on the coat of arms of Russia, after in 1798, Paul I was elected Grand Master of the Order of Malta, and became its protector. The outstanding level of artistic performance set, as well as the gold stamp on the bottom of the cup and the back of the saucer, and suggest that it was manufactured on special order and was intended for the emperor himself.

Another masterpiece from the imperial provenance is a service 1760-ies, commissioned by Catherine the Great at the Imperial Porcelain Factory especially for her favorite - Count Grigory Grigorievich Orlov, who helped Catherine ascended the throne in 1762. Subjects of the service are painted on the motives of its famous historical and portrait painter Gabriel Ignatievitch Kozlov and decorated with the monogram "MGO" (the initials Orlova), which is intertwined with pictures of trophies, associated with a military career graph. A total service, which was discovered only in 1912, consists of approximately 300 items.

Of particular interest is the dating of this set. Factory marks on items similar to those used during the reign of Elizabeth I (1741-1762) and until the first years of the reign of Catherine the Great. According to written sources that mention the service, each of them stood Elizabethan coat of arms, though it was made by order of Catherine the Great. In addition, decorative elements that adorn the service, include the noble crown Orlova, as well as images of trophies belonging to obtain the title of Count Orloff. These details allow us to date service mid 1760-ies. It is widely accepted view that the service, which includes more than 300 objects, was made at the Imperial Porcelain Factory between 1763 and 1770 years. Also note the uniqueness of the service, analogues of which do not exist, taking into account the number of objects and exquisite decoration (gold and silver painting on porcelain).

Watercolors

Private watercolors from the collection of galleries «Popoff» became part of the exhibition, held in 1999 at the State Museum of Fine Arts named after A. Pushkin. During two weeks of the exhibition was visited by more than 15 000 people. Most of the exhibits were portraits of high society Russia in XIX century's most famous artists of the brush at that time.

At one of the portrait of Vladimir Hau (1816-1895) in 1841 shows the eldest son of Emperor Nicholas I - the future Emperor Alexander II (1818-1881) in uniform, Maj.-Gen. Alexander becomes emperor in 14 years. On the canvas captures a young man who had just returned from a trip to Russia and Europe, and married Princess Marie of Hesse (1824-1880).

At the auction will also be exhibited Arcadievich portrait of Alexander Suvorov (1804-1882), Prince of Italy and the grandson of the last Generalissimo Russia empire of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (1729-1800), brush Briullov Alexander (1798-1877). Alexander Arkadevich studied at the Sorbonne and the University of Göttingen, then in 1824 returned to Russia and was appointed a cadet in the Guards cavalry regiment. Aleksandr Suvorov was involved in the Persian campaign, the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829 years and in suppressing the Polish uprising of 1830. From 1848 to 1861 held the post of governor-general of the Riga province, and from 1861 to 1866 - St. Petersburg military governor-general. This portrait was allegedly made to order, the ceremony of marriage of Alexander to Arcadievich Lubov Yartsovoy in 1830. For a long time was not known who is depicted in the portrait, but today he is considered one of the best works of Alexander Bryullov.

At watercolor brush Vladimir Ivanovich Hau (1816-1895) depicts Natalia Goncharova (1812-1863), wife of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. Her soft eyes and delicate features passed with consummate skill, and a charming oval face shape of the highlights of the portrait.
7 years later after the death of Pushkin, in 1844, Natalia was married to Lieutenant-General Petr Petrovich Lansky. It is believed that for this event and was timed this portrait, painted in the same year.

pictures Bryullov Karl Pavlovich (1799-1852) represent a significant portion of the outstanding collections of Russian museums, like the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Museum of Fine Arts named after AS Pushkin and Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

At the art auction will be presented Karl Briullov water-color portrait of Dzhovaniny Pacini (1799-1852). Dzhovanina served as a model for several works Karl Briullov. Her adoptive mother was one of the richest women in Russia - the Countess Julia Samoilova, which for some time was a romantic connection with the artist and commissioned him a few portraits of her daughter. This work is an excellent example of craftsmanship of the artist in the transfer of color contrasts and nuances and impeccable attention to detail. At watercolors Dzhovanina depicted in a black shawl against the cloudy sky. Subsequently, Karl Bryullov wrote another portrait Dzhovaniny, this time - oil. Today, the picture "horsewoman" is part of the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

Pre-auction show in London, on King Street, will be 9.11 in October 2009.

Bidding will take place in London, at King Street, 12 and 13 October 2009.

Source : Post-release Christie's