View from the doors of the church of Sainte Geneviève des Bois

Details

Albert Benois (1888-1960)
View from the doors of the church of Sainte Geneviève des Bois
signed and dated 'Albert A Benois 1945' (lower right); with inscription from Alexandre Djanchieff 'Benois/Albert Alexandrovitch/1888-1960/Eglise de Sainte Genevieve/des Bois, dont il fut/l'architecte et dans la/crypte de laquelle il est/enterré./Cousin du peintre Alexandre/Nikolaevitch Benois' (on the reverse of the mount)
pencil, ink and watercolour on paper
6.3/8 x 5¾ in. (16.3 x 14.7 cm.)

Provenance

Collection Alexandre Djanchieff.
By descent to the present owner.

Special notice

Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

Brought to you by

Aleksandra Babenko

ababenko@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2489

Lot Essay

The present work depicts the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox church, one of Albert Benois's most celebrated architectural creations. Situated in the grounds of the Sainte Geneviève des Bois Cemetery, a place of great significance for Paris's Russian émigré community where such prominent figures as Ivan Bunin, Rudolf Nureyev, Zinaida Serebriakova and many others are buried. Benois also contributed the beautiful murals for the church's narthex, visible in this charming watercolour.

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