At the New York Russian auction Christie's April 9, 2014 exhibited bronze "Portrait of Ilya Repin" by Viktor Vasnetsov estimate: 100-150 thousand dollars

Victor Vasnetsov
Portrait of Ilya Repin. 1909
Christie's. 9.04.2014
Estimate: 100-150 thousand dollars
Source : Press Release Christie's

April 9, 2014 Christie's puts on the New York auction , dedicated to Russian arts and crafts , bronze "Portrait of Ilya Repin " work Viktor Vasnetsov ; bust mentioned among Top - lots of trades and exhibited with an estimate of 100-150 thousand dollars .

the trades "Portrait of Ilya Repin " exhibit for the first time since its inception .

Mark Merka , director of the International Department of Russian arts and crafts Christie's: « It is not only one of the few sculptures by Viktor Vasnetsov , but also a clear evidence of the important role played the tradition of philanthropy at a certain stage of Russian history. Work on the portrait was conducted under conditions in which its creation have been implicated such landmark for Russian art of the XIX century figures as Vasnetsov , Repin , Savva Mamontov , Tretyakov and Siloti ».

summer 1880 Ilya Repin ( 1844-1930 ) and Viktor Vasnetsov ( 1848-1926 ) met at the manor Abramtzevo owned famous industrialist and art patron Savva Mamontov ( 1841-1918 ) . Working together, they created three great sample of Russian sculpture : Vasnetsov executed plaster bust Repin Repin - bust Mammoth and Mammoth - Vasnetsov .

original plaster bust is stored in the collection of the Museum " Abramtzevo . " The second version of plaster bust was created in 1909 specifically for Repin , at the moment it is an exhibit of the museum-estate Repin " Penates ". Put up for sale a bronze bust model Repin was owned until the mid -1920s , when it was acquired by Leo Siloti ( 1897-1984 ) . Lev was a collector and art dealer , son of the famous Russian pianist Alexander Ilyich Siloti (1863-1945) and Vera Tretyakov (1866-1940) , daughter of the collector Pavel Tretyakov (1832-1898) . After the death of Lev Aleksandrovich bust to his family by right of inheritance up to the present owner .

similar bronze copy since 1927 stored in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery , where it was purchased from the renowned Moscow Collector Ivan Tsvetkov . With the consent of Repin in 1909 Tsvetkov booked it in bronze casting studio K. Robeck .

Source : Press Release Christie's