FINAL 2011 Alexander Benois Press Release 13.09

8/4/2019 FINAL 2011 Alexander Benois Press Release 13.09

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For ImmediateFor ImmediateFor ImmediateFor Immediate ReleaseReleaseReleaseReleasePress Release LondonLondonLondonLondonLondon | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 | Matthew Weigman | [email protected]

Simon Warren | [email protected] |

Set Design forSet Design forSet Design forSet Design for Le RossignolLe RossignolLe RossignolLe Rossignol,,,, 1914191419141914(Est. Est. Est. (Est. 30,00030,00030,00030,000----50,00050,00050,00050,000*)***)

SothebysSothebysSothebysSothebys To Sell ATo Sell ATo Sell ATo Sell An Important Private Collection of Worksn Important Private Collection of Worksn Important Private Collection of Worksn Important Private Collection of Worksbbbby Alexander Benoisy Alexander Benoisy Alexander Benoisy Alexander Benois, Coming from the Family of t, Coming from the Family of t, Coming from the Family of t, Coming from the Family of theheheheEsteemed ArtistEsteemed ArtistEsteemed ArtistEsteemed Artist

------------ FiftyFiftyFiftyFifty----TwoTwoTwoTwo Highlights On View At Sothebys ParisHighlights On View At Sothebys ParisHighlights On View At Sothebys ParisHighlights On View At Sothebys ParisFrom TheFrom TheFrom TheFrom The 19191919 thththth ToToToTo 22222222ndndndnd SeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember------------

Sothebys London is delighted to announce that the forthcoming Russian Art Sale Series this November will be

highlighted by an Important Private Collection of WorksImportant Private Collection of WorksImportant Private Collection of WorksImportant Private Collection of Works by Alexander Benoisby Alexander Benoisby Alexander Benoisby Alexander Benois.... The 130 lot sale features exquisite

works on paper spanning the artists lifetime and artistic oeuvre. Fifty-two highlights from the collection will be on view

at Sothebys Paris from the 19th to 22nd September. The auction will take place on Tuesday,Tuesday,Tuesday,Tuesday, November 29November 29November 29November 29thththth, 2011, 2011, 2011, 2011

and is expected to bring between 830,000-1,200,000. The collection, comprising ballet, opera set and costume

designs, watercolour views of Russia, France and Italy, book illustrations, sketchbooks, and portraits of the artists family

represents the largest collection of works by Benois to be offered for sale in recent history.

Commenting on the sale, Sabina Tringalas, Deputy Director and Specialist in the Russian Art Department, said: We

are thrilled to be offering this remarkable collection of fresh-to-the-market works from the family of Alexander Benois, one

of the cardinal figures of 20th century Russian artistic culture and a name synonymous with the Ballet Russes. We hope the

auction of these pieces will generate tremendous excitement among not only Russian clients and collectors of ballet and

theatre material, but also collectors from Italy and France where we will exhibit highlights later this month. The sale


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features some wonderful views of Venice, Milan, Brittany and the South of France which convey the artists outstanding

ability to effortlessly capture the unique character of these locations.

Collection HighlightsCollection HighlightsCollection HighlightsCollection Highlights::::

Benois was the descendant of Alberto Cavos, the Russian-Italian architect

who built the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow as well as the Mariinsky and Bolshoi

Kamenny theatres in St. Petersburg. The latter, which was demolished in

1886, is depicted in one of the highlights of the sale, The Bolshoi Kamenny

Theatre, St. Petersburg Beneath the Snow(illustrated left), which is estimated

at 20,000-30,000.

A member of the World of Art group, Benois looked to the beauty and spirit of the past throughout his life, wistfully

admiring a world that had long since vanished. Fearful of the destruction to Russias cultural heritage which might

follow the Russian Revolution, he produced a series of luminous watercolours of the grounds and interiors of St.

Petersburgs Imperial Palaces at Peterhof and Tsarskoe Selo. These watercolours promoted a re-evaluation of Russias

Classical and Baroque culture, providing the artist with continued inspiration in exile, and a number of them are

featured in the collection.

Particularly charming is the Three Views of Camaret, Brittany. Executed

in 1925 and painted in watercolour and ink over pencil on paper, it is

expected to make 6,000-8,000.

Benois also produced several important series of watercolours of the

Palace of Versailles. As A. Etkind describes in his book Benois andRussian Artistic Culture, the artist employed a similarly dynamic approach

to his watercolour views as he did to his set design: He reproduces the

landscape through the lorgnette of historical reminiscences, memoirs,

poetic and musical works; thanks to which the studies acquire the nature

of lyrical reflections 16 Views of Versailles (illustrated left) is estimated

at 40,000-60,000.


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Benois is perhaps best known for his work as a theatre designer for

Sergei Diaghilevs Ballets Russes and later for Ida Rubensteins dance

troupe. His designs for Petrushka, and The Sleeping Beauty are

among the best-loved in the ballet repertoire, andarefeaturedin the

collection. In creating his renowned sets, Benois drew inspiration

from foreign cultures and the decorative arts as illustrated by his

designs for Le Rossignol, 1914 (illustrated front) and The Sleeping

Beauty (illustrated above) in watercolour, gouache and ink on paper, respectively estimated at 30,000-50,000

and 10,000-15,000

The Artists Family at Villa Roustand, 1932 (illustrated right and

estimated at 8,000 12,000) is a particularly delightfulexample of the group of private family portraits featured in the

collection, many of which are annotated in detail and give a

unique insight into the most treasured moments of Benois private

life.

Collection Highlights not on view in ParisCollection Highlights not on view in ParisCollection Highlights not on view in ParisCollection Highlights not on view in Paris::::

Two further highlights in the collection, both views of Venice, Italy, are View of Piazza San Marco from the TorreDellOrologio (below left) andA View of the Ponte Rialto (below right), respectively estimated at 3,000-5,000 and

6,000-8,000.

Notes to Editors:Notes to Editors:Notes to Editors:Notes to Editors:*Estimates do not include buyers premium.

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FINAL 2011 Alexander Benois Press Release 13.09