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drawing of a drawing of a building with a piano in the middle of itdrawing of a courtyard with a fountain and a building in the backgrounda picture of a drawing of a plane on a piece of paper
Hermitage Fine Art

157 - ARISTARKH LENTULOV (1882–1943)
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Estimate €5,000 - €7,000
Sale commission
Description
ARISTARKH LENTULOV (1882–1943) Stage design, circa 1930s bearing an authentication by Marianna Lentulova, the artist’s daughter (on the reverse) pencil and watercolour on paper 31 × 43 cm This work may be connected to one of the two theatre productions for which Aristarkh Lentulov designed the sets: *The Spanish Curate* (Испанский священник) by John Fletcher, directed by Serafima Birman at the Moscow Art Theatre II, which premiered on 2 December 1934; or *Marta the Pious* (*Благочестивая Марта*) by Tirso de Molina, directed by Alexander Plotnikov at the Moscow Lensoviet Theatre, which premiered on 22 May 1938. This second connection had already been suggested by Sotheby’s in its 2019 catalogue (Sotheby’s, London, 4 June 2019, lot 81). Regarding the 1934 production of *The Spanish Curate*, theatre historian Zinaida Starodubtseva notes, in her study on Lentulov’s set designs, *Zhivopisets na teatre* (A Painter at the Theatre), that the artist drew inspiration from Crimean landscapes to evoke the sun-drenched scenery of Spain. The Russian theatre historian and Shakespeare specialist Aleksei Bartoshevich also describes the set design for the production as a vibrant composition of southern colours, with a stifling sky and the silhouettes of Córdoba forming the backdrop to a dynamic arrangement of architectural elements. A leading figure of the Russian avant-garde and a founding member of the ‘Jack of Diamonds’ group, Lentulov devoted a significant part of his career to the theatre. His involvement in set design began in the mid-1910s and, by 1935, he described himself as a ‘theatre painter’. His theatre work includes productions for the Kamerny Theatre, the Bolshoi Theatre, the former Zimin Opera House, the Moscow Art Theatre II and the Moscow Lensoviet Theatre. Throughout his career, he collaborated with leading directors, notably Alexander Tairov, Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko. At the buyer’s request, we would 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 full 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 REGARDING 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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