MacDougall's Russian Art Auctions 1 December 2011
1 December 2011
90. GLUCKMANN, GRIGORY (1898-1973)
Reclining Nude, signed, inscribed "Paris" and dated 1929.
Oil on panel, 78.5 by 130 cm.
180,000-250,000 GBP
Provenance: Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona, USA, No. 61/1 (label on the reverse).
Leila Taghinia-Milani Inc., New York, USA (label on the reverse).
Montgomery Gallery, San Francisco, USA (label on the reverse).
Private collection, UK.
Authenticity of the work has been confirmed by the expert N. Shishkina.
The present painting by Grigory Gluckmann dates from 1929 and is an excellent example of the work from his Paris period. An American artist of Russian origin, Gluckmann had already gained international recognition by the 1920s when as a refugee from the Revolution he left for Berlin and later Italy, settling in Paris in 1925.
It was the French period of his émigré life which saw the high point of Gluckmann’s career. His works were highly praised by critics and sold well, and he had more than ten solo exhibitions in Paris, London and New York between 1924 and 1939. He also participated in exhibitions of Russian art in Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris.
In Paris Gluckmann worked as a book illustrator for the publishing house La Pléiade and from the 1930s he devoted himself to painting. Gluckmann loved to paint people — in the streets, in bars, at the theatre — but he particularly loved to paint women, actresses, dancers and generally beautiful young ladies. He was famous for his pictures of sensuous nudes, following the principle which governed his entire artistic career: that art must delight the eye and engage the emotions.
The present work is without doubt one of those which made Gluckmann’s name in France. The artist here paints the model in his characteristic style — fluidly, yet “sharpening” the form — reclining on rich red drapery. Bringing together in his work the traditions of Russian Realism and French Impressionism, Gluckmann was highly skilled at achieving an effect of uncommon depth and a rich range of tones in his canvasses. The Reclining Nude now offered for auction is a case in point.
Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
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.