MacDougall's Russian Art Auctions 8-9 June 2011
8 June 2011
* 469. BOGAEVSKY, KONSTANTIN (1872-1943)
Landscape, signed and dated 1942.
Pencil and watercolour on paper, 44.5 by 54.5 cm.
50,000-70,000 GBP
Authenticity has been confirmed by the expert O. Glebova.
A student of the eminent landscape painter Arkhip Kuindzhi, Konstantin Bogaevsky is above all known for his imaginary and romantic views of his native Eastern Crimea. Throughout his life, the artist combined reality with fantasy in his work, creating an ideal world of his own. As Maximilian Voloshin, another resident of the Crimea and close friend of Bogaevsky wrote: «He recreated on his violent Earth the paradise which existed before the creation of man...».
Bogaevsky's early work is influenced by the Viennese Secession and Arnold Böcklin. His landscapes from this period are characterized by their unusual light effects but, under the influence of the Renaissance painters and Claude Lorrain, whom Bogaevsky studied while travelling in Europe, they later became more classical.
The present lot is a particularly fine example of the artist's mature work. It shows an imaginary place with rocks and cliffs reminiscent of the Crimea, but at the same time, like many of Bogaevsky's landscapes, it resembles a stage set design, with its clear division into different planes.
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.