Based in St James’ Square, London, MacDougall’s is the only fine art auction house to specialise in Russian art: they hold a quarter of the global market.
Their forthcoming Marylebone sale on 28 November features work by Russian masters from the 19th to the 20th centuries, including works on paper, icons, and oils.
With the best and most iconic names presented, it’s a difficult job selecting our favourite few, however there are some we simply can’t go past.
Alexander Archipenko (1887-1964) was born in Kiev, Russia, where he attended Kiev Art School from 1902 to 1905. He is best known for his small-scale sculptures which present cubism in three-dimensional form – he was one of the first artists to do so, capturing and utilising alternating faceted planes and organic curves to depict another version or interpretation of the human body.
These features can be seen in this present lot, a sculpture measuring 61 cm in height which was issued in an unnumbered edition in 1948. It has been authenticated by the Archipenko Foundation and is to be included in a forthcoming catalogue rasioneé of the artist.
Konstantin Gorbatov (1876-1945) was a Russian post-impressionist painter born in Stavropol in the Samara province.
This view of the snowy Trinity Lavra of St Sergius is among the most recognisable pictures of Gorbatov’s oeuvre, an artist best known for his depictions of this monastery.
Having lived in Italy for some time, the artist took on a bright and fresh Mediterranean palette, recognisable in this painterly work of his homeland, replete with dynamic brushstrokes and clean colours. In this work, Gorbatov combines a realistic portrayal of the monastery with a romantically-exalted vision of Old Russian architecture, rendered in a wintry landscape.
Pyotr Konchalovsky (1876-1956) was a Russian artist and member of the Jack of Diamonds, a group of avant-garde artists originating from an exhibition held in 1910 in Moscow.
In The Game of Billiards. Aristarkh Lentulov and Petr Konchalovsky, the artist has painted a double portrait of himself and Aristarkh Lentulov, both leading artists of the 20th century.
The painting is most likely a depiction of the famous billiard room of the luxurious Metropol Hotel, indicated by the lamps and the baize-covered table. After the revolution of 1917, the Soviet government was based in the Metropol which had not only been an iconic place for the very wealthy, but also a haven for poets and artists.
By the artist’s own admission, he wished to create something ‘alive’: portraits, landscapes and genre scenes. This work is a classic example of his dynamic approach, drawing on a rejuvenated artistic language.
This work by Konstantin Korovin (1861-1939), a leading Russian impressionist painter, comes from the collection of Garig Basmadjian, one of the most renowned figures in the antique market of the 1970s and ‘80s, whose collection included remarkable works of Russian art.
This large-scale fireplace art nouveau panel is extremely rare example of Korovin’s decorative art. It was painted in 1925 in Paris and likely commissioned for the interior décor of a private residence.
Korovin carried out a lot of work as a theatre artist and had experience in designing exhibition pavilions in Russia. Here, in Allegorical Scene, he chooses a deliberately two-dimensional, symbolic treatment for his composition, extending it as if it were a frieze and filling it with allegorical meaning. The narrative is based on the theme of abundance, stemming from a happy reign, as symbolised by the rich basket of fruit in the centre and the two images of King David on either side. On the left, King David is a youthful, fair-haired shepherd, and on the right, a strong, noble ruler who has defeated his enemies.
And these are only a few highlights of the 250 plus lots available at MacDougall’s Fine Art Auctions. We suggest you do yourself a favour and take a look at the catalogue in its entirety
Discover all lots up for sale at MacDougall’s Fine Art Auctions right here
