Russian collectors seems to be increasingly aware of the great market potentiality that is developing around the art of their own country. Mindful of this, they are taking part with important pieces in auctions organized by the big international houses. Exactly like Bonhams, which in London on 9^th June organized a very successful auction proposing Russian works and objects of art. The 241 lots auctioned totalled 5.5 million pounds.

According to Evgenia Teslyuk, head of Russian art sales at Bonhams, this is the best time to sell high-quality works in this sector. Indeed, in this period many important works have been appearing on the market for the first time and collectors of Russian art are looking for works with a prestigious background to add to their collections.

Naturally, during the auction held on 9^th June everyone’s eyes were directed at the magnificent canvas “The Sailboat” by Natalia Goncharova. The canvas had been presented in catalogue with an estimate of 1.5 – 2 million pounds. The picture sold for 1.7 million pounds. Goncharova is the most important 20^th-century Russian artist. Her figure has been essential for pre-revolutionary Russian avant-garde. In this movement, women managed to conquer an unusual grade of freedom and respect.

“The Sailboat” had never appeared on the auction market before 9^th June. The picture portrays a boat sailing away from the storm towards calm waters. The work shows clear derivations of cubist origin as the boat is painted at the same time in the middle of the storm and on a calm sea.

The canvas comes from the collection of Sir John Rothenstein’s family, director of the Tate Gallery between 1938 and 1964. He probably received it directly from the artist in the fifties during one of his frequent visits to Goncharova’s studio in Paris. Indeed, John Rothenstein was very interested in the oeuvre of Natalia Goncharova and her husband Mikhail Larionov, and exploiting his influence he sponsored their works.

One of the evening’s most interesting lots was the canvas by Alexei Alexeevich Harlamoff , “Young girl blowing bubbles” estimated at 400,000 – 600,000 pounds. The canvas sold for 568,800 pounds. The work had been kept by a Scottish family for more than a century, during which it was kept away from the big public.

“Ponte Rialto, Venice” by Peter Konchalovsky had been presented at auction with the same estimate, 400,000 – 600,000 pounds. The work comes from a private American collection which kept its property for the last 30 years. The painting is part of a series of six pieces, painted by the artist during his journey in Italy to take part in the 14^th Venice Biennale in 1924.

Even “A study for Venice” by Alexandra Exter was in line with every expectation selling for 412,000 pounds (estimate 400,000 – 600,000 pounds).

While Vladimir Makovsky’s “Rest on the way from Kiev” achieved better results than expected. The canvas represents a girl dressed in traditional clothes sitting near a priest. The painting, which comes from a private European collection, had never been presented at auction until now. Presented in the catalogue with an estimate of 250,000 – 300,000 euros, the painting sold for 400,000 euros.

(translated by Giorgina Arcuri)