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Lot Essay
In a letter to A. A. Mikhailova dated 28 July 1928, Somov mentions that he is working on a portrait of his nephew, and goes on to describe 'Volodya' in glowing terms; '[he] has spent two weeks living with us, the more you know about a person, the more you value them. He has the most ideal character, he is satisfied with everything, peaceful, happy and hardworking to the extreme...' (Iu. N. Podkopaeva and A. N. Sveshnikova, Konstantin Andreevich Somov: pis'ma, dnevniki, suzhdeniia sovremennikov, Moscow, 1979, p. 281).
Volodya, a joiner, came to stay with Somov in Grandvilliers on 14 July 1925 and the artist began work on his portrait almost immediately. For two weeks, Volodya posed for Somov daily. However, work on the portrait was hindered by terrible weather and Somov was disappointed with the result; '[the portrait] turned out a painted beauty - more handsome, perhaps, than the original, but less charming.' (K. A. Somov in a letter to A. A. Mikhailova, 10 September 1925, ibid., p. 284).
Volodya, a joiner, came to stay with Somov in Grandvilliers on 14 July 1925 and the artist began work on his portrait almost immediately. For two weeks, Volodya posed for Somov daily. However, work on the portrait was hindered by terrible weather and Somov was disappointed with the result; '[the portrait] turned out a painted beauty - more handsome, perhaps, than the original, but less charming.' (K. A. Somov in a letter to A. A. Mikhailova, 10 September 1925, ibid., p. 284).