Petrov-Vodkin’s “Still Life with a Lilac” will be shown in Moscow before being sold at Christie's

"Still Life with a Lilac" Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin (1878-1939) will be put up for auction works of Russian art, which the auction house Christie's will hold June 3 in London. This was reported on Thursday by TASS press service of this auction company.

“Christie's had the great honor to present at the auction of Russian art, which will be held on June 3 in London, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin’s masterpiece“ Still Life with Lilac. ”On May 16 and 17,“ Still Life with Lilac ”will be exhibited for the first time in Moscow in the space of Christie's auction house. Everyone will be able to come and see the outstanding still life of the brush by the great Russian artist before he will be presented at the auction in London on June 3, "the message says.

Christie's noted that "this picture amazes the viewer with impudent use of rich pure colors, optical techniques and, above all, an innovative approach to perspective, which earned Petrov-Vodkin the glory of one of the leading masters of Russian and world art of the twentieth century.

The auction house reported that "Still Life with Lilac" was written in 1928, that is, at the peak of the artist's career, and for four years anticipates the appearance of another still life, the Bird-cherry in a glass, which is considered one of the most recognizable in the works of the painter. collection of the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

The press service recalled that the work participated in the exposition of the Soviet pavilion at the Venice Biennale of 1932. "Still Life with Lilac" is offered for sale from the collection of insightful Italian art historian and publisher Giovanni Sheyvillera. This provenance allows us to trace the history of cultural exchange between the USSR and Italy in the period from the 1920s to the 1930s, at the same time paying tribute to the artistic legacy of Petrov-Vodkin ", - said in a statement.

"Still Life with Lilac" is made in the brand Petrov-Vodkin palette and is a reflection of the artist's research in the field of color, his famous "three-color" - the theory in accordance with which he combines the bright primary colors of red and blue, complementing them with yellow to achieve maximum saturation and color effects. “Petrov-Vodkin was convinced that the culture of the painter manifests itself in color; it doesn’t obscure the poverty of the mind, will and feelings, if there are any in it, with any decorative tricks - the color will betray his taste and inclinations of character,” the press service explained.

Petrov-Vodkin studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture with the renowned Russian artist of the Silver Age, Valentin Serov, and honed his talent as a painter in the early 1900s at art schools in Munich and Paris. Returning to Russia, he first became interested in symbolist and modernist currents, but by 1912 he had his own creative vision, and he shook the artistic community with his landmark work Bathing the Red Horse (State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), which became a symbol of the upcoming social changes in Russia.

The painting will be exhibited in the space of the auction house Christie's on May 16 and 17. Estimate paintings - $ 1.4-2 million