CAST BY WOERFFEL, FROM THE MODEL BY VASSILI YACOVLEVICH GRACHEV, ST PETERSBURG, DATED 1877

This fine bronze perfectly captures the real sense of movement and action for which the Russian sculptor Vassili Yacovlevich Grachev's (1831-1905) best groups are admired. The three horses are clearly unnerved by the peasant's sled and the reaction of the Nobleman in the troika is wonderfully animated.
A similar cast was sold Christie's, London, 29 November 2010, lot 443, (£37,250). Another cast is illustrated in C. Payne, Animals in Bronze, Antique Collectors' Club, 1986, p. 387, M32.