VRUBEL, MIKHAIL - Study for "The Swan Princess"

ÉCOLE DE PARIS AND OTHER MASTERS

12:00 GMT 4 December 2024

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* 56. VRUBEL, MIKHAIL (1856-1910)

Study for "The Swan Princess" .

Oil on canvas, 21.3 by 24.8 cm.
40,000-60,000 GBP

Provenance: Collection of Chavdar Tsolin Dragoychev, Bulgaria.
Thence by descent to the previous owner.
Private collection, Europe.

In 1900, Mikhail Vrubel’s The Swan Princess, a canvas of rare beauty, was unveiled to the public. The painting provoked both admiration and controversy among the discerning audience, yet it left no one indifferent. The enigmatic figure, inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s famous fairy tale, bore striking resemblance to the artist’s beloved wife, Nadezhda Zabela. Working on his monumental canvas, Vrubel had created several portrait sketches of Nadezda, which laid the groundwork for this renowned masterpiece.

We believe that the work presented here for auction is one of these sketches. It is charactirised by the artist’s specific artistic techniques, unparalleled colour palette, and the mesmerizing charm of the female subject. In the present work, Nadezhda’s facial features are clearly discernible, yet they have been subtly transformed into the very Swan Princess that has captivated viewers for over a century. The so recognisable tilt of the head, the outworldly gaze of the large, beautiful eyes, that haunted the artist throughout his entire legacy, from the fiery stare of The Demon to the comforting luminosity of Christ’s effigy, makes this work truly unique. The slight elongation of the princess’s features reflects the signature style of Russian Art Nouveau, and more specifically, of Vrubel’s overall artistic heritage.

Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
◎ Indicates the lot is located outside the UK. Successful bidders would collect their lots outside the UK after payment.
Ω Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.
§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.
† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.