A young girl in a field of salvia, oxeye daisies and meadow foxtail

Konstantin Makovsky first began to build his reputation in France at the 1878 Salon de Paris exhibition. He returned to Paris in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle and was awarded a gold medal, receiving the distinction of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur the same year. Paris's allure for Makovsky was not just as a place to work and exhibit but also as a beautiful city where the artist could escape St Petersburg's coldest seasons. It was also where he met his third wife, Maria Matavtina.

This intimate group (lots 46-53), directly from the artist's family, exemplify Makovsky's charm and virtuosity. The almost abstract backgrounds of his portraits focus the attention of the viewer on his sitters, while the warm skin tones breathe vitality into the works. In Portrait of an elegant woman (lot 50), the subtle palette of the sitter's surroundings serve to emphasise the brightness of her eyes. In Portrait of a lady with a bouquet (lot 48), Makovsky has embraced a warmer palette, her costume and bouquet displaying all the mastery and lightness of his rapid brushstroke. The works on paper are no less adept. Appearing on the market for the first time, this charming selection of works beautifully illustrate exactly why Makovsky enjoyed such success in his lifetime, receiving multiple important portrait commissions both in Russia and abroad.