2 December 2015 Russian Art Auctions
2 December 2015
98. KOUZNETSOV, NIKOLAI (1850-1929)
Portrait of Misha and Portrait of Marusya, two works, each signed with initials, titled in Cyrillic and dated 1891.
Each oil on canvasboard, measuring 31.5 by 22.5 cm and 25.5 by 19.5 cm respectively.
2,000-3,000 GBP
Two works presented here are the portraits of the artist’s children Mikhail and Maria. Maria Kouznetsova-Benois was a renowned opera singer and a star of the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. She was one of the most prominent women of Russia’s Silver Age, working with Sergei Diaghilev, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Richard Strauss, and singing with the famous Feodor Chaliapin. Her first husband was Albert Benois, a son of the artist Albert Nikolaevich Benois.
Provenance: Collection of the artist.
Thence by descent to Mikhail Tolstoy, the artist’s grandson.
Thence by descent.
Private collection, Slovenia.
Authenticity of the work has been confirmed by the expert V. Petrov.
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.