26 November 2014 Russian Art Auctions
26 November 2014
* 173. KUSTODIEV, BORIS (1878-1927)
Girl with a Cup (Portrait of Maria Shostakovich), signed and dated 1922.
Pencil and crayon on paper, 17 by 16.5 cm (image size).
25,000-40,000 GBP
Provenance: Private collection, USA.
Exhibited: Posmertnaya vystavka proizvedenii B. M. Kustodieva, The State Russian Museum, Leningrad, 1928.
Literature: Exhibition catalogue, Katalog posmertnoi vystavki proizvedenii B. M. Kustodieva, Moscow, Glaviskusstvo-Glavnauka, 1929, listed.
M. Etkind, Boris Kustodiev, Moscow, Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1982, p. 282, No. 1295, listed.
Related literature: For another version of this work, see: M. Etkind, Boris Kustodiev, Moscow, Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1982, p. 202, No. 530, listed.
Boris Kustodiev’s delicate, lyrical watercolours and drawings will enrich any, even the most exclusive collection. It is not without reason that such collectors as Isaak Brodsky, Feodor Notgaft, Petr Kornilov, Boris Suris and many others prided themselves on the works they owned by this illustrious member of the World of Art group. The portrait of Maria, the sister of the great composer Dmitri Shostakovich, is another version of the well-known oil painting, which is also in a private collection. The image of the girl is reminiscent of the artist’s celebrated paintings of merchants’ wives drinking tea, which were popular amongst his admirers and brought Kustodiev considerable recognition at exhibitions. This artist’s drawings are distinguished by a striking feeling of moderation and taste. The delicate, indistinct colour is not the dominant element here, being utterly and completely subordinate to the elegance of the elemental graphite line.
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.