6055 - Shchukin, Stepan Semyonovich

Shchukin, Stepan Semyonovich Portrait of a young man wearing a powdered wig, a blue-green jacket, a striped white vest, a red undershirt, and a knotted white neckerchief, set against a background of forest and sky. Watercolor and gum arabic on ivory. 8.9 x 6.8 cm image size (oval). Signed in Cyrillic at the lower left. Set in a metal frame made of a rose gold alloy (approx. 53% Au content), with cover glass on the front and back (the back glass is cracked and a small piece is missing); on the back, on silk, a gold-colored monogram “P.K.” (Cyrillic) or “RK” (Latin) in gold on the reverse, made from cut-out and stamped sheet metal (possibly a red gold alloy). “Based on its signature, this miniature appears to be a unique piece. No other signed miniatures by this artist are known; a miniature attributed to him (watercolor and gum arabic on ivory, oval, 6.5 x 4.9 cm) is located in St. Petersburg at the State Russian Museum. It is illustrated and described in detail in K. W. Mikhailova / G. W. Smirnov (W. A. Pushkarev, ed.), *Portrait Miniatures from the Collection of the Russian Museum*, Leningrad, 1974, Vol. I, pp. 188–189, 330–331, cat. no. 75, ill. no. 78. That portrait of Alexander Nikitich Shemyakin is said to have been painted by Shchukin in 1801. Judging by the illustration, it may well be the work of the same artist.” (quoted from the attached expert opinion by Dr. Bodo Hofstetter). The work has an EU trade permit from the relevant species conservation authority (no export to third countries). - We ask that you request condition reports for the lots, as the condition is only indicated in the catalog in exceptional cases. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.