MacDougall's Russian Art Auctions 25-27 November 2019

25 November 2019

Artist Index / Full Catalogue


Portrait of Elena Borisovna Kovalchuk

* 346. MASHKOV, ILYA (1881–1944)

Portrait of Elena Borisovna Kovalchuk .

Pencil and crayon on paper, 64 by 86 cm.
12,000–18,000 GBP


Provenance: Collection of M. Mashkova, the artist’s widow, Moscow.
Thence by descent.
Acquired from A. Kosov, the artist’s grandson, by the previous owner in 1993.
Acquired from the above by the present owner in Moscow in 1999.
Private collection, USA.

Authenticity of the work has been confirmed by the expert V. Petrov.
Authenticity has also been confirmed by the experts M. Valiaeva and V. Silaev.

Literature: I. Bolotina, Ilya Mashkov, Moscow, Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1977, p. 383, No. 1047, listed.

The present lot is from the series of drawings executed by Mashkov at the Communist Military Hospital No. 393 and the Evacuation and Sorting Hospital No. 290 in Moscow in 1942–1943. It can be safely assumed that the portrait was exhibited at one of these hospitals: it is still attached to the display backing card with the writing on the reverse (executed by the hospital staff), specifying the identity of the sitter: “Sestra miloserdiia v gospitale/ bolnaia/ Kovalchuk/ razmer 85 x 65/ rabota/ I.I. Mashkova”.


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.