Successful Exhibition 1917-1918
Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky showed his paintings, including The Schoolgirl Reading by Lamplight, at the 46th Itinerant Exhibition in 1917-1918, which was a time of great social and political upheaval. According to Sotheby’s catalogue, the success was surprising:
‘We assumed that during the revolutionary events people would be indifferent to art and that we would struggle to sell anything. Fortunately, we were wrong… our exhibition was well-attended and many of the works sold. […] Connoisseurs flocked to the venue, so much so that the exhibition administrator could hardly keep up with the purchases, and all this despite the high prices.’ (quoted in V.Vegenov, ‘N.P. Bogdanov-Belsky u «peredvizhnikov»’, Russkii vestnik, no.13 (79), 1943, p.4).
Sotheby’s catalogue says that Bogdanov-Belsky painted The Schoolgirl Reading by Lamplight “at the local school in Ostrovno in Tver Province, where he had settled in 1914, only visiting Petrograd in winter to work on portrait commissions.” They quote Bogdanov-Belsky:
“I found the spontaneity and aptitude of peasant children so compelling that they became the natural subjects of my paintings”, the artist remarked.(quoted in N.Lapidus, Bogdanov-Belsky, Moscow, 2005, p.16). catalogue
Sotheby’s
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Details:
- Nikolai Petrovich Bogdanov-Belsky
- 1868-1945
- THE SCHOOLGIRL
- signed in in Cyrillic l.l.
- oil on canvas
- 158 by 119cm, 62 1/2 by 46 3/4 in.
- Image source: Sotheby’s
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Reblogged this on penwithlit and commented:
Charming portrait!
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Thanks, penwithlit! I appreciate your comment and reblog. 🙂
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Beautiful and I never knew of this artist, even when resided in Russia.
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There are so many extraordinary Russian artists, but he is one of my favorite of all. Thanks for commenting! 🙂
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Love it!
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Thanks Rosaliene! 🙂
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Reblogged this on sketchuniverse and commented:
📖 WELL BEAUTIES, TODAY A LITTLE GIRL IS IN THE STILLNESS OF HOME.
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A delightful painting. To create such mood is genius.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Vivienne. 🙂
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