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London Bonhams Auction to Present Aivazovsky's Works
By MassisPost
Updated: November 7, 2014
Aivazovsky's "Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to the American coast" (1892)
Aivazovsky-Self-portrait-1874
LONDON -- The works of Ivan Aivazovsky and Nicholas Roerich will be the
main lots of the Bonhams auction taking place in London on November
26. One of the key lots will be Aivazovsky's "Arrival of the Columbus
flotilla to the American coast" (1892), evaluated 700-900 thousand
pounds according to RIA Novosti that the press service.
This work of the great Armenian marine painter is from the series of
the five works, devoted to the life of Columbus and was launched in
1888. The work is considered to be one of the most outstanding works
of this series.
In 1892, the celebrated artist Ivan Aivazovsky embarked on a trip to
the United States for the first and only time in his life. Invited to
represent fine art at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in
Chicago, the seventy year old artist embraced the opportunity to
showcase twenty of his finest paintings. His participation was well
received and ensured the success of his contribution to the Columbian
Exposition. The present masterpiece was among the most celebrated
works exhibited at the Exposition. Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to
the American coast belongs to a series of monumental paintings on the
life of Christopher Columbus that Aivazovsky began as early as 1888.
It is among the grandest and most beautiful of the paintings in the
series, depicting the final and most significant stage of Columbus'
challenging journey to the New World: the moment at which the flotilla
finally arrived on the shore of America.
Nearly a decade prior to beginning work on his Columbus series,
Aivazovsky travelled to Genoa and Florence to research the explorer's
discovery of the New World. Taking note of the master Karl Briullov's
technique of extensive preparatory study of the scenery depicted in
his legendary painting The Last Day of Pompeii, the artist closely
studied Fifteenth Century ship design, as well as costumes and weapons
from the era of Columbus, in preparation for his series of paintings
on the subject of the eminent explorer. It is suggested that even as
Aivazovsky embarked on his trip to Genoa and Florence in 1879, he was
already dreaming of making a future trip to the United States.
Aivazovsky finally completed five large scale paintings on the life of
Christopher Columbus in anticipation of the opportunity to exhibit
them at the 1893 Columbia Exposition.
Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to the American coast is a splendid
example of the artist's masterful composition and skillful rendering
of atmospheric effects. The sky is depicted with remarkable lightness;
the airy, transparent clouds add depth to the pastel blue expanse,
glowing as if lit from within the center of the canvas. The light
plays off the calm waters of the ocean creating a sense of stillness
in contrast to the gentle motion of the foamy waves crashing on the
sandy coast. To the right, mountainous forms descend into atmospheric
perspective past a green stretch of palms, drawing our eyes to the
rocky formation in the center of the painting. Two groups of Native
Americans pause to look and point at the approaching flotilla; two
ships, only their outlines discernible in the distance, stand anchored
while two smaller boats carry Columbus' explorers to the shore of the
New World for the first time.
Aivazovsky achieved the remarkable lightness and transparency of his
backgrounds by using thin applications of semi-transparent color
washes. Consistent with his technique, the sky in the Arrival of the
Columbus flotilla to the American coast is the most delicately
rendered part of the composition. Working quickly, Aivazovsky would
evenly apply a thin wash of color over the prepared ground of the
canvas without waiting for it to dry, in order to seamlessly blend the
colors to create this stunning effect of airiness. In contrast, the
rocky coast is heavy, massive and dark against the pale water and sky.
The work Columbus, encircled by his retinue disembarks at the shore in
San Salvador Island' (originally the largest of these monumental
works), was later cut into two parts and sold as two separate
paintings by an international auction house in 2006 and 2008. When the
second part of the painting was offered at auction, it was incorrectly
given the title 'Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to the American
coast.' It is evident that more accurately, this title as it appeared
on Aivazovsky's handwritten list refers instead to the present
painting, recently discovered in a private American collection.
At the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Arrival of the Columbus
flotilla to the American coast was exhibited at the Russian Pavilion,
a monumental architectural masterpiece in itself. Designed by I. Ropet
to resemble traditional Russian wooden architecture, it was one of the
largest and most impressive structures at the Exposition. Occupying
nearly an acre of space, the Pavilion demonstrated a marvel of
traditional carving technique and the fanciful decorativeness of
Russian architecture. 'The Official Directory of the World's Columbian
Exposition' described the Russian contribution to the Fine Arts
pavilion as 'what is probably the best collection of Russian paintings
ever shown at a foreign Exposition.' Aivazovsky's paintings were
exhibited among the 'great works' of his contemporaries - Ilya Repin,
Henrik Semiradsky and Konstantin Makovsky (Moses P. Handy, The
Official Directory of the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago.
In addition to attending the 1893 Columbian Exposition, Aivazovsky
planned to travel around the United States for approximately five or
six months. On October 13, 1892, he arrived with his wife in New York,
the first stop on his tour of the United States. The couple then
visited San Francisco and Washington, D.C., among other cities.
Everywhere they travelled, the artist was greeted with enthusiasm and
great public interest. Unfortunately, the trip was cut short and
Aivazovsky had to return to Russia before the Exposition opened.
Nevertheless, the display of Aivazovsky's paintings at the Columbian
Exposition became one of the most successful international exhibits of
his life. The present painting, with its spacious composition, nuanced
color palette and detailed scenery brilliantly demonstrates the
remarkable imagination and painterly talent of the celebrated Russian
master.
http://massispost.com/2014/11/london-bonhams-auction-to-present-aivazovskys-works/
By MassisPost
Updated: November 7, 2014
Aivazovsky's "Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to the American coast" (1892)
Aivazovsky-Self-portrait-1874
LONDON -- The works of Ivan Aivazovsky and Nicholas Roerich will be the
main lots of the Bonhams auction taking place in London on November
26. One of the key lots will be Aivazovsky's "Arrival of the Columbus
flotilla to the American coast" (1892), evaluated 700-900 thousand
pounds according to RIA Novosti that the press service.
This work of the great Armenian marine painter is from the series of
the five works, devoted to the life of Columbus and was launched in
1888. The work is considered to be one of the most outstanding works
of this series.
In 1892, the celebrated artist Ivan Aivazovsky embarked on a trip to
the United States for the first and only time in his life. Invited to
represent fine art at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in
Chicago, the seventy year old artist embraced the opportunity to
showcase twenty of his finest paintings. His participation was well
received and ensured the success of his contribution to the Columbian
Exposition. The present masterpiece was among the most celebrated
works exhibited at the Exposition. Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to
the American coast belongs to a series of monumental paintings on the
life of Christopher Columbus that Aivazovsky began as early as 1888.
It is among the grandest and most beautiful of the paintings in the
series, depicting the final and most significant stage of Columbus'
challenging journey to the New World: the moment at which the flotilla
finally arrived on the shore of America.
Nearly a decade prior to beginning work on his Columbus series,
Aivazovsky travelled to Genoa and Florence to research the explorer's
discovery of the New World. Taking note of the master Karl Briullov's
technique of extensive preparatory study of the scenery depicted in
his legendary painting The Last Day of Pompeii, the artist closely
studied Fifteenth Century ship design, as well as costumes and weapons
from the era of Columbus, in preparation for his series of paintings
on the subject of the eminent explorer. It is suggested that even as
Aivazovsky embarked on his trip to Genoa and Florence in 1879, he was
already dreaming of making a future trip to the United States.
Aivazovsky finally completed five large scale paintings on the life of
Christopher Columbus in anticipation of the opportunity to exhibit
them at the 1893 Columbia Exposition.
Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to the American coast is a splendid
example of the artist's masterful composition and skillful rendering
of atmospheric effects. The sky is depicted with remarkable lightness;
the airy, transparent clouds add depth to the pastel blue expanse,
glowing as if lit from within the center of the canvas. The light
plays off the calm waters of the ocean creating a sense of stillness
in contrast to the gentle motion of the foamy waves crashing on the
sandy coast. To the right, mountainous forms descend into atmospheric
perspective past a green stretch of palms, drawing our eyes to the
rocky formation in the center of the painting. Two groups of Native
Americans pause to look and point at the approaching flotilla; two
ships, only their outlines discernible in the distance, stand anchored
while two smaller boats carry Columbus' explorers to the shore of the
New World for the first time.
Aivazovsky achieved the remarkable lightness and transparency of his
backgrounds by using thin applications of semi-transparent color
washes. Consistent with his technique, the sky in the Arrival of the
Columbus flotilla to the American coast is the most delicately
rendered part of the composition. Working quickly, Aivazovsky would
evenly apply a thin wash of color over the prepared ground of the
canvas without waiting for it to dry, in order to seamlessly blend the
colors to create this stunning effect of airiness. In contrast, the
rocky coast is heavy, massive and dark against the pale water and sky.
The work Columbus, encircled by his retinue disembarks at the shore in
San Salvador Island' (originally the largest of these monumental
works), was later cut into two parts and sold as two separate
paintings by an international auction house in 2006 and 2008. When the
second part of the painting was offered at auction, it was incorrectly
given the title 'Arrival of the Columbus flotilla to the American
coast.' It is evident that more accurately, this title as it appeared
on Aivazovsky's handwritten list refers instead to the present
painting, recently discovered in a private American collection.
At the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Arrival of the Columbus
flotilla to the American coast was exhibited at the Russian Pavilion,
a monumental architectural masterpiece in itself. Designed by I. Ropet
to resemble traditional Russian wooden architecture, it was one of the
largest and most impressive structures at the Exposition. Occupying
nearly an acre of space, the Pavilion demonstrated a marvel of
traditional carving technique and the fanciful decorativeness of
Russian architecture. 'The Official Directory of the World's Columbian
Exposition' described the Russian contribution to the Fine Arts
pavilion as 'what is probably the best collection of Russian paintings
ever shown at a foreign Exposition.' Aivazovsky's paintings were
exhibited among the 'great works' of his contemporaries - Ilya Repin,
Henrik Semiradsky and Konstantin Makovsky (Moses P. Handy, The
Official Directory of the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago.
In addition to attending the 1893 Columbian Exposition, Aivazovsky
planned to travel around the United States for approximately five or
six months. On October 13, 1892, he arrived with his wife in New York,
the first stop on his tour of the United States. The couple then
visited San Francisco and Washington, D.C., among other cities.
Everywhere they travelled, the artist was greeted with enthusiasm and
great public interest. Unfortunately, the trip was cut short and
Aivazovsky had to return to Russia before the Exposition opened.
Nevertheless, the display of Aivazovsky's paintings at the Columbian
Exposition became one of the most successful international exhibits of
his life. The present painting, with its spacious composition, nuanced
color palette and detailed scenery brilliantly demonstrates the
remarkable imagination and painterly talent of the celebrated Russian
master.
http://massispost.com/2014/11/london-bonhams-auction-to-present-aivazovskys-works/