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a drawing of a group of men on horseback in a fielda piece of paper with writing on it sitting on top of a table
Hermitage Fine Art

95 - [PRINCE PAVEL ARSENIEVICH PUTYATIN (1837–1919)] 17TH-CENTURY…
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Sale commission
Description
[PRINCE PAVEL ARSENIEVICH PUTYATIN (1837–1919)] 17TH-CENTURY EUROPEAN OR DUTCH SCHOOL, CIRCLE OF PHILIPS WOUWERMAN (1619–1668) (?) Battle between Christian forces and the Ottoman army long inscription in Cyrillic in pencil, stamp from the collection of Prince Pavel Arsenievich Putyatin, bearing his monogram and the number ‘19’; inscription in Cyrillic ‘Iz sobraniya risunkov prinadlejashey Knyazu P. A. Putyatinu’ and inventory number ‘N 235’ (on the reverse) ink on paper 26 × 40.5 cm PROVENANCE: Collection of Prince Pavel Arsenievich Putyatin (1837–1919). Private collection, Europe. This drawing comes from the prestigious collection of Prince Pavel Arsenievich Putyatin (1837–1919), a distinguished Russian archaeologist, anthropologist, ethnographer and collector. Housed at his family estate in Bologoye, in the Tver Governorate of the Russian Empire, his collection comprised a vast array of archaeological objects, works of art, prints and watercolours, as well as a substantial library and archives containing manuscripts, rare books and historical autographs. His archaeological collection was among the most significant private collections of its kind in Russia, notably for the richness of its prehistoric and medieval artefacts. Putyatin was also an active collector and patron of Russian art and maintained close ties with the Roerich family. This sheet is distinguished by the documentation attesting to its inclusion in the Putyatin collection. The reverse bears the collection’s original inventory stamp, featuring a monogram beneath a heraldic crown and numbered ‘19’, as well as a handwritten inscription certifying that the drawing formed part of Prince P. A. Putyatin, under inventory number ‘235’. Another detailed annotation, written in Russian using pre-revolutionary spelling, identifies the composition under the title ‘Battle of the Christians against the Turks’ and mentions the remarkable number of 350 horses and 257 horsemen depicted in the scene. This same annotation bears witness to the research undertaken to identify the artist associated with the monogram P.W., notably using Bryan’s and Nagler’s art dictionaries. This reference is of particular interest in light of the proposed attribution to the circle of Philips Wouwerman (1619–1668), a famous Dutch painter best known for his numerous equestrian and military scenes. The composition depicts a vast battle pitting Christian forces against the Ottoman army, evoking the military conflicts that pitted the European powers against the Ottoman Empire during the 17th century. The dense arrangement of horsemen and horses lends the scene a high degree of narrative complexity, whilst the annotations on the reverse provide valuable insight into its early history, its cataloguing and the research conducted into its attribution. A large part of the collection held at the Putyatin estate is believed to have been dispersed or lost following the Russian Revolution. Several objects and archival documents linked to the prince have, however, survived in major institutions. The original inventory stamp and the handwritten annotations accompanying this drawing thus constitute a tangible link to one of the remarkable private collections of late Imperial Russia. At the buyer’s request, we shall be happy to provide a general report on the condition of the lot described above. However, as we are not professional conservators or restorers, we strongly advise potential buyers to carry out their own inspection or to consult a specialist of their choice to obtain a comprehensive assessment of the lot’s condition. Descriptions of items provided in the catalogue or by correspondence are for information purposes only and should not be regarded as a definitive assessment. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSION CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD ‘AS IS’, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE.
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About the sale From 19th-century art to modern art, Eastern European art, icons, Camille Pissarro, Jean-Baptiste Olive, Lynn Chadwick, Léon Bakst.
Auction location
Auction time 10/27/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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