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MILLON

709 - Nicholas Matthews CONDY (Plymouth, 1816–1851)
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Estimate €10,000 - €15,000
Sale commission
Description
Nicholas Matthews CONDY (Plymouth, 1816–1851) The Russian steam frigate ‘Vladimir’. Oil on canvas, signed at the bottom “N. M. Condy” and dated “184–” (visible only under X-ray). Restored. Circa 1846–1848. Formerly signed in Cyrillic as I. Aivazovsky and dated 1869 (erased during restoration). H. 51 x W. 81 cm. In its original English-made wooden and gilded stucco frame, decorated at the top centre with the Imperial Russian eagle and with an anchor at the bottom. H. 71.5 W. 100 cm (frame). The ship is depicted at anchor in Plymouth harbour, following its delivery to the Russians in 1848. The plumes of steam indicate that the frigate was on manoeuvres or conducting exercises at the time the English painter depicted it. As England was not supposed to supply the Russian navy with warships, the Vladimir flies the merchant navy flag. However, the three masts are topped with pennants displaying the Cross of St Andrew and the Imperial Eagle. Provenance - The frame, adorned with the Imperial Eagle of Russia and the coat of arms dedicated to Saint George, suggests it may have been an imperial gift presented to Captain Vladimir Alexeyevich KORNILOV (1806–1854), the future hero of Sevastopol, who had come to supervise the construction of the ship, intended for the Black Sea Fleet. - It was subsequently acquired by Alexis Gigot de Villefaigne (1840–1934), a French jeweller based in Saint Petersburg, who married the daughter of another French jeweller, Vaillant, a supplier to the Imperial Court. The couple remained in Russia until the early 20th century, from where they brought back the painting and a few Russian mementoes. - Château de Bourdeau (Savoie, France), owned by the Gigot de Villefaigne family. - Millon Auction, Russian Art, Drouot, 29 May 2019, lot 336. Background In the early 19th century, Russia possessed the third-largest fleet after England and France. However, the advent of steam power from the 1830s onwards met with little enthusiasm from the Russian Admiralty, unlike its French counterpart. Consequently, during the Crimean War (1853–1856), the Black Sea Fleet had no ships of the line fitted with this propulsion system, whilst almost all French and British vessels were steam-powered. A few small-tonnage steam vessels were, however, commissioned by Russia, and one was ordered from Britain in 1846. Built at the London shipyards, the Vladimir was launched on 1 September 1848. Assigned to the Black Sea Fleet, the Vladimir was a steam-powered paddle frigate. Placed under the command of Grigori Ivanovich Butakov, after whom a tactical manoeuvre would later be named (“to perform a Butakov”), the Vladimir distinguished itself on 5 November 1853 by winning the first battle between two steam-powered ships against the Turkish-Egyptian ‘Pervez-Bahri’. The latter was captured and put to use by the Russians. During the siege of Sevastopol, the Vladimir provided effective artillery support to the city’s defenders. Following the fall of the Malakoff bastion on 8 September 1855, the Russians evacuated the southern shore. What remained of the fleet was scuttled, including the Vladimir. After being salvaged and repaired, she returned to service in 1860 and served with the Baltic Fleet until the late 1870s, attached to the torpedo boat detachment. Technical specifications of the Vladimir: Displacement: 1,200 t. Length: 61 m. Beam: 10.90 m. Waterline length: 43 m. Speed: 11 knots. Power: 400 CV. Armament: 9 guns prior to the Crimean War, then 11 (2 × 10-inch, 3 × 68-pounder, 4 × 24-pounder mortars and 2 × 24-pounder mortars). Although the work differs technically from the painter’s usual compositions, a signature dated 1869 at the bottom of the painting suggested that it was a canvas by Ivan Aivazovsky (1817–1900). An examination of the work by British specialists ruled out this initial theory, a finding subsequently confirmed by X-ray analysis of the canvas. Indeed, this examination brought to light the work’s true signature, concealed behind the prestigious inscription, which revealed the artist behind the painting: the English painter Nicholas Matthews Condy (1816–1851). A native of Plymouth, whose harbour is depicted here, Condy was an English painter now known for his seascapes and the attention to detail that characterises his depictions of ships, the sea and the atmosphere. Although he originally intended to pursue a military career in the navy, his love of observing the landscape and of drawing ultimately led him to a career as a painter, following in his father’s footsteps. Indeed, it is with keen and meticulous insight that he depicts, as in this work, the naval architecture of his time. Characterised by his ‘English manner’, Condy’s work very quickly earned the admiration of prominent figures of the time, such as the Earl of Egremont, patron of J.M.W. Turner, and led to prestigious commissions. Unfortunately, his untimely death at the age of 35 limited the scope of his oeuvre, although at least three of his seascapes were exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1842 and 1845.
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About the sale Russian Art – Mr G’s Collection – Part 3
Auction location
Auction time 09/18/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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