STILL LIFE WITH A BOTTLE, A JUG AND FRUIT. ATTRIBUTED TO ILYA IVANOVICH

An expressive still life attributed to the distinguished Russian painter Ilya Ivanovich Mashkov (1881–1944), one of the founders of the Jack of Diamonds artistic group and a leading figure of the Russian avant-garde in the early 20th century. The work is associated with the artist`s early period, characterised by intensive experimentation with colour, plastic form and the decorative organisation of pictorial space. The composition centres on a group of objects arranged against a patterned textile with a large-scale stylised floral design. At the centre stands a white pedestal fruit dish filled with apples and pears, rendered in rich shades of red, green, pink and yellow. To the left rises a substantial white ceramic jug with a wide mouth, while to the right stands a tall glass bottle, its surface depicted through freely applied brushstrokes in bluish, green and lilac tones. Fruit arranged loosely across the foreground creates a rhythmic sequence of rounded forms. Its expressive colour modelling contrasts with the cool white and blue surfaces of the vessels. Particular significance is given to the decorative background, composed of large stylised flowers and curling leaves against a dark ground. These ornamental motifs interact dynamically with the objects of the still life, establishing a compelling unity of colour, rhythm and form. The handling of paint is characterised by vigorous, broad brushwork, a richly layered paint surface, simplified treatment of volume and emphatic dark outlines. Intense reds, emerald greens, ochres and blues form striking chromatic contrasts characteristic of Mashkov`s engagement with Cézannism and Fauvism. The decorative intensity of the composition is combined with a convincing sense of volume and material presence. The unconventional treatment of space, broad areas of colour and richly textured paint surface emphasise the autonomy of the pictorial language, transforming the traditional still life into a distinctly modernist work. Signature: Signed `Ilya Mashkovъ` in dark paint in the upper left of the composition. Dimensions: 85 × 100.5 cm. Medium: Oil on canvas. Expert Opinion: Expert opinion issued by the Department of Scientific Examination of the State Tretyakov Gallery, No. ОЭ ГТГ 7494.

Estimate:£41,835.95

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