MacDougall's Russian Art Auctions 1-2 Dec 2010
1 December 2010
* 376. BOGDANOV-BELSKY, NIKOLAI 1868-1945
Cityscape signed, c. 1930s
Oil on canvas, 66 by 78 cm.
80,000-120,000 GBP
Authenticity has been confirmed by the expert I. Geraschenko.
Authenticity has been confirmed by the expert V. Petrov.
The work will be included in the book on Bogdanov-Belsky, prepared by A. Kouznetsoff.
Exhibited: Khudozhniki Russkoi Emigratsii v Tchernogorii, Museum of Podgoritsy, December 2008.
Tshernogoriya. S Palitry Russkikh Khudozhnikov, Embassy of Montenegro in the Russian Federation, Central House of the Artists, 21 April - 3 May 2009.
Literature: Exhibtion catalogue, Khudozhniki Russkoi Emigratsii v Tchernogorii, Museum of Podgoritsy, December 2008, plate 2, illustrated.
Exhibition catalogue, Tshernogoriya. S Palitry Russkikh Khudozhnikov, Embassy of Montenegro in the Russian Federation, Central House of the Artists, 21 April - 3 May 2009, p. 25, illustrated.
The renowned Russian artist Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky is above all famous for his genre scenes. His works showing village children are full of true life, and are without doubt among the best examples of Russian genre painting of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While in Russia, the artist painted very few refined landscapes and city views, focusing on his favourite theme. Having settled in Latvia, Bogdanov-Belsky, while continuing to paint genre scenes, regularly executed wonderful landscapes of the countryside and towns. This new direction in the artist’s work is most likely linked to his wish to widen the range of his creative possibilities, and to position himself with confidence as a landscape artist. Towards the end of the 1910s, Bogdanov-Belsky’s
painterly style changes significantly. The almost academic realism of the artist, which he had taken on from the Itinerants of the late period, ceases to exist. The artist becomes seriously interested in Post-Impressionism. His colour scheme becomes more open and vibrant, and his brush strokes more elongated and abrupt. From now onwards, his paintings are full of sunlight, free from dark umber tones. Bogdanov-Belsky travels extensively, visiting Germany, France, the Baltic States, Slovenia and Montenegro. The two magnificent views offered here were painted in 1930, while the artist was in Montenegro. The corner of the old town and the ancient church are painted with the artist’s characteristic mastery. The composition of the work is carefully chosen and distinguishes itself by its perfection and clear division of space. The truthful descriptiveness and the thorough attention to the architectural details make the painting an important historical document.
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.