CHRISTIE'S RUSSIAN ART PRESENTS IMPORTANT PAINTING AND WORKS OF ART FROM THE 18TH TO THE 20TH CENTUR Following the success of the November 2007 London sales which totaled £42.9 million, Christie’s is pleased to announce its Russian Art sale on April 18 in New York.
New York — Following the success of the November 2007 London sales which totaled £42.9
million, Christie’s is pleased to announce its Russian Art sale on April 18 in New York. Among the
paintings offered, a highlight from the group of 15 works by Aleksandr Iakovlev is Loge de Théâtre à
Pékin. Of the works of art offered is an unusually large Fabergé nephrite elephant, a rare and large
important Soviet propaganda vase by the State Porcelain Factory, a silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel
punch set by Ovchinnikov, and a pair of silver candelabra by Nicholls & Plincke from the estate of
Leona Helmsley.
Leading the paintings in the sale is Aleksandr Iakovlev’s
Loge de Théâtre à Pékin a rare work from the Chinese Theatre series that is an exceptional example of the artist’s work for
its unusual subject matter, original composition, and
intensely saturated color palette (estimate: $1,800,000-
2,500,000). Iakovlev was a painter, theatre designer and
graphic artist, whose art interprets his vast travels. Loge de
Théâtre à Pékin reflects the artist’s influential journey to
China in 1918, the first of many expeditions to the Far East,
which resulted in an endless source of inspiration. Iakovlev
was mesmerized by the dramatic expression, simplicity of
form, colorful and harmonious presentation of the Chinese Theatre. The painting shows a group of
men watching the performance on stage in front of them and depicts a spectacular array of
characters following the drama with intensity. Iakovlev records the emotions and reactions
exhibited by audience members, as they lean forward in their seats; some have a mask-like
expression, mimicking the actors on stage. Loge de Théâtre à Pékin is one of the most important
works by Iakovlev to be offered at auction.
A work by one of the greatest 19th century landscape painters, Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin, is offered in
the sale, The Forest Clearing (estimate: $1,000,000-1,400,000).
Painted in 1896, it is one of the most important late works
by the artist. This sylvan scene depicts an oak forest with
the sun filtering through the canopy of branches to a
clearing. The naturalistic rendering of the trees and light,
with a deep receding background evokes the feeling of being
alone in the forest. According to Shishkin, “the forest is the
basic element of the universe, along with the sea and the
sky.”
Included in the property of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis
University, a group of ten works by Nikolai Roerich to be sold,
benefiting the acquisitions fund. Roerich’s paintings are also reflective
of his travels through the Far East, as exemplified in Ruins of a Chinese
Fort, a somber earth-toned work of snow-covered ruins, which was
inspired by the artist’s travels between Guma and Karaghalik, Chinese
Turkestan (estimate: $120,000-180,000). Other paintings in the collection include jewel-toned and
expressively painted landscapes of lakes and mountains (estimates start at $3,000).
A portrait titled Russian Beauty by Konstantin Egorovich Makovskii is a perfect
example of his ‘head studies’ (estimate: $350,000-450,000). Maskovskii was
