5 June 2013 Russian Art Auctions
5 June 2013
97. KONCHALOVSKY, PETR (1876-1956)
Portrait of Arfenik Artemievna Tade, signed and dated 1930, also further signed, numbered "871" and dated on the reverse.
Oil on canvas, 99 by 93 cm.
60,000–90,000 GBP
Provenance: Collection of the artist’s family.
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner.
Private collection, UK.
Literature: Konchalovsky. Khudozhestvennoe nasledie, Moscow, Iskusstvo, 1964, p. 125, listed as “zhi 723”.
M. Neiman, Petr Petrovich Konchalovsky, Moscow, Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1967, listed under works from 1930.
The intimate Portrait of Arfenik Artemievna Tade is a fine addition to the multi-faceted selection of work by Petr Konchalovsky presented in this catalogue. Arfenik Tade-Khorosonian was the artist’s neighbour but also a well-known ophthalmic physician in her time, who worked well into her old age at the renowned Moscow Ophthalmology Clinic and Hospital on Tverskaya Street, and was the author of a number of publications devoted to problems with sight.
Although this work was painted in 1930, when Konchalovsky had already moved away from experimenting with the latest artistic trends, the style of Portrait of Arfenik Artemievna Tade is reminiscent of the oriental portraits that earlier had strongly influenced the work of the Post-Impressionists. The compositional structure of the painting is laconic, as all the artist’s attention is focussed on expressing the character and essence of his heroine.
This portrait of Arfenik casually dressed in a housecoat differs from the majority of Konchalovsky’s more formal portraits, yet he expresses with surprising strength the young doctor’s inner and outer beauty, simultaneously demonstrating his exceptional skill as a painter. In this portrait Konchalovsky subtly manages to get a feel for the internal psychology of his heroine, something he sought so hard to achieve in the work of his mature period.
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.