Nicholas Roerich Madonna Laboris ( Proceedings of Our Lady). 1931 Tempera on canvas. 84 x 124 Bonhams. 05.06.2013. Lot 63 Estimate: 2,5-3,5 million pounds Result: 7.9 million pounds Source: bonhams.com

Russian art auction at Bonhams set a record price for the work : 1931 for the painting " Madonna Laboris (Proceedings of the Mother of God) "paid 7.88 million pounds (12.1 million dollars). This is an absolute record Russian Trading Christie's, Sotheby's and Bonhams. But no Russian art in general. More expensive sold at public auction, for example, work Alexei Jawlensky , Marc Chagall , Kazimir Malevich and Vasily Kandinsky . But the result of Roerich's paintings, this does not diminish. Amount is really impressive.

According to a witness, a member of our forum qwerty, auction house twice in the past three days, changed the estimate of the fear of miscalculate. The original estimate was 0.8-1.2 million pounds. Final - 2.5-3.5 million pounds. Anticipate the outcome of the battle rates was difficult, because these trades until the maximum price for the work of Nicholas Roerich was only 1.7 million pounds (sales in 2007). But in this case, the bid came textbook thing, not exhibited since 1930.

Roerich was attracted collective image of "Mother of the World." In the years of wandering in India, China, Tibet and Mongolia, he wrote a number of works in which he tried to achieve a "synthesis of all the iconographic representations" of the Mother - "Queen of Heaven" (1931), "Madonna Laboris (Proceedings of the Mother of God)" (1931, 1934 , 1936), "Oriflamma Madonna (Madonna Flame)" (1932), a triptych dedicated to Joan of Arc (1931), "Defender of the Madonna" (1933) and others. These symbolic images of mother combined presentation of Our Lady of the Roman and Byzantine traditions of the Madonnas of Western Europe and Eastern goddesses of the progenitor.

The plot "Proceedings of the Virgin" by Nicholas Roerich was taken from the ancient apocryphal described them in a collection of articles entitled "The Power of Light" (1931): "Concerned about the apostle Peter, the sacristan of Paradise. Say unto the Lord, "All day long the gates of the bank, do not let anyone, and in the morning the new people in Paradise." And the Lord said, "Come on, Peter, a night patrol." Come at night and see: The Most Holy Mother of God looked down the wall of paradise His snow-white scarf and act upon any soul. Peter jealous and wanted to intervene, but the Lord whispered, "Shhh! do not bother me! "».

picture painted by Roerich in India, in 1931, arrived in New York and has been enthusiastically accepted by his fans. "Proceedings of the Virgin" graced the cover of the periodical of the Roerich Museum in February 1932. Soon the picture came in a private collection - first, presumably, to his patron Louis Horch, and then - to a member of the Order of the Rosicrucians. Since then, the picture has not appeared in public exhibitions. But the impression of her was so bright that Roerich's girlfriend persuaded him to write up a smaller (today is the Roerich Museum in New York).

Obviously, the picture with such a history could not go unnoticed. This is how the auction for the painting of Roerich party forum AI: «In the hall to 4 million people beating 5, the same number was on the phone. Not far from me, little man offered 6 million, and when this was not enough, I almost burst into tears. Here it is a terrible power of art! »

Alexander Volkov Children musicians. 1926 Tempera on canvas. 94 x 94 Bonhams. 05.06.2013. Lot 59 Estimate: 200-400 thousand pounds Result: 2,000,000 pounds Source: bonhams.com

cigarette Gold, precious stones, enamel guilloche Bonhams. 05.06.2013. Lot 137 Estimate: 150-200 thousand pounds Result: 205.25 thousand pounds Source: bonhams.com

Another top lot of historical Bonhams auction was the picture Alexander Volkov «Children Musicians" (1926). With a modest Estima 200-400 thousand pounds tempera on canvas was bought over the phone for 2 million pounds including fees. This record price for the work Volkov. The picture refers to the period, which the artist calls "a return to realism," and "Children of musicians" - one of the best works of this period. The third top lot was a cigarette case with imperial provenance (was given to the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Nicholas II on May 29 1897 on the occasion of the birth of their second daughter, Tatiana). Gold cigarette case decorated with purple enamel guilloche, was sold for 205.25 thousand pounds (estimated at 150-200 thousand pounds). Total revenue Russian Bonhams auction totaled 12.4 million pounds, of which the lion's share, as you know, has been earned painting of Nicholas Roerich.

Yesterday in London were set record auction price for the work Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin Ivan («Twilight», 2,158 million pounds) and Alexander Drevins («Landscape with Figures", 102,000 pounds).

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Sources : bonhams.com , forum.artinvestment.ru