Congratulations to C. Willoughby who placed the winning bid of $1,000 for April's auction painting "Dneprovskey Tune" at $3,000- $3,500 and K. Thorkelson who had the high bid of just $500 to win April's second auction painting "Summer on Dacha" estimated at $3,500- $4,000.
For May we are again pleased to offer TWO great auction paintings, "Trees" by Victoria Nikolaevna Kostenko and "Spring" by Konstantin G. Molteninov.
Bidding begins at $250, followed by minimum bidding increments of $250. The auction will end Monday, April 30th at 6:00 pm.
BID FORM
AUCTION PIECE #1
Victoria Nikolaevna Kostenko, "Trees" 19¾'' x 25¼'', (50 x 64 cm) 1970, Pastel on Paper Estimated Value, $2,000 to $2,500, Winning Bid $1,000, M. Turpin
Victoria Nikolaevna Kostenko, is a signifigant regional artist in the Dnepropetrovsk area of Eastern Ukraine. She was a rare Soviet woman whose talent was overflowing. Notably, she was able to paint right along with the patriarchal male artists who were generally uncomfortable with women artists. Nonetheless, Victoria Nikolaevna was greatly respected as a master artist and has enjoyed a long career despite her gender.
Kostenko, Victoria Nikolaevna b. 1926
The artist Victoria Nikolaevna Kostenko - the Ukrainian and Russian artist, the painter, the schedule. Was born in 1926 in Kamyshlov of Sverdlovsk area, Russia. In 1949 has finished Sverdlovsk art school. The participant of art exhibitions since 1956. A member of the union of artists of Ukraine since 1965. Products are stored in
The Dnepropetrovsk art museum and private collections. Lives and works in Dnepropetrovsk.
Victoria Nikolaevna Kostenko is listed in "A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Russian and Soviet Paintings 1900-1980", by Matthew Cullerne Bown.(page 162).
AUCTION PIECE #2
Konstantin Georgievich Molteninov, "Spring" 21¾'' x 25½'', (55 x 65 cm) 1965, Oil on Canvas Estimated Value $1,750 to $2,250, Winning Bid $1,500, G. Farge
Konstantin Georgievich Molteninov is a colorist. He was one of the first artists we met with on our first trip to Russia in the early 1990's. Molteninov had a studio on Vasalevsky Island. He was a very quiet humble man. His studio was filled with a lifetime of art. Naturally, it is very rare to find much of an artist's lifetime work gathered in a studio. But to our surprise we discovered artworks that were carefully ordered and numbered was the accumulated work of Konstantin G. Molteninov. Paintings from the 1930's, 1940's, and right up to the late 1980's.
In the old Soviet system there were no collectors, dealers or galleries-- only the government and the artist Unions that were controlled by the government. Apparently, while being an incredibly talented artist, Molteninov was not a particularly good communist. Furthermore, he was not quiet about giving his opinions. |
While in Stalin's time Moltenov might have disappeared into the gulag, the price he paid was a rocky association with the government and artist union. Thus explaining the many masterpieces in the studio. They were works collected from a lifetime, but almost completely unseen as payback for an artist who refused to be helpful in spreading the 'communist word'.
With joy and appreciation, we acquired a good number of his works. Konstantin Georgevich was very pleased to know his paintings were at last going to be seen and appreciated.
Molteninov, Konstantin Georgievich b. 1924
Konstantin G. Molteninov was born October 2, 1924 in the Penza region. The family moved to St. Petersburg in 1932 and in 1939 Molteninov entered art college, enrolling in the Secondary Art School at the Academy of Arts in 1941.
During World War II, the pupils of the school were evacuated and Molteninov left to join in the war effort. After the war, Molteninov resumed his education and in 1953 he graduated from the Repin Institute. At the institute he studied under L.F. Ovsjannikov, V.N. Mashkov, M.G. Platunov, and P.P. Frents. During this time, Molteninov's outlook and creative works were influenced by Prussian realists of the pre-Revolutionary period. Molteninov mainly appreciated their ability to express truth and beauty and it is these two criteria that are the cornerstones of his creative outlook, as demonstrated in many of his paintings.
Molteninov his artwork on people of labor, collective farmers, sportsmen, and countryside people. Their lives, worries and anxieties were at the center of his creative attentions. The Revolution and War themes were also the subject of many of the artist's paintings. In them he sought to avoid ceremonious pomposity and insincerity; instead he portrayed the truth of battle and the people of war. He helped create the diorama The Breakthrough of the Siege of Leningrad in January of 1943. He has been a participant in numerous exhibitions in Russia and his works are represented in private collections in Russia, England, France, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Norway, and the United States.
Congratulations to J. Granney who placed the the winning bid of $2,500 for October's auction painting "Autumn in Gurzuf" by Alexander G. Gulyaev. The estimated price for the painting was $4,500- $5,500. The winning bid culminated a day of excitement with several bidders submitting bids and counter-bids. We invite you to participate in this month's auction and thank everyone who placed bids last month.
For November, we are pleased to present as our auction painting a portrait that is a serious work by a serious artist for a serious collector. It is the hallmark of a great collector that there is a range of works from a period or from an artist. This is not the appealing children at play portrait that hangs on the walls of many homes. This portrait is sober and yet very subtle. The talent of the artist is beyond question--but it is what lies on the canvass that is cloaked in mystery and question. Like all great portraits, the viewer can feel the soul of the person being painted--yet still there remains mysteries about the painting and the subject.
"Portrait of the Wise Man" by Rashid Mukhametbareyevich Nurmuhametov. is estimated at $3,00- $3,500. Bidding begins at $250, followed by minimum bidding increments of $250. The auction will end Wednesday, November 30th at 5:00 pm.
BID FORM
Estimated Value $3,000- $3,500 Winning Bid $2,000 L. Fey
Rashid M. Nurmuhametov "Portrait of the Wise Man" 22¾'' x 19½'', (57.50 x 49.50 cm) 1956, Oil on Canvas Estimated Value $3,000- $3,500, Winning Bid $2,000 L. Fey
Bashkortostan is located between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains.
Rashid Mukhametbareyevich Nurmukhametov, (1925-1986)
(Translated from the original Russian)
People's Artist of RSFSR, Honored Artist of Bashkir ASSR, and Salavat Yulaev Prize Winner, Nurmukhametov is one of the most outstanding artists of Soviet Bashkiria. His name is associated with the achievements of genre and portrait painting in the Republic. For more than thirty years of artistic work, he created an extensive gallery of canvases, many of which are now held in museum collections in Russia.
The art of Nurmukhametov is active, life-asserting and passionate. It clearly expresses the attitude to reality of the artist-communist himself - a man of our time, who philosophically comprehends life in all manifestations of the new and the old.
Nurmukhametov was generously endowed by nature with the talent of artist, painter, with poetics, broad-mindedness and enormous energy. The artist's works are a reflection of all his human qualities. They cover various aspects of life and bear the light of humanity, patriotism and respect to man.
The art of Nurmukhametov is deeply rooted in his native Bashkir land. His best works are dedicated to its people, history, today's life and nature. It is that main trend which determines the completeness of the artist's work. The national character is the main feature of his art. It lies in the deep understanding of national heroes, national individuality, in the large vital meaningfulness of his paintings and the realistic manner of representation.
The art of Nurmukhametov continues the traditions of the first Bashkir artist K.S. Davletkildeyev, who, starting from 1920s, showed in his works the national life and Bashkir people. It is also consonant with the works of the artists of his age - A.F.Lutfullin and F,G.Kashcheyev- which are dedicated to the national theme. However, Nurmukhametov's heroes are different from those created by these artists. The fidelity to the national character does not overshadow those main traits of character with which the artist endows his heroes; these are clarity of heart, resolute activity and emotionality. Even his lyrical works are imbued with a bright and cheerful humor. The artist's works brings up the eternal questions of life, poetic beauty of the world and man, as well as the traditions of Russian and Soviet realistic art.
The artist's native town is Ufa the capitol of the Republic of Bashkortosstan. It was in this town where the future artist in his young years first encountered the world of art in the halls of Bashkir Art Museum named after M.V. Nesterov. Those encounters strengthened his desire to become an artist. In 1940 the fifteen-year old youth entered the Department of Painting of Ufa Arts College. A year later the war with Germany broke out, having frustrated all his plans and hopes.
Still in his teens, he went to work in a factory. He passed the war years doing hard physical labor - which became an important lesson in life for him. The hard work taught him to value life, people and work. Immediately after the war Nurmukhametov resumed the interrupted education. A decisive role in his artistic development was played by A.E. Tulkin, Honored Art Worker of RSFSR. The high poetic truth and fine artistic culture of his works had a large influence on his pupils, among which, along with Nurmukhametov, there were B.F. Domashnikov, A.F. Lutfullin, A,A. Kuznetsov, F.A. Kashcheyev and others. The pedagogical gift of the other favorite teacher P.M.Lebedev, a member of the Itinerary Exhibitions, was also decisive for the students' obtaining their professional skills.
The next step in the master's development was iat the Arts Institute named after V.I. Surikov in Moscow, where he was admitted in 1950. Upon graduation he did a serious of drawing. and painting and composition studies under the guidance of such prominent Soviet artists as V.P. Efanov, V.G. Tsyplakov and D.D. Zhilinsky. The young artist, improving his skills with great enthusiasm, received there wide possibilities to study on the classical examples of Russian and Soviet art in the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery.
His teacher, the academician of painting. V.P. Efanov, said about Nurmukhametov that even during his studies at the Institute he was distinguished by his talent, and having become an artist he proved to be a good portrait-painter and a master of composition. The painting "After a working day" (1956) became a diploma thesis of the young artist. He raised in it a subject vital for Bashkiria: work and everyday life of oil industry workers. The creation of this painting was preceded by the author's trips to oilfields, painting from life and contact with the Bashkir artist V.P. Andreyev. who started in the republic's art the theme of oil industrial Bashkiria.
The maturity examination was successfully passed by the young artist. He convincingly showed that his art is founded on the laws of humanism and realistic mastery, which are traditional of Soviet painting. Upon the graduation from the Institute in 1956 Rashid returned to Ufa. Ahead of him there were many years of tireless yet fruitful work.
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Congratulations to E. and C. Nielson who placed the the winning bid of $2,250 for August's auction painting "Outskirts of the Village" by MikhailV. Akinshin. The estimated price for the painting was $3,500! . The winning bid culminated a full day of last minute bids and counter-bids. The painting proved to be not only a wonderful piece of Russian art but a bargain as well. We invite you to participate in this month's auction and thank everyone who placed bids last month
As our September auction choice, we are pleased to present "Village Watchman" by Alexander Ivanovich Ovchinikov. This painting's value is estimated at $2,500. Bidding begins at $250, followed by minimum bidding increments of $250. The auction will end at 9 PM on Friday, September 30th.
"Village Watchman" is a classic Soviet style sketch. It was painted plein air' from a summer spent by the artist in a village near the city of Orenberg. During the mid-1960's, much of the Soviet artistic community still believed in the idealism of communism. Artists spent summers out in the field looking for working class hero's and when they found these models they painted them--all to push forward the ideas of the communist revolution.
If you look at the power and dignity of this 'Watchman' he is clearly a man who is responsible, serious and looking toward the future. Building the road to pure communism. This sketch was painted in one quick setting. The heavy brush strokes reveal that energy and life of a live model out in the countryside. The sketch was used as a part of a bigger painting portraying the dignity of village life and of its workers. BID FORM
Estimated Price $2,500, Winning Bid $2,250 P. Taylor
Alexander I. Ovchinikov, "Village Watchman "19'' x 13¾'', (48 x 35 cm), 1965, Oil on Board, Estimated Price $2,500
Alexander Ivanovich Ovchinikov, (1927- 1980)
Translated from the original Russian
Aleksander I. Ovchinnikov was born in 1929 in the village of Baleika, Novosergievo, district of Orenburg region. Ovchinnikov's artistic talent was revealed in his early childhood. He began to study art in the Art Studio in Goriachy Klyuch, then he worked and studied in the Kardovsky Center for Creative Work in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and at the Academy Country House in Vyshny Volochok where he was a disciple of A.F. Stephanov and V.M. Sidorov. In the 1950s, he was an active participant of exhibitions in this country. It was then that he also decided to get professional training and, in 1962, he entered the Academy of Arts. He, already a participant of all Russia's exhibitions, was offered to work at the Academy Country House.
In 1970, he became a member of the Union of Artists of Russia. He works in different types of painting; there are subject pictures, such as "Seeing Off Soldiers to the Front" (1961) and "Father in the Field" (1970), epic and lyrical landscapes, portraits and still, and life paintings. In the 1970s, his stiff-life series "Bread" was subject to wards of several exhibitions.
In his creative work the artist continues the tradition of Russian realistic painting. He participated in local exhibitions in Orenburg, in all Russia's exhibitions, in national and international exhibitions. There have been more than 10 one-man exhibitions. One more one-man exhibition (commemorating his 70th birthday) is in the process of preparation in Orenburg. In 1998, he participated in the exhibition of the works of Russian artists in India and in the Tretyakov Gallery exhibition "India as Seen by Artists."
The artist's work can be found in museums and private collections both in Russia and abroad.
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, "Autumn in Gurzuf"
13¾'' x 19¾'', (35 x 50 cm) 1956, Oil on Board
Estimated Value $4,500- $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.
The landscape of Gurzuf, a resort on the Black Sea of the Crimea, 50 years after "Autumn in Gurzuf " was painted.
Alexander Georgievich Gulyaev, (1917-1995) Translated from the original Russian
Alexander Georgievich Guliayev was born on September 11, 1917 in Rubtsovsk, Altai Territory. In 1932, Guliayev graduated from middle school and the following year entered the Tashkent Trade School of Arts. After studying under A.N. Volkov, V.P. Markova and M.I. Kurzin, Guliayev progressed in 1937 to the Russian National Academy of Arts (Repin) Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in Leningrad. There he studied under the instruction of E.M. Cheptsov, I.P. Stepashkin and L.F. Ovsianikov.
Gulayaev voluntarily joined the Red Army in 1941 to fight the Germans in WWII and served in the Army in the Cavalry Regiment. He received the Patriotic War Order and eleven medals, including the Labor Veteran Medal, for his service during the war. After he was wounded, Guliayev was demobilized in December of 1942 and resumed his studies in the Academy of Arts based in Samarkand.
From 1943 he studied in the studio of A.A. Osmiorkina and graduated from the Repin Institute of Art in March 1946. His Diploma work was a painting "Minn and Pozharsky" that now belongs to the Academy of Art. In the same year he entered the Leningrad organization of the Union of Artists. Soon afterward, he became a member of the Russian Artists' Union.
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).
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