Lot 1: Sergei Sergeevich Solomko (1867-1928)

A flirtatious boyar
signed 'S de Solomko' (lower left)
pencil and watercolour, heightened with white, on paper laid on board
14 3/4 x 10 7/8 in. (37.5 x 27.7 cm.)

PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF COUNTESS GROCHOLSKI (LOTS 1-14)

Anna Mueller Grocholski was born Anna Borisovna Svertschkov in pre-revolutionary Russia. Her early years, in Russia and Yugoslavia, were not easy, until she and her grandmother were able to join her uncle in the Far East. Having married a Swiss, Julius Mueller, she lived mainly in New York. After his death in 1970, she and their daughter divided their time between London and Switzerland. She married Count Kazimir Grocholski in 1989.
The arts gave her great pleasure, especially music, the ballet, and her collection of Russian art, of which the following lots are only a select part.
She was a wonderfully elegant and generous hostess and a supporter of various Russian and other good causes; and, indeed, the proceeds of this sale are wholly destined for charity.

Primarily considered a watercolourist, Solomko also designed for the Imperial Porcelain Factory and Fabergé during the course of his career. Inspired by medieval Russian compositions, his style and influence is summarised by N. Brecko-Brechkovskii: 'Not everybody likes this artist. Solomko has enemies but the merit of his salon's elegance is unquestionable. And not such a long time ago, when the Grandees ordered medieval costumes for Court balls, they specifically ordered those made to his design...'. In 1910, Solomko moved to Paris.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.