5 June 2013 Russian Art Auctions

5 June 2013

Artist Index / Full Catalogue


Study for the Portrait of Alexander I.

477. KUSTODIEV, BORIS (1878-1927)

Study for the Portrait of Alexander I.

Pencil, watercolour, gouache and ink on paper, 35 by 19 cm.
20,000–30,000 GBP


The present lot is a study for the portrait of Alexander I, a pair to the portrait of Nicholas II, executed by Boris Kustodiev in 1906 for the Officers’ Assembly of the Life Guards Finland Regiment in St Petersburg, now in The State Russian Museum.

Provenance: Acquired directly from the family of the artist by the previous owner.

Related Literature: For the portrait, see A. Rostislavov, “B. Kustodiev”, Apollon, No. 12, 1910, pp. 7–14.
M. Etkind, B.M. Kustodiev, Leningrad–Moscow, Iskusstvo, 1960, p. 192.
Boris Kustodiev, Moscow, Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1982, p. 82, listed.
V. Kruglov, Boris Kustodiev, St Petersburg, Zolotoi vek, 2007, p. 33, illustrated; p. 451, listed.


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.