VASILIY [WILHELM] KOTARBINSKY (POLISH-RUSSIAN 1849-1921) Columbarium, oil on canvas 63 x 123 cm (24 3/4 x 48 3/8 in.) signed lower left
EXPERTISE The authenticity of this painting has been confirmed by Mikhail Krasilin. A copy is available upon request.
LITERATURE A version of this painting was printed on a postcard no 48, published by Rassvet in Kiev in early 1900s
LOT NOTES Focusing on fantastical, biblical and otherwise ancient-inspired subjects, Wilhelm Kotarbinsky`s work exists at the nexus of academism, Art Nouveau, and Symbolism. The aestheticism, and at times sentimentalized exoticism of Kotarbinsky`s paintings has been attributed to such widely different origins as his Polish heritage, and the artist`s extended stay in Rome during the early part of his career. Despite his inclination towards large-scale canvases, Kotarbinsky was an incredibly prolific artist- showcasing over 100 works in a variety of media at the 1898 Imperial Academy of Art exhibition, where he was elected as an academic in 1905. As his works were in high-demand, following the established procedure of the time, Kotarbinsky would sometimes repeat his compositions, often with slight adjustments. The present lot appears to have been one such work, as postcards featuring a close variant of this particular painting were printed in the early years of the 20th century.
