Natalia Goncharova Online Auction
Listing ID#: 324946

Sale Location

Hardeeville, SC 29927
Sale Dates and TimesSALE IS COMPLETED
Wednesday Apr 8, 2020 Completed
Thursday Aug 20, 2020 Completed
Sale Type
 Live Auction  VIEW ONLINE CATALOG
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Gallery 95 Auction & Estate Sales

Contact: Steve Allen
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Listing Information
As an appraiser, I lead a life of quiet privilege. Quiet because much of what I do is absolutely confidential. Privileged because I spend so much of my time with the creations of the best artists in the world. I am writing to introduce the reader to the following works within a very special Gallery 95 curated auction, presenting a remarkable collection of the art of Natalia Goncharova, and that is where my sense of privilege comes in. Let me explain. I first encountered an original Goncharova canvas - a large still life with lilacs - more than a dozen years ago. I wrote an appraisal for an insurance policy and immediately became embroiled in a significant disagreement with the client. They had the work previously appraised by a major auction house and knew the painting to be worth $40,000.00. I said, no, it was worth a fortune. We resolved the argument with a sale I arranged in London for millions of dollars. My next Goncharova, years later, pretended to be a Larionov still life with watermelons worth $50,000.00. I disagreed, and wound up proving to the client and to Russian specialists all over the place that it was actually by Larionov's lover, Goncharova, but which had been signed upon the reverse by Larionov's second wife. We sold that one in London, again, but for 2.25 million dollars. That controversial reputation of mine regarding Goncharova (and some other previously mis-identified Russian paintings which I sold for millions of dollars for some astonished clients) is what caused one of the major auction houses in the U.S. to send me the current consignor and this unique collection and it has been my extraordinary privilege to have lived intimately with these paintings, first in my home/office and then later in the auction gallery, on a daily basis all during a prolonged period of self-imposed isolation and quarantine. While the rest of the world has made do during the pandemic with TV movies, streamed episodes of The Tiger King, and delivered pizza, I have been up to my eyeballs in the ground-breaking, breath-taking art of one of the undisputed trailblazers of 20th century art and design. I'm assuming that most of the buyers who will go on to capture these works already know Goncharova and it is not my intent to compete with the numerous texts that tell the story of her emergence and climb to one of the highest price selling women artists of all time. Instead, my purpose is to present an overall look at this collection which bridges her early fabric design work; her fashion designs for the Parisian designer, Myrabour; her costume and set designs for Sergei Diaghilev and The Ballet Russes; several important works from her Jewish period, fabulous examples of Rayonism, several very revealing examples of her peasant-focused work and then striking studies for some of her most important paintings ever. And, of course, it is necessary for the reader to understand the provenance behind the collection. It begins in Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and the historical center of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. In the Russian Empire, it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915. The city lies 620 miles from Moscow. The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company based in Paris that performed between 1909 and 1929 throughout Europe and on tours to North and South America. The company never performed in Russia, where the Revolution disrupted society. After its initial Paris season, the company had no formal ties there. Originally conceived by impresario Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballets Russes is widely regarded as the most influential ballet company of the 20th century, in part because it promoted ground-breaking artistic collaborations among young choreographers, composers, designers, and dancers, all at the forefront of their several fields. Diaghilev commissioned works from composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Sergei Prokofiev, and Maurice Ravel, artists and costume designers such as Vasily Kandinsky, Alexandre Benois, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Mikhail Larianov, Natalia Goncharova, Léon Bakst and Coco Chanel. The company's productions created a huge sensation, completely reinvigorating the art of performing dance, bringing many visual artists to public attention, and significantly affecting the course of musical composition. It also introduced European and American audiences to tales, music, and design motifs drawn from Russian folklore. The influence of the Ballets Russes lasts to the present day. (See the text, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, which describes the role of Diaghilev and his relationship to Gontcharova among other important artists.) Important Note: There were no formal ties to Russia for Ballets Russes. Kaunas in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia were the closest and most influential cultural centers with direct links and influence upon Russian art, and that is where Diaghilev brought his ballets. Gontcharova's (and Larianov's) role as costume and set designers for the Ballets Russes, and through it, her connection to Kaunas and Riga, is a supreme link to those fellow artists and collectors who lived in those cities, saw Gontcharova as an important stylistic innovator, and bought her works whenever they could. In other words, the Goncharova-Diaghilev Kaunas and Riga link is paramount to the Goncharova Kaunas collector provenance. Natalia Goncharova had been Included in Diaghilev's 1906 Russian Exhibition at the Salon d'Automne in Paris, and subsequently exhibited with many other Russian modernist movements: the Union of Youth, St Petersburg (1910), as co-organizer of the Knave of Diamonds exhibition, Moscow (1910); and the Target exhibition, Moscow (1913). Goncharova was first commissioned by Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes production of Le Coq d'or in 1913. She later joined the company in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1915, designing for Liturgie. She also redesigned several ballets for Diaghilev—reforming her own Russian folk style bto a starkly Futurist style for Les Noces (1923) at the request of Bronislava Nijinska and also changing the 1910 L'Oiseau de feu designs for the 1926 revival. After de Basil's reformation of the Ballets Russes, Goncharova was commissioned to create new designs for the 1937 Covent Garden London revival of Le Coq d'or, and costumes and set designs for Cinderella (1938). During the Second World War, Goncharova designed ten ballets for Boris Kniaseff that were shown in South America, and afterward designed for opera and ballet productions in London and Paris. In 1914 Goncharova traveled to Paris to produce theatrical designs for the Ballets Russes-Diaghilev having commissioned her to produce designs for his production of Le Coq d'or (1914). On the outbreak of World War I in 1914 she was forced to return to Russia, but in 1915, together with Larionov, she joined Diaghilev in Geneva, Switzerland, where they began to design ballet costumes and sets. From then on, they virtually gave up easel-painting to concentrate on theatrical design. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 she and her partner settled in Paris, where they continued to design for Diaghilev until his death in 1929. After Diaghilev's death Goncharova and Larionov had no regular work and were extremely short of money. Their only income came from commissions for theatrical sets, awarded on the strength of their previous association with Diaghilev. (Which means they went back to prior theater connections, including Kaunas and in Riga, to hunt for money, work and sales.) In addition Goncharova earned extra money from book illustration. In 1938, they became French citizens, and remained in Paris for the duration of the war. As it was, their lives during the post-war period proved to be even harder. Commissions were rare and they were forced to sell paintings from their personal art collection in order to survive. The Provenance: Present Owner A California gentleman, represented by Llewellyn Dykes of Llewellyn Dykes Appraisals, LLC. Darius Vabolis, a contemporary dealer and art collector with roots in the art communities in Lithuania and Latvia. Since 2014, he has operated a London art and antiques shop at 281 Portobello Road. Mr. Vabolis studied art at Kaunas University of Art in Kaunas, Lithuania from 1990 – 1995 when he obtained his degree. Darius owned and operated an art and antique store at St. Gertrudes, 56 Kaunas City, Kaunas, Lithuania, LT-44261. He has a residence in England, Sunbury-On-Thames, Middlesex, TW16, where he lives with his wife, Kotryna Barbora Vabolyte. For the last several years he has focused upon finding and purchasing 20th century art and antique silver from East Europe for sale in London. Darius is from a successful and prominent family in Lithuania with direct connections to the arts community, and he spent his childhood associating with artists and art academicians and their families. Those direct connections inspired him not only to pursue an education in art, but also to choose buying and selling in the art and antiques markets as his livelihood. Those connections, and their friends and relatives, have been the primary sources from which Darius has purchased the inventory. Specific vendors have been identified for each item in the inventory. The sources for Darius Vabolis: Adomas Galdikas (October 18, 1893 Giršinai village, near Mosëdis – December 7, 1969 New York City) was a Lithuanian painter, graphic artist, scenographer. Galdikas attended painting studios in Saint Petersburg and Berlin. Galdikas continued his studies in Sweden, Italy and France. In 1923, after returning to Lithuania, he founded his own graphics studio in Kaunas, where he worked until 1940. At the same time he was also lecturing at the Kaunas Art School. During World War II, Galdikas was a professor at the Kaunas Applied Arts Institute. Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas was among his students. From 1946 to 1947 Galdikas lectured as a professor in Freiburg im Breisgau (École des Arts et Métiers). In 1947, Galdikas moved to Paris, and in 1952 to the United States. He settled in New York, where he lived until his death. After 1920, Galdikas participated in art exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad. Galdikas also illustrated books and created scenography for 19 plays at the Kaunas State Theater. He also designed a number of interbellum Lithuanian postage stamps, bonds and paper litas banknotes. In Germany, France and the United States he worked mainly as painter. In 1937 for his triptych Lithuania, Galdikas was awarded the 1937 Paris Exhibition Grand Prix. For the scenography and costumes for drama Šarûnas by Vincas Krëvë-Mickevièius, Galdikas was awarded the 1937 Paris Exhibition Golden medal. As many artists are, Galdikas was not only an artist, but an art lover and collector as well. Irena Treèiokaitë-Žebenkienë (October 28, 1909 – January 13, 1985 Vilnius) was a Lithuanian painter. In 1928, she finished high school, from 1928 - 1932 she studied law at Vytautas Magnus University. In 1935, she graduated from Kaunas Art School. In 1944, she graduated from Vilnius Art Institute. Beginning in 1944, she taught at the Vilnius Institute of Fine Arts, 1947 was Associate Professor, 1948–1951, was the Drawing Head of the Department, in 1951-1969 taught decorative painting in the Department of Painting. In 1949, 1959, 1964 and 1979, she had solo exhibitions in Vilnius. She was not only an artist and art teacher, but an art lover and collector as well. Janina Kazakeviciute Valeskiene and her brother Leonardas Kazokas (1905 – 1981), were born in Kaunas. Moved to St. Petersburg, Russia with family. Janina graduated art school there and in 1921 returned to Kaunas. Lived in Sanciai, Kaunas, near where Darius Vablonis lived when he was a child. From 1936 – 1938 she and her brother lived in Paris. Leonardas Kazokas, her brother, was an artist. Aldofas Valeska (1905 – 1994) was Janina's husband, and father of Rita Pancerova. Valeška graduated from the Kaunas Art School in 1928. He then began work as a church decorator, moving on to co-found a museum of religious art in Kaunas. From 1939 to 1944 he served as director of the Vilnius Art Museum. During this period his work was exhibited in a number of venues, including the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris, 1935; the International Press Exhibition at the Vatican, 1935; and the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Berlin, 1937, where he earned a medal for designing the Lithuanian Pavilion. Anticipating the Soviet occupation of Lithuania at the end of World War II, in 1944 he emigrated first to West Germany and then to the United States, where he established a studio in Chicago. He designed and executed a number of stained glass works and mosaics, as well as acting as stage designer for the Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago. After Lithuanian independence, he returned to Kaunas and brought with him his collection of art and personal works of art in 1993. He died at age 98 in Kaunas in 1994. Rita Pancerova (1932 – 2018) was Valeska's daughter, who sold the entire art collection she'd inherited from Kazokas and Valeska to Darius Vablonis). She died at age 86. The Valeska family and the Vablonis family had been friends and neighbors in Kaunas when Darius was a child, and he maintained that relationship over the generations, giving him access to Pancerova and the extensive collection. Book and Consignment Art Store in Riga, Latvia - name unknown Darius writes: "I went to Riga, Latvia. I wanted to find Fridman's house I visited a year ago. But I learned that all the houses were privatized on Stabu Street. I found a small bookstore when walk in old town. It was in basement in closed yard. One room was filled up with old books and between books in the corner was placed bunch of theatre designs. Mostly here was costumes and theatre set designs on cardboard and paper. The old woman managed this store. When I asked what it is? Woman said this paintings belongs to someone who want to sell it. I had a look what is in this. Main part was signed Liberts, but between was lot of Russians sketches too. It was very interesting. I start to talk. Woman don't wanted to speak to much. She just said what here is famous artist Liberts art collection estate. All painting was done before second war circa 1920. The prices was not friendly. For one costume design she asked 100 Lats, for set design large size 400 Lats. 1 lats was much more when 1 British pound. 15 years ago. I asked can I do the offer? And said I can took 2 costume designs for 80 Lats for each. She said needs to call. She called to someone. And then said OK. When I bought she start to talk. She show me another room where was oil paintings only. Here was lot Liberts works and again between was Russian oil paintings too." Then, later,"I had huge amount of money and came back to Riga to find out more paintings in this book store. I learned about Ludolf Liberts. He was active in Kaunas State theatre before WWII. Ludolf Liberts (1895 – 1959)." Darius made numerous purchases from the Liberts Estate as consigned in the Riga Bookstore. Unfortunately, he can not recall the name of the store or the address, and it is no longer open. Labuckas family, Irena Labuckiene was a ballet dancer at Kaunas State Theater. Her husband, Mykolas Labuckas (1912–1998) was a famous theater artist, and together they had a large collection of theater set and costume designs. Darius bought approximately 100 set/costume designs and 3 oil paintings from Irena over a period of years. Rachel Fridman, an orthopedic surgeon in Riga, and her husband, Hilel, had a very strong art collection. They were Latvian Jews, and at the time of the Nazi occupation, Rachel, her husband, and two of her three children committed suicide. Their third son, Alexander, survived. He fled to France and then Portugal and ultimately departed by ship to the United States. After the family tragedy, Alexander left the art collection at the family home, entrusting its care to a Latvian family of neighbors. Knowing this story from friends, Darius conducted research in Riga to find the family who had possession of the Rachel Fridman art collection. He discovered that Alexander Fridman, who had returned to France in 1950 after the war, had soon thereafter returned to his Riga home to collect the art collection if possible. He took most of the works with him when he returned to France, but left many of the artworks with that Latvian family as a reward for their loyalty and good stewardship. Darius located that family and asked about the art, and learned the rest of the story, and arranged to purchase numerous works of art from the original Fridman collection. He can not recall the name of the Latvian good neighbors. Zenonas Varnauskas was a well-known art collector who had worked with Goncharova in the Kaunas State Theater. He supervised the archives of Kaunas Art School later came to own many paintings from the Gadikas collection. Adomas Galdikas (1893-1969) had been a close friend of Varnauskas and they kept in touch after Galdikas moved to the United States before the second war. Around 1950, the paintings which Galdikas had kept in storage were about to be burned. He informed his friend, made an arrangement, and sold the collection to Varnauskas. It is interesting to note that Darius Vablonis bought numerous works of Goncharova art from Varnauskas between 1995 and 2005, including Goncharova's study for The Rowers. Valerija Zalensiene (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1925 - 1997) and Juratis Zalensas (her son, also a Lithuanian artist and collector, 1952 -2015). Marija Aldona Baltuskiene (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1928 - 2015). Each item in the auction sale catalog was reviewed by Darius ablonis, and he supplied specific information detailing the provenance of each of his purchases and that provenance or chain of ownership is faithfully detailed in each catalog entry. What I found most informative was the complicated depth of the collection, ranging from the fabric designs, through the costumes and fashion designs, to the oils which displayed an inspiring assortment of Goncharova's various oevres. The works included a variety of her mongrams and signatures, in both Cyrillic and English and the papers and the canvases displayed appropriate oxidation and wear, including minor damages which were noted in the catalog.

1
"Glass Vase With Flowers"
Oil on canvas, Parisian era still life, measuring 23.75 inches tall by 19.75 inches wide, signed lower right, N. G. 34. Bearing a typewritten paper tag upon the reverse reading, "Nathalie Gontcharoff VASE EN VERRE AVEC DES FLEURS 1936." The gallery ...

2
Two Peasant Women At A Well
Oil on canvas, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova, additionally, in pencil upper left horizontal stretcher rail, measuring 21 inches tall by 17 inches wide. Condition: two pin-holes to the upper third center field, age-appropriate soiling, oxidation...

3
Floral Lubok Design With Sirin Birds
Oil on board, 28 inches tall by 20 inches wide, signed lower middle, N. Gontcharova. The panel appears to be the backing-board of a mirror, the work retaining it's original, molded wood frame measuring 30 inches tall by 22 inches wide, the whole havi...

4
Still Life With Flowers & Porcelain Kitten
Oil on canvas,measuring 17 inches tall by 13 inches wide, unframed, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Irena Labuc...

5
Study For "Les Rameurs" (The Rowers)
Oil on heavy wove paper, mounted on cardboard. Paper measuring 19.5 inches tall by 30.5 inches wide, depicting two men in a rowing skull, signed center N. Gontcharova, 1911. Condition: pictorial field virtually unblemished, older adhesive residue alo...

6
Rabbi Holding A Hen
Oil on board, probable study for "Rabbi with Hen", 17 inches tall by 11 inches wide. The panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, partial paper tag upon the reverse reading "Riga 30.XII.36", signed vertically lower r...

7
Portrait Of A Pregnant Woman
Oil on canvas, depicting a woman within an arbor of blue roses. Signed N. Gontcharova lower center, 27.5 inches tall by 20 inches wide. Condition: cut from stretcher, age-appropriate soiling and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vaboli...

8
Peasants Cutting Hay
Oil on board, depicting peasant women harvesting hay, signed N. Gontcharova lower center, 27.5 inches tall by 19.5 inches wide. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, paper tag upon the reverse reading "5.X.37.g Ri...

9
Flowers In A Red Glass Vase
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1929. IX., 26 inches tall by 20 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Janina Valeskiene, p...

10
Woman In Spanish Costume
Oil on board, signed N. Gontcharova 24 in Cyrillic lower right, additionally, upon the reverse upper right quarter, 1919 N.G., above an annotation in Cyrillic, 36.25 inches tall by 21.25 inches wide. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece ...

11
Vibrant Rayonist Composition With Roosters
Oil on board, signed lower left, N.Gontcharova. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, measuring 20.5 inches tall by 24.25 inches wide, perforated tag reading "383" and Cyrillic cursive annotation in ink upon the r...

12
Peasants With Fishing Boat
Oil on canvas board, depicting men unloading fish from boat and women washing clothes. 23 inches tall by 18 inches wide, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova. An unattributed still life of flowers in a porcelain vase is painted in oil upon the reverse...

13
Parisian Period Still Life With Fruit & Flowers
Oil on board, uncharacteristically dark Parisian period still life with Eiffel Tower in the background. Signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1940, measuring 19.75 inches tall by 23.75 inches wide, unframed, upon a mahogany board, revealing very slight ...

14
"Boulevard Effet de Nuit"
Oil on cardboard, depicting a man in top hat strolling with two women (Mikhail Larianov, Natlia Goncharova and Alexandra Tomilina). Signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, measuring 19 inches tall by 13.5 inches wide. Condition: slight cupping, remedied ...

15
"Jew In The Field"
Oil on canvas mounted on cardboard, depicting a bearded man wearing a dark hat and a dark suit coat, harvesting wheat with a scythe. Titled at lower left in Cyrillic, followed by the Natalia Goncharova monogram "NG" in Cyrillic. Measuring 8.75 inches...

16
Still Life With Potted Azaleas In A Window
Oil on canvas, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova. 24 Inches tall by 30 inches wide. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Zenonas Varnauskas (1923 - 2010) during the period between 1995 and 2005. Condition: ...

17
Rabbi Holding A Sprig And A Book
Oil on canvas, depicting a seated rabbi holding a sprig and a book, with two characters behind him, signed lower left N. Gontcharova, 23.75 inches tall by 17.75 inches wide. Condition: coated in places with a granular waxy substance emulating encaust...

18
Rabbi's Wife Holding A Hen
Oil on canvas, 23.75 inches tall by 17.75 inches wide, unframed. Portrait of a rabbi's wife holding a hen, the rabbi standing behind her with women picking fruit from tree in the background, signed lower left, N.Gontcharova. Condition: age-appropriat...

19
Rayonist Composition, Sunburst
Oil on board, 16.25 inches tall by 20.25 inches wide, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Zenonas Varnauskas (1923 - 2010) during the period between 1995 and 2005. The pane...

20
Rural Villagers Laboring
Oil on canvas, depicting a multi-section panorama of village activities, arguably a Leninist proletariat at work, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova in Cyrillic and Cyrillic initials, measuring 15.75 inches tall by 19.75 inches wide. Condition: age-...

21
Rabbi And Wife Embracing Outside A Theater
Gouache on cardboard, depicting a rabbi, his arms encircling his wife, observed through the window of a theatre presenting "Lac des Cygnes", unsigned, dated 1921, measuring 16.25 inches tall by 8 inches wide. Condition: edges are rough and uneven, c...

22
Goncharova's Martyrdom A La Saints Florus & Laurus
Oil on board, depicting two men standing above a grave, one shoveling earth into an open coffin occupied by Goncharova, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova, measuring 15 inches tall by 18 inches wide. The board appears to be a chamfered panel from the ...

23
Still Life With Lemons And Flowers
Oil on canvas, Parisian period still life, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1936, measuring 16 inches tall by 23.5 inches wide. Condition: old, patched repair lower left, a 1/2 inch vertical split upper left, center, a 1/4 inch dent upper center, a...

24
Peasants Picking Carrots Under Apple Trees
Oil on board, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, measuring 21.5 inches tall by 28.5 inches wide, label upon the reverse reading, "N. Gontcharova" and in another hand and ink color "1923". Note: See "Peasants Picking Apples", 1911, Tate Museum Exhibi...

25
Rayonist Promenade au Bord de L'eau
Oil on cardboard, mother with babe in arms followed by child and father, walking through a forested landscape with red tree trunks and branches beside a reflecting river, 21.5 inches tall by 28 inches wide, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova, 1909. Co...

26
Study For "Evangelists"
Oil on thick, dovetailed board, 17.75 inches tall by 7.25 inches wide, depicting a robed figure holding a long scroll, paper tag upon the reverse titled in Cyrillic "Evangelist in Green", 1911, Natalia Goncharova. Condition: age-appropriate soiling a...

27
Peasants Picking Grapes
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontchaova, 36 inches tall by 25 inches wide. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Juratis Zalensas (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1952 -2015) who purchased it from...

28
Woman With Doves
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 27.5 inches tall by 21.75 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Vladimiras Kasatkinas,...

29
Women Picking Grapes
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontchaova, 36 inches tall by 25 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Juratis Zalensas (Lithuanian...

30
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, male character in Spanish Cavalier style costume, annotated in Russian cursive upper left, NG monogram lower right, 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide (front). Upon the reverse: the same character in a different costume,...

31
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in courtly dress, signed NG monogram lower right, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide (front). Upon the reverse: female character in courtly dress, reading a note, unsigned, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inche...

32
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in red and blue floral gown with remark to the right, annotated in Russian cursive upper left (front). 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Upon the reverse: female Spanish costume designs in pencil. C...

33
Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, Male Characters, annotated in Russian cursive upper right,11 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed NG mongram lower right. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who pur...

34
Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in purple gown with red striped sleeves, 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed lower right with NG monogram. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis w...

35
Costume Design
pencil and watercolor on paper, Male characters in Spanish costume, annotated in Russian cursive upper and lower left, signed lower right with NG monogram, 15 inches tall by 11 inches wide. Condition: moderate toning and soiling, slightly dog-eared c...

36
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, male character in Spanish costume, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed lower right with NG monogram, (front). On the reverse: male character in Spanish costume on the left, three male busts on the right, annotat...

37
Costume Design For "La Liturgie"
Gouache on cardboard, 1915 (Probably Saint Andrew), 23.5 inches tall by 15.5 inches wide, signed lower center in Cyrillic, N. Gontcharova 11. Condition: light foxing, moderate toning, visible soiling, heavy scraping along top edge, not involving the ...

38
Costume Design For "La Liturgie"
Gouache on cardboard, 1915 (probably Saint Mark), 23.5 inches tall by 15.5 inches wide, signed lower left in Cyrillic, N. Gontcharova 12. Condition: light foxing and soiling, bumped corners, shallow bumps along right edge. Provenance: the present own...

39
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, titled in Cyrillic upper right, a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 19 inches tall by 12.5 inches wide. Condition: moderate toning and foxing, torn corn...

40
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, annotated in Cyrillic upper right, a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova, 19 inches tall by 12.5 inches wide. Condition: water damage with pigment bleed, ...

41
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, annotated in Cyrillic upper right, "The Tale of the Buffoon who Outwits Seven Other Buffoons," a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 18.5 inches tall by ...

42
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, annotated lower right, "le coq d'or Ballet Russe," signed NG lower right, 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Ju...

43
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, sirin bird, annotated lower right, "le coq d'or ballet Russe" signed lower right NG, 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Condition: light toning and soiling, minor crease and 1/8 inch tear upper left corner. Provenance: the present...

44
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, religious figure, annotated lower center, "le coq d'or ballet Russe" 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide, unsigned. Condition: light toning, torn lower left corner. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased th...

45
Three Girls In Period Dresses
Watercolor and pencil on paper, signed NG lower right, 10.5 inches tall by 8.25 inches wide. Condition: light Soiling and foxing. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Marija Aldona Baltuskiene (Lithuanian cer...

46
Landscape With Alder Trees
Watercolor on wove paper, measuring 19 inches tall by 14.5 inches wide, signed with monogram N.G. in Cyrillic for Natalia Goncharova, signed in pencil illegibly upon the reverse (Natalia Goncharova), unframed. Condition: moderate toning and foxing, 7...

47
Fish Monger At The Market
Watercolor on wove paper, depicting a fish monger seated beside her catch, the visible image measuring 13.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed in Cyrillic characters, N. Goncharova, ‘14, laid on card stock measuring 17 inches tall by 14 inches w...

48
Costume Design For Nadezhda Lamanova
Gouache on wove paper, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, annotated lower right above NG monogram in Cyrillic, "A sketch for N. P. Lamanova" (Russian fashion and costume designer). Condition: moderate toning, soiling and foxing, 1 3/4 inch horizonta...

49
Designs For Textiles & Ornamentation
Mixed media comprising mostly gouache, graphite and ink on a variety of paper and card stock. There are 83 individual sheet items, several having been mounted with multiple smaller examples. Included, is a single specimen of Jacquard fabric, finished...

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Contact: Steve Allen
Phone: 843-784-5006
Sale Location
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Sale Dates and Times
Wednesday Apr 8, 2020 Completed
Thursday Aug 20, 2020 Completed
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Listing Details
As an appraiser, I lead a life of quiet privilege. Quiet because much of what I do is absolutely confidential. Privileged because I spend so much of my time with the creations of the best artists in the world. I am writing to introduce the reader to the following works within a very special Gallery 95 curated auction, presenting a remarkable collection of the art of Natalia Goncharova, and that is where my sense of privilege comes in. Let me explain. I first encountered an original Goncharova canvas - a large still life with lilacs - more than a dozen years ago. I wrote an appraisal for an insurance policy and immediately became embroiled in a significant disagreement with the client. They had the work previously appraised by a major auction house and knew the painting to be worth $40,000.00. I said, no, it was worth a fortune. We resolved the argument with a sale I arranged in London for millions of dollars. My next Goncharova, years later, pretended to be a Larionov still life with watermelons worth $50,000.00. I disagreed, and wound up proving to the client and to Russian specialists all over the place that it was actually by Larionov's lover, Goncharova, but which had been signed upon the reverse by Larionov's second wife. We sold that one in London, again, but for 2.25 million dollars. That controversial reputation of mine regarding Goncharova (and some other previously mis-identified Russian paintings which I sold for millions of dollars for some astonished clients) is what caused one of the major auction houses in the U.S. to send me the current consignor and this unique collection and it has been my extraordinary privilege to have lived intimately with these paintings, first in my home/office and then later in the auction gallery, on a daily basis all during a prolonged period of self-imposed isolation and quarantine. While the rest of the world has made do during the pandemic with TV movies, streamed episodes of The Tiger King, and delivered pizza, I have been up to my eyeballs in the ground-breaking, breath-taking art of one of the undisputed trailblazers of 20th century art and design. I'm assuming that most of the buyers who will go on to capture these works already know Goncharova and it is not my intent to compete with the numerous texts that tell the story of her emergence and climb to one of the highest price selling women artists of all time. Instead, my purpose is to present an overall look at this collection which bridges her early fabric design work; her fashion designs for the Parisian designer, Myrabour; her costume and set designs for Sergei Diaghilev and The Ballet Russes; several important works from her Jewish period, fabulous examples of Rayonism, several very revealing examples of her peasant-focused work and then striking studies for some of her most important paintings ever. And, of course, it is necessary for the reader to understand the provenance behind the collection. It begins in Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and the historical center of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. In the Russian Empire, it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915. The city lies 620 miles from Moscow. The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company based in Paris that performed between 1909 and 1929 throughout Europe and on tours to North and South America. The company never performed in Russia, where the Revolution disrupted society. After its initial Paris season, the company had no formal ties there. Originally conceived by impresario Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballets Russes is widely regarded as the most influential ballet company of the 20th century, in part because it promoted ground-breaking artistic collaborations among young choreographers, composers, designers, and dancers, all at the forefront of their several fields. Diaghilev commissioned works from composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Sergei Prokofiev, and Maurice Ravel, artists and costume designers such as Vasily Kandinsky, Alexandre Benois, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Mikhail Larianov, Natalia Goncharova, Léon Bakst and Coco Chanel. The company's productions created a huge sensation, completely reinvigorating the art of performing dance, bringing many visual artists to public attention, and significantly affecting the course of musical composition. It also introduced European and American audiences to tales, music, and design motifs drawn from Russian folklore. The influence of the Ballets Russes lasts to the present day. (See the text, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, which describes the role of Diaghilev and his relationship to Gontcharova among other important artists.) Important Note: There were no formal ties to Russia for Ballets Russes. Kaunas in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia were the closest and most influential cultural centers with direct links and influence upon Russian art, and that is where Diaghilev brought his ballets. Gontcharova's (and Larianov's) role as costume and set designers for the Ballets Russes, and through it, her connection to Kaunas and Riga, is a supreme link to those fellow artists and collectors who lived in those cities, saw Gontcharova as an important stylistic innovator, and bought her works whenever they could. In other words, the Goncharova-Diaghilev Kaunas and Riga link is paramount to the Goncharova Kaunas collector provenance. Natalia Goncharova had been Included in Diaghilev's 1906 Russian Exhibition at the Salon d'Automne in Paris, and subsequently exhibited with many other Russian modernist movements: the Union of Youth, St Petersburg (1910), as co-organizer of the Knave of Diamonds exhibition, Moscow (1910); and the Target exhibition, Moscow (1913). Goncharova was first commissioned by Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes production of Le Coq d'or in 1913. She later joined the company in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1915, designing for Liturgie. She also redesigned several ballets for Diaghilev—reforming her own Russian folk style bto a starkly Futurist style for Les Noces (1923) at the request of Bronislava Nijinska and also changing the 1910 L'Oiseau de feu designs for the 1926 revival. After de Basil's reformation of the Ballets Russes, Goncharova was commissioned to create new designs for the 1937 Covent Garden London revival of Le Coq d'or, and costumes and set designs for Cinderella (1938). During the Second World War, Goncharova designed ten ballets for Boris Kniaseff that were shown in South America, and afterward designed for opera and ballet productions in London and Paris. In 1914 Goncharova traveled to Paris to produce theatrical designs for the Ballets Russes-Diaghilev having commissioned her to produce designs for his production of Le Coq d'or (1914). On the outbreak of World War I in 1914 she was forced to return to Russia, but in 1915, together with Larionov, she joined Diaghilev in Geneva, Switzerland, where they began to design ballet costumes and sets. From then on, they virtually gave up easel-painting to concentrate on theatrical design. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 she and her partner settled in Paris, where they continued to design for Diaghilev until his death in 1929. After Diaghilev's death Goncharova and Larionov had no regular work and were extremely short of money. Their only income came from commissions for theatrical sets, awarded on the strength of their previous association with Diaghilev. (Which means they went back to prior theater connections, including Kaunas and in Riga, to hunt for money, work and sales.) In addition Goncharova earned extra money from book illustration. In 1938, they became French citizens, and remained in Paris for the duration of the war. As it was, their lives during the post-war period proved to be even harder. Commissions were rare and they were forced to sell paintings from their personal art collection in order to survive. The Provenance: Present Owner A California gentleman, represented by Llewellyn Dykes of Llewellyn Dykes Appraisals, LLC. Darius Vabolis, a contemporary dealer and art collector with roots in the art communities in Lithuania and Latvia. Since 2014, he has operated a London art and antiques shop at 281 Portobello Road. Mr. Vabolis studied art at Kaunas University of Art in Kaunas, Lithuania from 1990 – 1995 when he obtained his degree. Darius owned and operated an art and antique store at St. Gertrudes, 56 Kaunas City, Kaunas, Lithuania, LT-44261. He has a residence in England, Sunbury-On-Thames, Middlesex, TW16, where he lives with his wife, Kotryna Barbora Vabolyte. For the last several years he has focused upon finding and purchasing 20th century art and antique silver from East Europe for sale in London. Darius is from a successful and prominent family in Lithuania with direct connections to the arts community, and he spent his childhood associating with artists and art academicians and their families. Those direct connections inspired him not only to pursue an education in art, but also to choose buying and selling in the art and antiques markets as his livelihood. Those connections, and their friends and relatives, have been the primary sources from which Darius has purchased the inventory. Specific vendors have been identified for each item in the inventory. The sources for Darius Vabolis: Adomas Galdikas (October 18, 1893 Giršinai village, near Mosëdis – December 7, 1969 New York City) was a Lithuanian painter, graphic artist, scenographer. Galdikas attended painting studios in Saint Petersburg and Berlin. Galdikas continued his studies in Sweden, Italy and France. In 1923, after returning to Lithuania, he founded his own graphics studio in Kaunas, where he worked until 1940. At the same time he was also lecturing at the Kaunas Art School. During World War II, Galdikas was a professor at the Kaunas Applied Arts Institute. Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas was among his students. From 1946 to 1947 Galdikas lectured as a professor in Freiburg im Breisgau (École des Arts et Métiers). In 1947, Galdikas moved to Paris, and in 1952 to the United States. He settled in New York, where he lived until his death. After 1920, Galdikas participated in art exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad. Galdikas also illustrated books and created scenography for 19 plays at the Kaunas State Theater. He also designed a number of interbellum Lithuanian postage stamps, bonds and paper litas banknotes. In Germany, France and the United States he worked mainly as painter. In 1937 for his triptych Lithuania, Galdikas was awarded the 1937 Paris Exhibition Grand Prix. For the scenography and costumes for drama Šarûnas by Vincas Krëvë-Mickevièius, Galdikas was awarded the 1937 Paris Exhibition Golden medal. As many artists are, Galdikas was not only an artist, but an art lover and collector as well. Irena Treèiokaitë-Žebenkienë (October 28, 1909 – January 13, 1985 Vilnius) was a Lithuanian painter. In 1928, she finished high school, from 1928 - 1932 she studied law at Vytautas Magnus University. In 1935, she graduated from Kaunas Art School. In 1944, she graduated from Vilnius Art Institute. Beginning in 1944, she taught at the Vilnius Institute of Fine Arts, 1947 was Associate Professor, 1948–1951, was the Drawing Head of the Department, in 1951-1969 taught decorative painting in the Department of Painting. In 1949, 1959, 1964 and 1979, she had solo exhibitions in Vilnius. She was not only an artist and art teacher, but an art lover and collector as well. Janina Kazakeviciute Valeskiene and her brother Leonardas Kazokas (1905 – 1981), were born in Kaunas. Moved to St. Petersburg, Russia with family. Janina graduated art school there and in 1921 returned to Kaunas. Lived in Sanciai, Kaunas, near where Darius Vablonis lived when he was a child. From 1936 – 1938 she and her brother lived in Paris. Leonardas Kazokas, her brother, was an artist. Aldofas Valeska (1905 – 1994) was Janina's husband, and father of Rita Pancerova. Valeška graduated from the Kaunas Art School in 1928. He then began work as a church decorator, moving on to co-found a museum of religious art in Kaunas. From 1939 to 1944 he served as director of the Vilnius Art Museum. During this period his work was exhibited in a number of venues, including the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris, 1935; the International Press Exhibition at the Vatican, 1935; and the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Berlin, 1937, where he earned a medal for designing the Lithuanian Pavilion. Anticipating the Soviet occupation of Lithuania at the end of World War II, in 1944 he emigrated first to West Germany and then to the United States, where he established a studio in Chicago. He designed and executed a number of stained glass works and mosaics, as well as acting as stage designer for the Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago. After Lithuanian independence, he returned to Kaunas and brought with him his collection of art and personal works of art in 1993. He died at age 98 in Kaunas in 1994. Rita Pancerova (1932 – 2018) was Valeska's daughter, who sold the entire art collection she'd inherited from Kazokas and Valeska to Darius Vablonis). She died at age 86. The Valeska family and the Vablonis family had been friends and neighbors in Kaunas when Darius was a child, and he maintained that relationship over the generations, giving him access to Pancerova and the extensive collection. Book and Consignment Art Store in Riga, Latvia - name unknown Darius writes: "I went to Riga, Latvia. I wanted to find Fridman's house I visited a year ago. But I learned that all the houses were privatized on Stabu Street. I found a small bookstore when walk in old town. It was in basement in closed yard. One room was filled up with old books and between books in the corner was placed bunch of theatre designs. Mostly here was costumes and theatre set designs on cardboard and paper. The old woman managed this store. When I asked what it is? Woman said this paintings belongs to someone who want to sell it. I had a look what is in this. Main part was signed Liberts, but between was lot of Russians sketches too. It was very interesting. I start to talk. Woman don't wanted to speak to much. She just said what here is famous artist Liberts art collection estate. All painting was done before second war circa 1920. The prices was not friendly. For one costume design she asked 100 Lats, for set design large size 400 Lats. 1 lats was much more when 1 British pound. 15 years ago. I asked can I do the offer? And said I can took 2 costume designs for 80 Lats for each. She said needs to call. She called to someone. And then said OK. When I bought she start to talk. She show me another room where was oil paintings only. Here was lot Liberts works and again between was Russian oil paintings too." Then, later,"I had huge amount of money and came back to Riga to find out more paintings in this book store. I learned about Ludolf Liberts. He was active in Kaunas State theatre before WWII. Ludolf Liberts (1895 – 1959)." Darius made numerous purchases from the Liberts Estate as consigned in the Riga Bookstore. Unfortunately, he can not recall the name of the store or the address, and it is no longer open. Labuckas family, Irena Labuckiene was a ballet dancer at Kaunas State Theater. Her husband, Mykolas Labuckas (1912–1998) was a famous theater artist, and together they had a large collection of theater set and costume designs. Darius bought approximately 100 set/costume designs and 3 oil paintings from Irena over a period of years. Rachel Fridman, an orthopedic surgeon in Riga, and her husband, Hilel, had a very strong art collection. They were Latvian Jews, and at the time of the Nazi occupation, Rachel, her husband, and two of her three children committed suicide. Their third son, Alexander, survived. He fled to France and then Portugal and ultimately departed by ship to the United States. After the family tragedy, Alexander left the art collection at the family home, entrusting its care to a Latvian family of neighbors. Knowing this story from friends, Darius conducted research in Riga to find the family who had possession of the Rachel Fridman art collection. He discovered that Alexander Fridman, who had returned to France in 1950 after the war, had soon thereafter returned to his Riga home to collect the art collection if possible. He took most of the works with him when he returned to France, but left many of the artworks with that Latvian family as a reward for their loyalty and good stewardship. Darius located that family and asked about the art, and learned the rest of the story, and arranged to purchase numerous works of art from the original Fridman collection. He can not recall the name of the Latvian good neighbors. Zenonas Varnauskas was a well-known art collector who had worked with Goncharova in the Kaunas State Theater. He supervised the archives of Kaunas Art School later came to own many paintings from the Gadikas collection. Adomas Galdikas (1893-1969) had been a close friend of Varnauskas and they kept in touch after Galdikas moved to the United States before the second war. Around 1950, the paintings which Galdikas had kept in storage were about to be burned. He informed his friend, made an arrangement, and sold the collection to Varnauskas. It is interesting to note that Darius Vablonis bought numerous works of Goncharova art from Varnauskas between 1995 and 2005, including Goncharova's study for The Rowers. Valerija Zalensiene (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1925 - 1997) and Juratis Zalensas (her son, also a Lithuanian artist and collector, 1952 -2015). Marija Aldona Baltuskiene (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1928 - 2015). Each item in the auction sale catalog was reviewed by Darius ablonis, and he supplied specific information detailing the provenance of each of his purchases and that provenance or chain of ownership is faithfully detailed in each catalog entry. What I found most informative was the complicated depth of the collection, ranging from the fabric designs, through the costumes and fashion designs, to the oils which displayed an inspiring assortment of Goncharova's various oevres. The works included a variety of her mongrams and signatures, in both Cyrillic and English and the papers and the canvases displayed appropriate oxidation and wear, including minor damages which were noted in the catalog.

1
"Glass Vase With Flowers"
Oil on canvas, Parisian era still life, measuring 23.75 inches tall by 19.75 inches wide, signed lower right, N. G. 34. Bearing a typewritten paper tag upon the reverse reading, "Nathalie Gontcharoff VASE EN VERRE AVEC DES FLEURS 1936." The gallery ...

2
Two Peasant Women At A Well
Oil on canvas, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova, additionally, in pencil upper left horizontal stretcher rail, measuring 21 inches tall by 17 inches wide. Condition: two pin-holes to the upper third center field, age-appropriate soiling, oxidation...

3
Floral Lubok Design With Sirin Birds
Oil on board, 28 inches tall by 20 inches wide, signed lower middle, N. Gontcharova. The panel appears to be the backing-board of a mirror, the work retaining it's original, molded wood frame measuring 30 inches tall by 22 inches wide, the whole havi...

4
Still Life With Flowers & Porcelain Kitten
Oil on canvas,measuring 17 inches tall by 13 inches wide, unframed, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Irena Labuc...

5
Study For "Les Rameurs" (The Rowers)
Oil on heavy wove paper, mounted on cardboard. Paper measuring 19.5 inches tall by 30.5 inches wide, depicting two men in a rowing skull, signed center N. Gontcharova, 1911. Condition: pictorial field virtually unblemished, older adhesive residue alo...

6
Rabbi Holding A Hen
Oil on board, probable study for "Rabbi with Hen", 17 inches tall by 11 inches wide. The panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, partial paper tag upon the reverse reading "Riga 30.XII.36", signed vertically lower r...

7
Portrait Of A Pregnant Woman
Oil on canvas, depicting a woman within an arbor of blue roses. Signed N. Gontcharova lower center, 27.5 inches tall by 20 inches wide. Condition: cut from stretcher, age-appropriate soiling and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vaboli...

8
Peasants Cutting Hay
Oil on board, depicting peasant women harvesting hay, signed N. Gontcharova lower center, 27.5 inches tall by 19.5 inches wide. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, paper tag upon the reverse reading "5.X.37.g Ri...

9
Flowers In A Red Glass Vase
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1929. IX., 26 inches tall by 20 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Janina Valeskiene, p...

10
Woman In Spanish Costume
Oil on board, signed N. Gontcharova 24 in Cyrillic lower right, additionally, upon the reverse upper right quarter, 1919 N.G., above an annotation in Cyrillic, 36.25 inches tall by 21.25 inches wide. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece ...

11
Vibrant Rayonist Composition With Roosters
Oil on board, signed lower left, N.Gontcharova. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, measuring 20.5 inches tall by 24.25 inches wide, perforated tag reading "383" and Cyrillic cursive annotation in ink upon the r...

12
Peasants With Fishing Boat
Oil on canvas board, depicting men unloading fish from boat and women washing clothes. 23 inches tall by 18 inches wide, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova. An unattributed still life of flowers in a porcelain vase is painted in oil upon the reverse...

13
Parisian Period Still Life With Fruit & Flowers
Oil on board, uncharacteristically dark Parisian period still life with Eiffel Tower in the background. Signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1940, measuring 19.75 inches tall by 23.75 inches wide, unframed, upon a mahogany board, revealing very slight ...

14
"Boulevard Effet de Nuit"
Oil on cardboard, depicting a man in top hat strolling with two women (Mikhail Larianov, Natlia Goncharova and Alexandra Tomilina). Signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, measuring 19 inches tall by 13.5 inches wide. Condition: slight cupping, remedied ...

15
"Jew In The Field"
Oil on canvas mounted on cardboard, depicting a bearded man wearing a dark hat and a dark suit coat, harvesting wheat with a scythe. Titled at lower left in Cyrillic, followed by the Natalia Goncharova monogram "NG" in Cyrillic. Measuring 8.75 inches...

16
Still Life With Potted Azaleas In A Window
Oil on canvas, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova. 24 Inches tall by 30 inches wide. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Zenonas Varnauskas (1923 - 2010) during the period between 1995 and 2005. Condition: ...

17
Rabbi Holding A Sprig And A Book
Oil on canvas, depicting a seated rabbi holding a sprig and a book, with two characters behind him, signed lower left N. Gontcharova, 23.75 inches tall by 17.75 inches wide. Condition: coated in places with a granular waxy substance emulating encaust...

18
Rabbi's Wife Holding A Hen
Oil on canvas, 23.75 inches tall by 17.75 inches wide, unframed. Portrait of a rabbi's wife holding a hen, the rabbi standing behind her with women picking fruit from tree in the background, signed lower left, N.Gontcharova. Condition: age-appropriat...

19
Rayonist Composition, Sunburst
Oil on board, 16.25 inches tall by 20.25 inches wide, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Zenonas Varnauskas (1923 - 2010) during the period between 1995 and 2005. The pane...

20
Rural Villagers Laboring
Oil on canvas, depicting a multi-section panorama of village activities, arguably a Leninist proletariat at work, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova in Cyrillic and Cyrillic initials, measuring 15.75 inches tall by 19.75 inches wide. Condition: age-...

21
Rabbi And Wife Embracing Outside A Theater
Gouache on cardboard, depicting a rabbi, his arms encircling his wife, observed through the window of a theatre presenting "Lac des Cygnes", unsigned, dated 1921, measuring 16.25 inches tall by 8 inches wide. Condition: edges are rough and uneven, c...

22
Goncharova's Martyrdom A La Saints Florus & Laurus
Oil on board, depicting two men standing above a grave, one shoveling earth into an open coffin occupied by Goncharova, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova, measuring 15 inches tall by 18 inches wide. The board appears to be a chamfered panel from the ...

23
Still Life With Lemons And Flowers
Oil on canvas, Parisian period still life, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1936, measuring 16 inches tall by 23.5 inches wide. Condition: old, patched repair lower left, a 1/2 inch vertical split upper left, center, a 1/4 inch dent upper center, a...

24
Peasants Picking Carrots Under Apple Trees
Oil on board, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, measuring 21.5 inches tall by 28.5 inches wide, label upon the reverse reading, "N. Gontcharova" and in another hand and ink color "1923". Note: See "Peasants Picking Apples", 1911, Tate Museum Exhibi...

25
Rayonist Promenade au Bord de L'eau
Oil on cardboard, mother with babe in arms followed by child and father, walking through a forested landscape with red tree trunks and branches beside a reflecting river, 21.5 inches tall by 28 inches wide, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova, 1909. Co...

26
Study For "Evangelists"
Oil on thick, dovetailed board, 17.75 inches tall by 7.25 inches wide, depicting a robed figure holding a long scroll, paper tag upon the reverse titled in Cyrillic "Evangelist in Green", 1911, Natalia Goncharova. Condition: age-appropriate soiling a...

27
Peasants Picking Grapes
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontchaova, 36 inches tall by 25 inches wide. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Juratis Zalensas (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1952 -2015) who purchased it from...

28
Woman With Doves
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 27.5 inches tall by 21.75 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Vladimiras Kasatkinas,...

29
Women Picking Grapes
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontchaova, 36 inches tall by 25 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Juratis Zalensas (Lithuanian...

30
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, male character in Spanish Cavalier style costume, annotated in Russian cursive upper left, NG monogram lower right, 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide (front). Upon the reverse: the same character in a different costume,...

31
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in courtly dress, signed NG monogram lower right, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide (front). Upon the reverse: female character in courtly dress, reading a note, unsigned, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inche...

32
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in red and blue floral gown with remark to the right, annotated in Russian cursive upper left (front). 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Upon the reverse: female Spanish costume designs in pencil. C...

33
Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, Male Characters, annotated in Russian cursive upper right,11 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed NG mongram lower right. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who pur...

34
Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in purple gown with red striped sleeves, 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed lower right with NG monogram. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis w...

35
Costume Design
pencil and watercolor on paper, Male characters in Spanish costume, annotated in Russian cursive upper and lower left, signed lower right with NG monogram, 15 inches tall by 11 inches wide. Condition: moderate toning and soiling, slightly dog-eared c...

36
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, male character in Spanish costume, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed lower right with NG monogram, (front). On the reverse: male character in Spanish costume on the left, three male busts on the right, annotat...

37
Costume Design For "La Liturgie"
Gouache on cardboard, 1915 (Probably Saint Andrew), 23.5 inches tall by 15.5 inches wide, signed lower center in Cyrillic, N. Gontcharova 11. Condition: light foxing, moderate toning, visible soiling, heavy scraping along top edge, not involving the ...

38
Costume Design For "La Liturgie"
Gouache on cardboard, 1915 (probably Saint Mark), 23.5 inches tall by 15.5 inches wide, signed lower left in Cyrillic, N. Gontcharova 12. Condition: light foxing and soiling, bumped corners, shallow bumps along right edge. Provenance: the present own...

39
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, titled in Cyrillic upper right, a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 19 inches tall by 12.5 inches wide. Condition: moderate toning and foxing, torn corn...

40
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, annotated in Cyrillic upper right, a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova, 19 inches tall by 12.5 inches wide. Condition: water damage with pigment bleed, ...

41
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, annotated in Cyrillic upper right, "The Tale of the Buffoon who Outwits Seven Other Buffoons," a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 18.5 inches tall by ...

42
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, annotated lower right, "le coq d'or Ballet Russe," signed NG lower right, 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Ju...

43
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, sirin bird, annotated lower right, "le coq d'or ballet Russe" signed lower right NG, 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Condition: light toning and soiling, minor crease and 1/8 inch tear upper left corner. Provenance: the present...

44
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, religious figure, annotated lower center, "le coq d'or ballet Russe" 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide, unsigned. Condition: light toning, torn lower left corner. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased th...

45
Three Girls In Period Dresses
Watercolor and pencil on paper, signed NG lower right, 10.5 inches tall by 8.25 inches wide. Condition: light Soiling and foxing. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Marija Aldona Baltuskiene (Lithuanian cer...

46
Landscape With Alder Trees
Watercolor on wove paper, measuring 19 inches tall by 14.5 inches wide, signed with monogram N.G. in Cyrillic for Natalia Goncharova, signed in pencil illegibly upon the reverse (Natalia Goncharova), unframed. Condition: moderate toning and foxing, 7...

47
Fish Monger At The Market
Watercolor on wove paper, depicting a fish monger seated beside her catch, the visible image measuring 13.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed in Cyrillic characters, N. Goncharova, ‘14, laid on card stock measuring 17 inches tall by 14 inches w...

48
Costume Design For Nadezhda Lamanova
Gouache on wove paper, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, annotated lower right above NG monogram in Cyrillic, "A sketch for N. P. Lamanova" (Russian fashion and costume designer). Condition: moderate toning, soiling and foxing, 1 3/4 inch horizonta...

49
Designs For Textiles & Ornamentation
Mixed media comprising mostly gouache, graphite and ink on a variety of paper and card stock. There are 83 individual sheet items, several having been mounted with multiple smaller examples. Included, is a single specimen of Jacquard fabric, finished...

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Natalia Goncharova Online Auction
 Live Auction
Sale Date(s)
Wednesday Apr 8, 2020 Completed
Thursday Aug 20, 2020 Completed
Sale Location

Hardeeville, SC 29927
Company
Listing Terms and Conditions
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As an appraiser, I lead a life of quiet privilege. Quiet because much of what I do is absolutely confidential. Privileged because I spend so much of my time with the creations of the best artists in the world. I am writing to introduce the reader to the following works within a very special Gallery 95 curated auction, presenting a remarkable collection of the art of Natalia Goncharova, and that is where my sense of privilege comes in. Let me explain. I first encountered an original Goncharova canvas - a large still life with lilacs - more than a dozen years ago. I wrote an appraisal for an insurance policy and immediately became embroiled in a significant disagreement with the client. They had the work previously appraised by a major auction house and knew the painting to be worth $40,000.00. I said, no, it was worth a fortune. We resolved the argument with a sale I arranged in London for millions of dollars. My next Goncharova, years later, pretended to be a Larionov still life with watermelons worth $50,000.00. I disagreed, and wound up proving to the client and to Russian specialists all over the place that it was actually by Larionov's lover, Goncharova, but which had been signed upon the reverse by Larionov's second wife. We sold that one in London, again, but for 2.25 million dollars. That controversial reputation of mine regarding Goncharova (and some other previously mis-identified Russian paintings which I sold for millions of dollars for some astonished clients) is what caused one of the major auction houses in the U.S. to send me the current consignor and this unique collection and it has been my extraordinary privilege to have lived intimately with these paintings, first in my home/office and then later in the auction gallery, on a daily basis all during a prolonged period of self-imposed isolation and quarantine. While the rest of the world has made do during the pandemic with TV movies, streamed episodes of The Tiger King, and delivered pizza, I have been up to my eyeballs in the ground-breaking, breath-taking art of one of the undisputed trailblazers of 20th century art and design. I'm assuming that most of the buyers who will go on to capture these works already know Goncharova and it is not my intent to compete with the numerous texts that tell the story of her emergence and climb to one of the highest price selling women artists of all time. Instead, my purpose is to present an overall look at this collection which bridges her early fabric design work; her fashion designs for the Parisian designer, Myrabour; her costume and set designs for Sergei Diaghilev and The Ballet Russes; several important works from her Jewish period, fabulous examples of Rayonism, several very revealing examples of her peasant-focused work and then striking studies for some of her most important paintings ever. And, of course, it is necessary for the reader to understand the provenance behind the collection. It begins in Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and the historical center of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. In the Russian Empire, it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915. The city lies 620 miles from Moscow. The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company based in Paris that performed between 1909 and 1929 throughout Europe and on tours to North and South America. The company never performed in Russia, where the Revolution disrupted society. After its initial Paris season, the company had no formal ties there. Originally conceived by impresario Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballets Russes is widely regarded as the most influential ballet company of the 20th century, in part because it promoted ground-breaking artistic collaborations among young choreographers, composers, designers, and dancers, all at the forefront of their several fields. Diaghilev commissioned works from composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Sergei Prokofiev, and Maurice Ravel, artists and costume designers such as Vasily Kandinsky, Alexandre Benois, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Mikhail Larianov, Natalia Goncharova, Léon Bakst and Coco Chanel. The company's productions created a huge sensation, completely reinvigorating the art of performing dance, bringing many visual artists to public attention, and significantly affecting the course of musical composition. It also introduced European and American audiences to tales, music, and design motifs drawn from Russian folklore. The influence of the Ballets Russes lasts to the present day. (See the text, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, which describes the role of Diaghilev and his relationship to Gontcharova among other important artists.) Important Note: There were no formal ties to Russia for Ballets Russes. Kaunas in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia were the closest and most influential cultural centers with direct links and influence upon Russian art, and that is where Diaghilev brought his ballets. Gontcharova's (and Larianov's) role as costume and set designers for the Ballets Russes, and through it, her connection to Kaunas and Riga, is a supreme link to those fellow artists and collectors who lived in those cities, saw Gontcharova as an important stylistic innovator, and bought her works whenever they could. In other words, the Goncharova-Diaghilev Kaunas and Riga link is paramount to the Goncharova Kaunas collector provenance. Natalia Goncharova had been Included in Diaghilev's 1906 Russian Exhibition at the Salon d'Automne in Paris, and subsequently exhibited with many other Russian modernist movements: the Union of Youth, St Petersburg (1910), as co-organizer of the Knave of Diamonds exhibition, Moscow (1910); and the Target exhibition, Moscow (1913). Goncharova was first commissioned by Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes production of Le Coq d'or in 1913. She later joined the company in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1915, designing for Liturgie. She also redesigned several ballets for Diaghilev—reforming her own Russian folk style bto a starkly Futurist style for Les Noces (1923) at the request of Bronislava Nijinska and also changing the 1910 L'Oiseau de feu designs for the 1926 revival. After de Basil's reformation of the Ballets Russes, Goncharova was commissioned to create new designs for the 1937 Covent Garden London revival of Le Coq d'or, and costumes and set designs for Cinderella (1938). During the Second World War, Goncharova designed ten ballets for Boris Kniaseff that were shown in South America, and afterward designed for opera and ballet productions in London and Paris. In 1914 Goncharova traveled to Paris to produce theatrical designs for the Ballets Russes-Diaghilev having commissioned her to produce designs for his production of Le Coq d'or (1914). On the outbreak of World War I in 1914 she was forced to return to Russia, but in 1915, together with Larionov, she joined Diaghilev in Geneva, Switzerland, where they began to design ballet costumes and sets. From then on, they virtually gave up easel-painting to concentrate on theatrical design. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 she and her partner settled in Paris, where they continued to design for Diaghilev until his death in 1929. After Diaghilev's death Goncharova and Larionov had no regular work and were extremely short of money. Their only income came from commissions for theatrical sets, awarded on the strength of their previous association with Diaghilev. (Which means they went back to prior theater connections, including Kaunas and in Riga, to hunt for money, work and sales.) In addition Goncharova earned extra money from book illustration. In 1938, they became French citizens, and remained in Paris for the duration of the war. As it was, their lives during the post-war period proved to be even harder. Commissions were rare and they were forced to sell paintings from their personal art collection in order to survive. The Provenance: Present Owner A California gentleman, represented by Llewellyn Dykes of Llewellyn Dykes Appraisals, LLC. Darius Vabolis, a contemporary dealer and art collector with roots in the art communities in Lithuania and Latvia. Since 2014, he has operated a London art and antiques shop at 281 Portobello Road. Mr. Vabolis studied art at Kaunas University of Art in Kaunas, Lithuania from 1990 – 1995 when he obtained his degree. Darius owned and operated an art and antique store at St. Gertrudes, 56 Kaunas City, Kaunas, Lithuania, LT-44261. He has a residence in England, Sunbury-On-Thames, Middlesex, TW16, where he lives with his wife, Kotryna Barbora Vabolyte. For the last several years he has focused upon finding and purchasing 20th century art and antique silver from East Europe for sale in London. Darius is from a successful and prominent family in Lithuania with direct connections to the arts community, and he spent his childhood associating with artists and art academicians and their families. Those direct connections inspired him not only to pursue an education in art, but also to choose buying and selling in the art and antiques markets as his livelihood. Those connections, and their friends and relatives, have been the primary sources from which Darius has purchased the inventory. Specific vendors have been identified for each item in the inventory. The sources for Darius Vabolis: Adomas Galdikas (October 18, 1893 Giršinai village, near Mosëdis – December 7, 1969 New York City) was a Lithuanian painter, graphic artist, scenographer. Galdikas attended painting studios in Saint Petersburg and Berlin. Galdikas continued his studies in Sweden, Italy and France. In 1923, after returning to Lithuania, he founded his own graphics studio in Kaunas, where he worked until 1940. At the same time he was also lecturing at the Kaunas Art School. During World War II, Galdikas was a professor at the Kaunas Applied Arts Institute. Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas was among his students. From 1946 to 1947 Galdikas lectured as a professor in Freiburg im Breisgau (École des Arts et Métiers). In 1947, Galdikas moved to Paris, and in 1952 to the United States. He settled in New York, where he lived until his death. After 1920, Galdikas participated in art exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad. Galdikas also illustrated books and created scenography for 19 plays at the Kaunas State Theater. He also designed a number of interbellum Lithuanian postage stamps, bonds and paper litas banknotes. In Germany, France and the United States he worked mainly as painter. In 1937 for his triptych Lithuania, Galdikas was awarded the 1937 Paris Exhibition Grand Prix. For the scenography and costumes for drama Šarûnas by Vincas Krëvë-Mickevièius, Galdikas was awarded the 1937 Paris Exhibition Golden medal. As many artists are, Galdikas was not only an artist, but an art lover and collector as well. Irena Treèiokaitë-Žebenkienë (October 28, 1909 – January 13, 1985 Vilnius) was a Lithuanian painter. In 1928, she finished high school, from 1928 - 1932 she studied law at Vytautas Magnus University. In 1935, she graduated from Kaunas Art School. In 1944, she graduated from Vilnius Art Institute. Beginning in 1944, she taught at the Vilnius Institute of Fine Arts, 1947 was Associate Professor, 1948–1951, was the Drawing Head of the Department, in 1951-1969 taught decorative painting in the Department of Painting. In 1949, 1959, 1964 and 1979, she had solo exhibitions in Vilnius. She was not only an artist and art teacher, but an art lover and collector as well. Janina Kazakeviciute Valeskiene and her brother Leonardas Kazokas (1905 – 1981), were born in Kaunas. Moved to St. Petersburg, Russia with family. Janina graduated art school there and in 1921 returned to Kaunas. Lived in Sanciai, Kaunas, near where Darius Vablonis lived when he was a child. From 1936 – 1938 she and her brother lived in Paris. Leonardas Kazokas, her brother, was an artist. Aldofas Valeska (1905 – 1994) was Janina's husband, and father of Rita Pancerova. Valeška graduated from the Kaunas Art School in 1928. He then began work as a church decorator, moving on to co-found a museum of religious art in Kaunas. From 1939 to 1944 he served as director of the Vilnius Art Museum. During this period his work was exhibited in a number of venues, including the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris, 1935; the International Press Exhibition at the Vatican, 1935; and the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Berlin, 1937, where he earned a medal for designing the Lithuanian Pavilion. Anticipating the Soviet occupation of Lithuania at the end of World War II, in 1944 he emigrated first to West Germany and then to the United States, where he established a studio in Chicago. He designed and executed a number of stained glass works and mosaics, as well as acting as stage designer for the Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago. After Lithuanian independence, he returned to Kaunas and brought with him his collection of art and personal works of art in 1993. He died at age 98 in Kaunas in 1994. Rita Pancerova (1932 – 2018) was Valeska's daughter, who sold the entire art collection she'd inherited from Kazokas and Valeska to Darius Vablonis). She died at age 86. The Valeska family and the Vablonis family had been friends and neighbors in Kaunas when Darius was a child, and he maintained that relationship over the generations, giving him access to Pancerova and the extensive collection. Book and Consignment Art Store in Riga, Latvia - name unknown Darius writes: "I went to Riga, Latvia. I wanted to find Fridman's house I visited a year ago. But I learned that all the houses were privatized on Stabu Street. I found a small bookstore when walk in old town. It was in basement in closed yard. One room was filled up with old books and between books in the corner was placed bunch of theatre designs. Mostly here was costumes and theatre set designs on cardboard and paper. The old woman managed this store. When I asked what it is? Woman said this paintings belongs to someone who want to sell it. I had a look what is in this. Main part was signed Liberts, but between was lot of Russians sketches too. It was very interesting. I start to talk. Woman don't wanted to speak to much. She just said what here is famous artist Liberts art collection estate. All painting was done before second war circa 1920. The prices was not friendly. For one costume design she asked 100 Lats, for set design large size 400 Lats. 1 lats was much more when 1 British pound. 15 years ago. I asked can I do the offer? And said I can took 2 costume designs for 80 Lats for each. She said needs to call. She called to someone. And then said OK. When I bought she start to talk. She show me another room where was oil paintings only. Here was lot Liberts works and again between was Russian oil paintings too." Then, later,"I had huge amount of money and came back to Riga to find out more paintings in this book store. I learned about Ludolf Liberts. He was active in Kaunas State theatre before WWII. Ludolf Liberts (1895 – 1959)." Darius made numerous purchases from the Liberts Estate as consigned in the Riga Bookstore. Unfortunately, he can not recall the name of the store or the address, and it is no longer open. Labuckas family, Irena Labuckiene was a ballet dancer at Kaunas State Theater. Her husband, Mykolas Labuckas (1912–1998) was a famous theater artist, and together they had a large collection of theater set and costume designs. Darius bought approximately 100 set/costume designs and 3 oil paintings from Irena over a period of years. Rachel Fridman, an orthopedic surgeon in Riga, and her husband, Hilel, had a very strong art collection. They were Latvian Jews, and at the time of the Nazi occupation, Rachel, her husband, and two of her three children committed suicide. Their third son, Alexander, survived. He fled to France and then Portugal and ultimately departed by ship to the United States. After the family tragedy, Alexander left the art collection at the family home, entrusting its care to a Latvian family of neighbors. Knowing this story from friends, Darius conducted research in Riga to find the family who had possession of the Rachel Fridman art collection. He discovered that Alexander Fridman, who had returned to France in 1950 after the war, had soon thereafter returned to his Riga home to collect the art collection if possible. He took most of the works with him when he returned to France, but left many of the artworks with that Latvian family as a reward for their loyalty and good stewardship. Darius located that family and asked about the art, and learned the rest of the story, and arranged to purchase numerous works of art from the original Fridman collection. He can not recall the name of the Latvian good neighbors. Zenonas Varnauskas was a well-known art collector who had worked with Goncharova in the Kaunas State Theater. He supervised the archives of Kaunas Art School later came to own many paintings from the Gadikas collection. Adomas Galdikas (1893-1969) had been a close friend of Varnauskas and they kept in touch after Galdikas moved to the United States before the second war. Around 1950, the paintings which Galdikas had kept in storage were about to be burned. He informed his friend, made an arrangement, and sold the collection to Varnauskas. It is interesting to note that Darius Vablonis bought numerous works of Goncharova art from Varnauskas between 1995 and 2005, including Goncharova's study for The Rowers. Valerija Zalensiene (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1925 - 1997) and Juratis Zalensas (her son, also a Lithuanian artist and collector, 1952 -2015). Marija Aldona Baltuskiene (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1928 - 2015). Each item in the auction sale catalog was reviewed by Darius ablonis, and he supplied specific information detailing the provenance of each of his purchases and that provenance or chain of ownership is faithfully detailed in each catalog entry. What I found most informative was the complicated depth of the collection, ranging from the fabric designs, through the costumes and fashion designs, to the oils which displayed an inspiring assortment of Goncharova's various oevres. The works included a variety of her mongrams and signatures, in both Cyrillic and English and the papers and the canvases displayed appropriate oxidation and wear, including minor damages which were noted in the catalog.

1
"Glass Vase With Flowers"
Oil on canvas, Parisian era still life, measuring 23.75 inches tall by 19.75 inches wide, signed lower right, N. G. 34. Bearing a typewritten paper tag upon the reverse reading, "Nathalie Gontcharoff VASE EN VERRE AVEC DES FLEURS 1936." The gallery ...

2
Two Peasant Women At A Well
Oil on canvas, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova, additionally, in pencil upper left horizontal stretcher rail, measuring 21 inches tall by 17 inches wide. Condition: two pin-holes to the upper third center field, age-appropriate soiling, oxidation...

3
Floral Lubok Design With Sirin Birds
Oil on board, 28 inches tall by 20 inches wide, signed lower middle, N. Gontcharova. The panel appears to be the backing-board of a mirror, the work retaining it's original, molded wood frame measuring 30 inches tall by 22 inches wide, the whole havi...

4
Still Life With Flowers & Porcelain Kitten
Oil on canvas,measuring 17 inches tall by 13 inches wide, unframed, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Irena Labuc...

5
Study For "Les Rameurs" (The Rowers)
Oil on heavy wove paper, mounted on cardboard. Paper measuring 19.5 inches tall by 30.5 inches wide, depicting two men in a rowing skull, signed center N. Gontcharova, 1911. Condition: pictorial field virtually unblemished, older adhesive residue alo...

6
Rabbi Holding A Hen
Oil on board, probable study for "Rabbi with Hen", 17 inches tall by 11 inches wide. The panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, partial paper tag upon the reverse reading "Riga 30.XII.36", signed vertically lower r...

7
Portrait Of A Pregnant Woman
Oil on canvas, depicting a woman within an arbor of blue roses. Signed N. Gontcharova lower center, 27.5 inches tall by 20 inches wide. Condition: cut from stretcher, age-appropriate soiling and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vaboli...

8
Peasants Cutting Hay
Oil on board, depicting peasant women harvesting hay, signed N. Gontcharova lower center, 27.5 inches tall by 19.5 inches wide. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, paper tag upon the reverse reading "5.X.37.g Ri...

9
Flowers In A Red Glass Vase
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1929. IX., 26 inches tall by 20 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Janina Valeskiene, p...

10
Woman In Spanish Costume
Oil on board, signed N. Gontcharova 24 in Cyrillic lower right, additionally, upon the reverse upper right quarter, 1919 N.G., above an annotation in Cyrillic, 36.25 inches tall by 21.25 inches wide. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece ...

11
Vibrant Rayonist Composition With Roosters
Oil on board, signed lower left, N.Gontcharova. Panel appears to be a backing board from a piece of furniture or a mirror, measuring 20.5 inches tall by 24.25 inches wide, perforated tag reading "383" and Cyrillic cursive annotation in ink upon the r...

12
Peasants With Fishing Boat
Oil on canvas board, depicting men unloading fish from boat and women washing clothes. 23 inches tall by 18 inches wide, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova. An unattributed still life of flowers in a porcelain vase is painted in oil upon the reverse...

13
Parisian Period Still Life With Fruit & Flowers
Oil on board, uncharacteristically dark Parisian period still life with Eiffel Tower in the background. Signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1940, measuring 19.75 inches tall by 23.75 inches wide, unframed, upon a mahogany board, revealing very slight ...

14
"Boulevard Effet de Nuit"
Oil on cardboard, depicting a man in top hat strolling with two women (Mikhail Larianov, Natlia Goncharova and Alexandra Tomilina). Signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, measuring 19 inches tall by 13.5 inches wide. Condition: slight cupping, remedied ...

15
"Jew In The Field"
Oil on canvas mounted on cardboard, depicting a bearded man wearing a dark hat and a dark suit coat, harvesting wheat with a scythe. Titled at lower left in Cyrillic, followed by the Natalia Goncharova monogram "NG" in Cyrillic. Measuring 8.75 inches...

16
Still Life With Potted Azaleas In A Window
Oil on canvas, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova. 24 Inches tall by 30 inches wide. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Zenonas Varnauskas (1923 - 2010) during the period between 1995 and 2005. Condition: ...

17
Rabbi Holding A Sprig And A Book
Oil on canvas, depicting a seated rabbi holding a sprig and a book, with two characters behind him, signed lower left N. Gontcharova, 23.75 inches tall by 17.75 inches wide. Condition: coated in places with a granular waxy substance emulating encaust...

18
Rabbi's Wife Holding A Hen
Oil on canvas, 23.75 inches tall by 17.75 inches wide, unframed. Portrait of a rabbi's wife holding a hen, the rabbi standing behind her with women picking fruit from tree in the background, signed lower left, N.Gontcharova. Condition: age-appropriat...

19
Rayonist Composition, Sunburst
Oil on board, 16.25 inches tall by 20.25 inches wide, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Zenonas Varnauskas (1923 - 2010) during the period between 1995 and 2005. The pane...

20
Rural Villagers Laboring
Oil on canvas, depicting a multi-section panorama of village activities, arguably a Leninist proletariat at work, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova in Cyrillic and Cyrillic initials, measuring 15.75 inches tall by 19.75 inches wide. Condition: age-...

21
Rabbi And Wife Embracing Outside A Theater
Gouache on cardboard, depicting a rabbi, his arms encircling his wife, observed through the window of a theatre presenting "Lac des Cygnes", unsigned, dated 1921, measuring 16.25 inches tall by 8 inches wide. Condition: edges are rough and uneven, c...

22
Goncharova's Martyrdom A La Saints Florus & Laurus
Oil on board, depicting two men standing above a grave, one shoveling earth into an open coffin occupied by Goncharova, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova, measuring 15 inches tall by 18 inches wide. The board appears to be a chamfered panel from the ...

23
Still Life With Lemons And Flowers
Oil on canvas, Parisian period still life, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova 1936, measuring 16 inches tall by 23.5 inches wide. Condition: old, patched repair lower left, a 1/2 inch vertical split upper left, center, a 1/4 inch dent upper center, a...

24
Peasants Picking Carrots Under Apple Trees
Oil on board, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, measuring 21.5 inches tall by 28.5 inches wide, label upon the reverse reading, "N. Gontcharova" and in another hand and ink color "1923". Note: See "Peasants Picking Apples", 1911, Tate Museum Exhibi...

25
Rayonist Promenade au Bord de L'eau
Oil on cardboard, mother with babe in arms followed by child and father, walking through a forested landscape with red tree trunks and branches beside a reflecting river, 21.5 inches tall by 28 inches wide, signed lower left, N. Gontcharova, 1909. Co...

26
Study For "Evangelists"
Oil on thick, dovetailed board, 17.75 inches tall by 7.25 inches wide, depicting a robed figure holding a long scroll, paper tag upon the reverse titled in Cyrillic "Evangelist in Green", 1911, Natalia Goncharova. Condition: age-appropriate soiling a...

27
Peasants Picking Grapes
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontchaova, 36 inches tall by 25 inches wide. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Juratis Zalensas (Lithuanian artist and collector, 1952 -2015) who purchased it from...

28
Woman With Doves
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 27.5 inches tall by 21.75 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Vladimiras Kasatkinas,...

29
Women Picking Grapes
Oil on canvas, signed lower right, N. Gontchaova, 36 inches tall by 25 inches wide. Condition: age-appropriate soiling, oxidation and wear. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Juratis Zalensas (Lithuanian...

30
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, male character in Spanish Cavalier style costume, annotated in Russian cursive upper left, NG monogram lower right, 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide (front). Upon the reverse: the same character in a different costume,...

31
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in courtly dress, signed NG monogram lower right, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide (front). Upon the reverse: female character in courtly dress, reading a note, unsigned, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inche...

32
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in red and blue floral gown with remark to the right, annotated in Russian cursive upper left (front). 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Upon the reverse: female Spanish costume designs in pencil. C...

33
Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, Male Characters, annotated in Russian cursive upper right,11 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed NG mongram lower right. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who pur...

34
Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, female character in purple gown with red striped sleeves, 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed lower right with NG monogram. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis w...

35
Costume Design
pencil and watercolor on paper, Male characters in Spanish costume, annotated in Russian cursive upper and lower left, signed lower right with NG monogram, 15 inches tall by 11 inches wide. Condition: moderate toning and soiling, slightly dog-eared c...

36
Double Sided Costume Design
Pencil and watercolor on paper, male character in Spanish costume, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed lower right with NG monogram, (front). On the reverse: male character in Spanish costume on the left, three male busts on the right, annotat...

37
Costume Design For "La Liturgie"
Gouache on cardboard, 1915 (Probably Saint Andrew), 23.5 inches tall by 15.5 inches wide, signed lower center in Cyrillic, N. Gontcharova 11. Condition: light foxing, moderate toning, visible soiling, heavy scraping along top edge, not involving the ...

38
Costume Design For "La Liturgie"
Gouache on cardboard, 1915 (probably Saint Mark), 23.5 inches tall by 15.5 inches wide, signed lower left in Cyrillic, N. Gontcharova 12. Condition: light foxing and soiling, bumped corners, shallow bumps along right edge. Provenance: the present own...

39
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, titled in Cyrillic upper right, a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 19 inches tall by 12.5 inches wide. Condition: moderate toning and foxing, torn corn...

40
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, annotated in Cyrillic upper right, a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower center, N. Gontcharova, 19 inches tall by 12.5 inches wide. Condition: water damage with pigment bleed, ...

41
Costume Design For "Chout" (The Buffoon)
Gouache on paper, annotated in Cyrillic upper right, "The Tale of the Buffoon who Outwits Seven Other Buffoons," a stamp in ink reading "TVIRTINU 1928," framing a signature in ink, upper left, signed lower right, N. Gontcharova, 18.5 inches tall by ...

42
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, annotated lower right, "le coq d'or Ballet Russe," signed NG lower right, 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Condition: light toning and soiling. Provenance: the present owner from Darius Vabolis who purchased the painting from Ju...

43
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, sirin bird, annotated lower right, "le coq d'or ballet Russe" signed lower right NG, 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide. Condition: light toning and soiling, minor crease and 1/8 inch tear upper left corner. Provenance: the present...

44
Design For "Le Coq d'Or"
Gouache on paper, religious figure, annotated lower center, "le coq d'or ballet Russe" 12.5 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide, unsigned. Condition: light toning, torn lower left corner. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased th...

45
Three Girls In Period Dresses
Watercolor and pencil on paper, signed NG lower right, 10.5 inches tall by 8.25 inches wide. Condition: light Soiling and foxing. Provenance: the present owner, from Darius Vabolis who purchased the item from Marija Aldona Baltuskiene (Lithuanian cer...

46
Landscape With Alder Trees
Watercolor on wove paper, measuring 19 inches tall by 14.5 inches wide, signed with monogram N.G. in Cyrillic for Natalia Goncharova, signed in pencil illegibly upon the reverse (Natalia Goncharova), unframed. Condition: moderate toning and foxing, 7...

47
Fish Monger At The Market
Watercolor on wove paper, depicting a fish monger seated beside her catch, the visible image measuring 13.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, signed in Cyrillic characters, N. Goncharova, ‘14, laid on card stock measuring 17 inches tall by 14 inches w...

48
Costume Design For Nadezhda Lamanova
Gouache on wove paper, 14.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide, annotated lower right above NG monogram in Cyrillic, "A sketch for N. P. Lamanova" (Russian fashion and costume designer). Condition: moderate toning, soiling and foxing, 1 3/4 inch horizonta...

49
Designs For Textiles & Ornamentation
Mixed media comprising mostly gouache, graphite and ink on a variety of paper and card stock. There are 83 individual sheet items, several having been mounted with multiple smaller examples. Included, is a single specimen of Jacquard fabric, finished...