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Lot Essay
The present work is a preparatory study for Repin's masterpiece, A Parisian Café (fig. 1), which was sold Christie's, London, 6 June 2011 for £4.5 million, establishing the top price for any Russian 19th century painting ever sold at auction.
Repin's genius lies partly in his ability to capture the personality of his sitters; here, even viewed from the back, the French press baron Arthur Meyer's head is easily identified.
Repin's genius lies partly in his ability to capture the personality of his sitters; here, even viewed from the back, the French press baron Arthur Meyer's head is easily identified.