October 2011 Monthly Auction
Congratulations to P. Taylor who placed the the winning bid of $2,250 for September's auction painting "Village Watchman" by Alexander I. Ovichinikov. The estimated price for the painting was $2,500. The winning bid culminated a full day of excitement with 3 active bidders submitting bids and counter-bids. We invite you to participate in this month's auction and thank everyone who placed bids last month.
As our October auction choice, we are pleased to present "Autumn in Gurzuf" by Alexander Georgievich Gulyaev. This painting's value is estimated at $4,500- $5,500. Bidding begins at $250, followed by minimum bidding increments of $250. The auction will end Monday, October 31st at 5:00 pm.
The painting "Autumn in Gurzuf" is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it was painted quite early, in 1956. Second, it is a small painting of a very important place for Russian artists of our period. The seaside resort of Gurzuf on the Black Sea contained a special dacha (or Russian summer house) which was dedicated to artists. Once an artist was accepted into the Union of Soviet Artists, perks like access to the Artists Dacha made life comfortable. There was a series of Dachas across the 12 time zones of the Soviet Union.
This particular spot, with the large rock protruding out into the Sea, has been painted many times by many artists over the decades, but rarely with more talent and skill than found in this landscape by Alexander Georgievich Gulyaev. BID FORM
Estimated Value $4,500 to $5,500, Winning Bid $2,500 J. Graney
Alexander Georgievich Gulyaev was a regular host for our art trips to Leningrad/St. Petersburg during the early 1990's. Inevitably, our art buying entourage would drop by Alexander Georgievich's city center studio on the top of a 12 story high rise in magnificent St. Petersburg. There Gulyaev was a delightfully hospitable host. He would always prepare for our arrival by slicing some salami and home made pickles we soon washed down with a toast of vodka -- or several.
One time during a visit, with permission, I pulled out an old sketch which was on the bottom of a pile of similar works. It was a piece from the war, painted plein air. I asked the artist about the work. He pulled the drawing close to his eyes, dusted it off with the palm of his hands and began to tell a story of youth, war and death. His eyes got moist and he slowly took the piece back and placed it at the bottom of the pile and announced that it was not for sale. The emotional, sometimes sentimental remnants of the Great Patriotic War impressed upon the artist during this period is inestimable. It's all there in his art, found on the faces of families and illustrated in their daily lives. Truly this period marked Gulyaev and other great artists of this time forever.
Alexander Georgievich Gulyaev, (1917-1995)
Translated from the original Russian
He began exhibiting while still a student, taking part in summer exhibitions from 1939-41, then at an exhibition of Diploma works and at the Union of Artists after 1949. He exhibited in All-Russia, Republican, Regional, local spring and summer exhibitions. He also took part in "Our Contemporary" exhibition, dedicated to Soviet Army and a breakthrough of the Leningrad Blockade. Since 1950 he showed his works in almost all exhibitions of veterans of WWII during May in Leningrad.
His work can be found in: Pavlodar Art Museum, Vladivostock Art Museum, Turkemenian National Art Gallery, Museum of Revolution in Leningrad, Baltyisk Arine Museum, Museum of Radio Communications, Art Fund Collection of Russia, and the Ministry of Culture and Astronomy Institute in Leningrad. He was awarded twelve Government Medals and Orders.
Alexander Gulyaev was a participant of various All-Union, All-Russian, Republican and zonal exhibitions. The artist's paintings are exhibited in many cities of the former Soviet Union, as well as in private art collections of many countries. Gulyaev's paintings are often sold through international auction houses such as: Sotheby's, Arcole (Paris), Blache (Grenoble), Phillips (London).