Nicolas Kalmakoff Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Nicolas Kalmakoff Art Value Price Guide

Dec. 10, 2024
Nikolai Kalmakov, 1873-1955 (Russia)
Est: £15,000 - £20,000
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (1873-1955). Pharaoh. 1927. Tempera on panel, size 54 x 54 cm (21 1/4 x 21 1/4 inches). Monogram of the author lower left. Provenance: Auction ‘Sotheby's’ London, 26 May 2004. Hammer price €22469.
Cultural Traditions
Apr. 23, 2024
KALMAKOFF NIKOLAI (1873-1955)
Est: €500 - €700
Portrait of Fernand Jamoulle as a young man
Campo & Campo
Nov. 14, 2023
Annunciation | Annonciation
Est: €12,000 - €18,000
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov Nervi 1873 - 1955 Chelles Annunciation (recto); Sketches (verso) Oil on cardboard Monogrammed upper left 41,2 x 33,1 cm ; 16¼ by 13 in. ____________________________________________ Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov Nervi 1873 - 1955 Chelles Annonciation (recto) ; Esquisses (verso) Huile sur carton Monogrammé en haut à gauche 41,2 x 33,1 cm ; 16¼ by 13 in.
Sotheby's
Oct. 01, 2023
A NIKOLAI KALMAKOV MIXED MEDIA 'HEBE' OIL ON BOARD PAINTING
Est: $45,000 - $55,000
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (Russian, (1873 - 1955), oil on paperboard painting titled Hebe and the Eagle of Jupiter. Hebe (the daughter of Zeus and Hera) was a Greek goddess of youth and the cupbearer of the gods. This painting depicts the reclining Heba with an eagle, her father's messenger. Monogrammed and dated lower left. Provenance: Shapiro Auctions New York, 05.18.2019, lot 204. Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov was a symbolist artist known for his mystical paintings. Nikolai Kalmakov was one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures in Russian art of the first half of the 20th century.
Helios Auctions
Jun. 28, 2023
NIKOLAI KALMAKOV [NICOLAS KALMAKOFF] (1873-1955) Apsara
Est: €9,000 - €12,000
signed with the artist's cipher and dated ‘1924’ (lower right) oil on panel 60.5 x 35 cm executed in 1924 An apsaras or apsara is a member of a class of celestial beings in Hindu and Buddhist culture. They are originally a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters, who later plays the role of a ‘nymph’ or ‘fairy’. signé avec le chiffre de l'artiste et daté '1924' (en bas à droite) huile sur panneau 60,5 x 35 cm exécutée en 1924 Une apsaras ou apsara est un membre d'une classe d'êtres célestes dans la culture hindoue et bouddhiste. Il s'agit à l'origine d'un type d'esprit féminin des nuages et des eaux, qui joue ensuite le rôle d'une 'nymphe' ou d'une 'fée'.
Hermitage Fine Art
May. 14, 2023
KALMAKOV NICOLAS (1873–1955) - La femme au Léopar…
Est: €6,000 - €8,000
KALMAKOV NICOLAS (1873–1955) La femme au Léopard Gouache sur carton. Monogrammée et datée 1919 en bas à gauche. H. 61.5 x L. 48.5 cm. Provenance : ancienne collection Alexandre Liapine, Paris. КАЛМАКОВ Николас (Калмаков Николай Константинович) (1873–1955) Женщина с леопардом Картон, гуашь. Монограмма и дата «1919» внизу слева. 61.5 x 48.5 см. ПРОВЕНАНС: бывшая коллекция Александра Ляпина
Osenat
Oct. 26, 2022
NIKOLAI KALMAKOFF (1873-1955), THUMBELINA
Est: €2,000 - €3,000
NIKOLAI KALMAKOFF (1873-1955), THUMBELINA Mixed media on paper. Signed. Dated 1927. Dim.: 43.5x27 cm.
Renascimento
Jun. 26, 2022
Nicolas KALMAKOFF - (1873-1955) - Woman and Buddha
Est: €10,000 - €15,000
Nicolas KALMAKOFF (1873-1955) Woman and Buddha signed with the artist’s monogram and dated ‘1924’ (lower right) watercolour, Ink, and graphite on paper 25 x 18 cm
Hermitage Fine Art
Mar. 26, 2022
Nikolai K Kalmakov (RUSSIA 1873-1955) Oil On Board
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (RUSSIAN FEDERATION, 1873 - 1955) oil painting on artist cardboard depicting a nude female with eagle titled "Hebe and the Eagle of Jupiter" executed circa 1926. Signed to lower left with artist cypher and dated. Mounted in a gold leaf wooden frame with mat. Board measures approx. 15 1/2" height x 22" width. Measures approx. 26" height x 32 1/2" width overall including frame. Some wear to edges of boar seen on back. Cracqueleture seen in some areas. Some in-painting. Provenance: Signed Sale of Sotheyby's London: Wednesday, June 9, 2010, Lot 268.
Joshua Kodner
Feb. 22, 2022
NIKOLAI KALMAKOFF (1873-1955), THUMBELINA
Est: €4,000 - €6,000
NIKOLAI KALMAKOFF (1873-1955), THUMBELINA Mixed media on paper. Signed. Dated 1927. Dim.: 43.5x27 cm.
Renascimento
Mar. 20, 2021
Nicolas KALMAKOFF (1873-1955), Attribué à
Est: €1,500 - €2,000
Nicolas KALMAKOFF (1873-1955), Attribué à Léda et le cygne,1927 Gouache sur papier, signée du monogramme en bas à droite et datée 45 x 55 cm
Louiza Auktion & Associés
Feb. 25, 2021
ATTRIBUTED TO NICOLAS KALMAKOFF (1873-1955) Fierce bird
Est: €10,000 - €15,000
signed and dated ‘1922’ (lower right) watercolour, gouache, pencil on paper 60 x 50 cm Provenance: Private collection, USA (in the private family since 1960s) подпись и дата ‘1922’ (справа внизу) бумага, акварель, гуашь, карандаш 60 x 50 см Провенанс: Частная коллекция, США (В семье нынешних владельцев с 1960-х) Художник, график, иллюстратор, сценограф. Сын русского генерала и итальянки. В 1895–1903 жил в Италии, где изучал живопись Возрождения. Как художник сложился к 1906; испытал влияние Л. С. Бакста, К. А. Сомова и О. Бёрдсли. Входил в авангардистскую группу «Треугольник » (1908–10), участвовал в выставках «Мира искусства » (1912–16). В 1912–1917 художник тесно общался с мирискусниками и принимал участие в выставках объединения. В 1918–22 жил в Стамбуле, затем в Финляндии и Эстонии, с 1924 – в Париже, где работал в области станковой живописи и графики. Интерес к творчеству Калмакова (как одному из предшественников сюрреализма) возродился в 1960-е гг., после его ретроспективных выставок в Париже и Лондоне. В его работах ощущается влияние графики Обри Бердсли, орнаментальность фона Климта. Увлечение оккультизмом, эротическая символика и декоративность делают Калмакова ярким представителем русского символизма.
Hermitage Fine Art
Nov. 25, 2020
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (Russian, 1873-1955) The invocation
Est: £6,000 - £8,000
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (Russian, 1873-1955) The invocation signed with artist's monogram and dated '1927' (lower right) pastel 41.9 x 48.5cm (16 1/2 x 19 1/8in). For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
Nov. 23, 2020
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) - Primate; and Le Monstre à l'Épée: two panels for the Chapelle Fortin
Est: £50,000 - £70,000
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Primate; and Le Monstre à l'Épée: two panels for the Chapelle Fortin oil on panel 53 ¼ x 21 5/8 in. (135 x 54.9 cm.)
Christie's
Nov. 23, 2020
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) - L'épée enflammée; and Monstre à Queue: two panels for the Chapelle Fortin
Est: £50,000 - £70,000
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) L'épée enflammée; and Monstre à Queue: two panels for the Chapelle Fortin oil on panel 53 ¼ x 21 ¾ in. (135.3 x 55.2 cm.)
Christie's
Nov. 21, 2019
NICOLAS KALMAKOFF (1873-1955)
Est: €10,000 - €15,000
Fierce bird Signed and dated ‘1922’ (lower right) Watercolour, gouache, pencil on paper 60 x 50 cm Provenance: Private collection, USA (in the private family since 1960s) НИКОЛАЙ КОНСТАНТИНОВИЧ КАЛМАКОВ (1873-1955) Жар-птица подпись и дата ‘1922’ (справа внизу) бумага, акварель, гуашь, карандаш 60 x 50 см Провенанс: Частная коллекция, США
Hermitage Fine Art
Oct. 13, 2019
Nikolai Konstatinovich Kalmakov, (1873-1955 Russian), "The Mystic," 1927, Pastel and colored pencil on board under glass, Sight: 15.75"
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Nikolai Konstatinovich Kalmakov (1873-1955 Russian) "The Mystic," 1927 Pastel and colored pencil on board under glass With the artist's device and dated lower right, titled by repute Sight: 15.75" H x 18.25" W Provenance: Estate of Rouben Mamoulian, Los Angeles, CA
John Moran Auctioneers
Aug. 24, 2019
NICOLAI KONSTANTINOVICH KALMAKOV (RUSSIA/USSR, 1873-1955)
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
NICOLAI KONSTANTINOVICH KALMAKOV (RUSSIA/USSR, 1873-1955) Arabian Dancer, watercolor on paper, signed lower left, in gilt gesso frame, matted and glazed, OS: 19 3/4" x 18 3/4", SS: 11" x 9". Good condition.
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
Jul. 21, 2019
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov, (1873-1955 Russian Federation), Nudes at bacchanal with Pan statue, 1923, Watercolor, gouache and col
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (1873-1955 Russian Federation) Nudes at bacchanal with Pan statue, 1923 Watercolor, gouache and colored pencil on paper under Plexiglas With the artist's device and dated upper left Sight: 13.25" H x 10"W
John Moran Auctioneers
Jul. 05, 2019
Nicolas KALMAKOFF (1873- 1955),
Est: €10,000 - €15,000
Nicolas KALMAKOFF (1873- 1955), Fierce bird signed and dated ‘1922’ (lower right) watercolour, gouache, pencil on paper 60 x 50 cm , Born to a Russian general and an Ita- lian opera singer, Nicolas Kalmakoff was well known in St. Petersburg in the early 1900s, where he was admi- red by the artists associated with the magazine Mir Isskoustva. However, this early success would not last, and while he continued to paint, he stopped exhibiting his works after 1928. By 1955 he was living an impoverished, hermetic life in Paris, dying in obscurity in a hospice at the age of 82. Thereafter, his remaining paintings were forgotten, until they were dis- covered in a flea market by two friends, Bertrand Collin du Bocage and Georges Martin du Nord. Reco- gnising the talent in these works, the two collectors were intrigued by this unknown painter, and in 1964 they organised an exhibition of his work at Galerie Motte in Paris. The exhibition proved popular, and thus it was only posthumously that Kalmakoff gained fame. Throughout his career, Kalma- koff's paintings frequently combine the spiritual with the erotic. As a boy he had a German governess who told him many fairytales, and both these and her teachings about the diaboli- cal nature of the Devil made a lasting impression on Kalmakoff. As an adult, he was known to asso- ciate with mystical circles, particular- ly the Skoptzy sect to which Raspu- tin belonged. Kalmakoff also had a flair for the dramatic, as could also be seen in his work for the theatre, where he created extravagant decor and costumes for a number of Rus- sian stage productions, including for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.
Hermitage Fine Art
May. 18, 2019
NIKOLAI KALMAKOV (RUSSIAN 1873-1955)
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
NIKOLAI KALMAKOV (RUSSIAN 1873-1955) Hebe and the Eagle of Jupiter, 1926 oil on paperboard 39.5 x 56 cm (15 1/2 x 22 in.) monogrammed and dated lower left PROVENANCE Noble Collection, since the 1930s Thence by descent Sotheby`s London, June 9, 2010 lot 268 LOT NOTES There is an undeniable, pulsing undercurrent of eroticism found throughout Nikolai Kalmakov`s oeuvre. A member of the ascetic Skoptzy movement, Kalamakov eschewed the company of women, including that of his wife. In his works one is frequently faced with the menacing femme fatale, threatening to lead astray and consume her male victim. In the present lot, we see the sensuous nude body of Hebe, the goddess of youth, encircled by a lustrous cascade of red hair, presented before her father in the form of an eagle. By removing from the composition the cup of ambrosia Hebe is meant to be presenting to the eagle of Jupiter, Kalmakov places the main focus on to the tension between the two figures in the still, star-filled night.
Shapiro Auctions LLC
Apr. 25, 2019
NICOLAÏ KALMIKOFF (1896-1951)
Est: €10,000 - €15,000
NICOLAÏ KALMIKOFF (1896-1951) Istanbul. Cathedral of St. Sophia (the Aya-Sofia mosque) Signed ‘Naci Kalmikoff’ (lower left)  Oil on masonite  33 x 40 cm  Painted circa 1940 Provenance : Fischer, Luzern, 13.11.2008, l.43.
Hermitage Fine Art
Apr. 25, 2019
NICOLAÏ KALMIKOFF (1896-1951)
Est: €10,000 - €15,000
NICOLAÏ KALMIKOFF (1896-1951) Light reflections in the forest Signed ‘Naci Kalmikoff’ (lower left) Oil on masonite 33 x 40 cm Painted circa 1940 Provenance : Fischer, Luzern, 13.11.2008, 7.42
Hermitage Fine Art
Apr. 25, 2019
Kalmakoff Nicolas (1872-1955)
Est: €35,000 - €40,000
Kalmakoff Nicolas (1872-1955) Dionysos, 1908 Signed lower left with a monoram NK 1908 Gouache, touche, pencil. gold and mixed Media on paper laid on cardboard 490 x 224 mm Provenance : Private Collection, Switzerland Dated 1908, it was painted the year in which Kalmakoff created the decor and costumes for a Russian production of Oscar Wilde's Salome that was so provocative it was closed on its first night. In contrast with the delicate details of the two main figures in Dionysus, Kalmakoff expresses his fascination with the grotesque with the two faces at the top of the picture, and what looks like blood overflowing from the vase and dripping down the side of the image, into the leopard's mouth. It's fitting that Dionysus was the Greek god not only of wine making, but also religious ecstasy, and the theatre. Born to a Russian general and an Italian opera singer, Nicolas Kalmakoff was well known in St. Petersburg in the early 1900s, where he was admired by the artists associated with the magazine Mir Isskoustva. However, this early success would not last, and while he continued to paint, he stopped exhibiting his works after 1928. By 1955 he was living an impoverished, hermetic life in Paris, dying in obscurity in a hospice at the age of 82. Thereafter, his remaining paintings were forgotten, until they were discovered in a flea market by two friends, Bertrand Collin du Bocage and Georges Martin du Nord. Recognising the talent in these works, the two collectors were intrigued by this unknown painter, and in 1964 they organised an exhibition of his work at Galerie Motte in Paris. The exhibition proved popular, and thus it was only posthumously that Kalmakoff gained fame. Throughout his career, Kalmakoff's paintings frequently combine the spiritual with the erotic. As a boy he had a German governess who told him many fairytales, and both these and her teachings about the diabolical nature of the Devil made a lasting impression on Kalmakoff. As an adult, he was known to associate with mystical circles, particularly the Skoptzy sect to which Rasputin belonged. Kalmakoff also had a flair for the dramatic, as could also be seen in his work for the theatre, where he created extravagant decor and costumes for a number of Russian stage productions, including for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.
Hermitage Fine Art
Nov. 28, 2018
AR Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (Russian, 1873-1955) Portrait of a sailor
Est: £6,000 - £8,000
Nikolai Konstantinovich Kalmakov (Russian, 1873-1955) Portrait of a sailor signed with monogram and dated '1920' (lower right)watercolour35 x 26cm (13 3/4 x 10 1/4in). Provenance: Private collection, Paris
Bonhams
Nov. 28, 2018
*§KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955) L’ange rebelle
Est: £35,000 - £50,000
*§KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955) L’ange rebelle signed with a cipher and dated 1924. Oil on board, 53.5 by 35.5 cm. Provenance: With Galerie Motte, Paris, c. 1964. Collection of the film director and actor Kenneth Anger, USA. Acquired from the above by a previous owner in 1998. Russian Art Christie’s New York, 18 April 2007, lot 65. Acquired at the above sale by a previous owner. Russian Art Sotheby’s London, 22 April 2010, lot 344. Acquired at the above sale by the present owner. Private collection, USA. Exhibited: Nicolas Kalmakoff Galerie Motte, Paris, 7 February-5 March 1964. Literature: Exhibition catalogue, Nicolas Kalmakoff Paris, Galerie Motte, 1964, p. 12, No. 46, listed. J. Bowlt, Yu. Balybina, Nikolai Kalmakov i labirint dekadentstva. 1873-1955 Moscow, Iskusstvo-XXI vek, 2008, p. 269, illustrated.
MacDougall's
Oct. 16, 2018
Nicolaï KALMAKOV 1873 - 1955 Odalisque - 1927 Huile sur carton
Est: €20,000 - €30,000
Nicolaï KALMAKOV 1873 - 1955 Odalisque - 1927 Huile sur carton Signé du monogramme et daté en bas à droite "1927" h: 38,20 w: 72,70 cm Provenance : Collection particulière, Monaco Commentaire : Oil on cardboard ; signed with the monogram and dated lower right Estimation 20 000 - 30 000 €
Artcurial
Oct. 16, 2018
Nicolaï KALMAKOV 1873 - 1955 Diane sortant du bain - 1931 Huile sur carton
Est: €20,000 - €30,000
Nicolaï KALMAKOV 1873 - 1955 Diane sortant du bain - 1931 Huile sur carton Signé du monogramme et daté en bas à droite "1931" h: 55 w: 41,50 cm Provenance : Vente Paris, Tajan, 1er décembre 2005, lot 45 Collection particulière, Monaco Commentaire : Oil on cardboard ; signed with the monogram and dated lower right Estimation 20 000 - 30 000 €
Artcurial
Sep. 27, 2018
NICOLAS KALMAKOFF 1873-1955 La porte close gouache sur papier signée du monogramme 37 x 39 cm
Est: €600 - €800
NICOLAS KALMAKOFF 1873-1955 La porte close gouache sur papier signée du monogramme 37 x 39 cm
Leclere - Maison de ventes
Sep. 27, 2018
NICOLAS KALMAKOFF 1873-1955 Femme vénale, crayon, gouache et or sur papier. signée du monogramme "A monsieur Dominique Boizian, en souvenir de sa brillante critique le 27 janvier 1928. N. de Kal" 30,5 x 23,5 cm
Est: €500 - €800
NICOLAS KALMAKOFF 1873-1955 Femme vénale, crayon, gouache et or sur papier. signée du monogramme "A monsieur Dominique Boizian, en souvenir de sa brillante critique le 27 janvier 1928. N. de Kal" 30,5 x 23,5 cm
Leclere - Maison de ventes
Jun. 05, 2018
NIKOLAI KONSTANTINOVICH KALMAKOV | Three Women Riding a Monster
Est: £18,000 - £25,000
watercolour, gouache, chalk and gold paint over pencil on paper laid on board
Sotheby's
Jun. 04, 2018
Kalmakoff Nicolas, 1873-1955, Dionysos
Est: CHF5,000 - CHF10,000
Gouache, india ink, pencil, gilt and mixed media on paper, mounted on cardboard. Signed with the monogram and dated lower right: NK, 1908.
Germann Auction House Ltd
Nov. 07, 2017
KALMAKOFF Nicolas 1873-1955
Est: €4,500 - €5,500
KALMAKOFF Nicolas 1873-1955 Watercolor on paper 1927 signed and dated lower right 45 X 54,5 cm
The Bru Sale Gallery
Jun. 28, 2017
KALMAKOFF Nicolas 1873-1955
Est: €4,500 - €5,500
KALMAKOFF Nicolas 1873-1955 Watercolor on paper 1927 signed and dated lower right 45 X 54,5 cm
The Bru Sale Gallery
Jun. 05, 2017
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Odin oil on panel 21 ½ x 21 ½ in. (55 x 5
Est: £20,000 - £30,000
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Odin oil on panel 21 ½ x 21 ½ in. (55 x 55 cm.)
Christie's
Jun. 05, 2017
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Huitzilopochtli oil on panel 21 ½ x 21 ½
Est: £20,000 - £30,000
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Huitzilopochtli oil on panel 21 ½ x 21 ½ in. (55 x 55 cm.)
Christie's
Jun. 05, 2017
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Flame V oil on panel 53 ¼ x 21 ½ in. (135
Est: £40,000 - £60,000
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Flame V oil on panel 53 ¼ x 21 ½ in. (135 x 55 cm.)
Christie's
May. 03, 2017
KALMAKOFF Nicolas Nicolas 1873-1955
Est: €4,500 - €5,500
Watercolor on paper 1927 signed and dated lower right 45 X 54,5 cm
The Bru Sale Gallery
Apr. 29, 2017
David BURLIUK (American-Ukranian, 1882 - 1967)
Est: $150,000 - $200,000
David BURLIUK (American-Ukranian, 1882 - 1967) Train, ca 1927 Oil on canvas Signed 'BURLIUK' lower right 20.1 x 24 in. - 51 x 61 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Florida Literature: This work will be included in the forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné of the artist This work is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Burliuk Committee, dated March 22, 2017. It is also accompanied by a letter signed by Mary Holt Burliuk, granddaughter of the artist, dated March 23, 2017
Fine Art Auctions Miami
Feb. 25, 2017
Kalmikoff
Est: €100 - €200
oil on cardboard
Maison Jules Veilinghuis
Nov. 30, 2016
§KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955)
Est: £10,000 - £15,000
§KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955) Chinese Man, signed with a cipher and dated 1943. Pencil and gouache on paper, 31 by 23.5 cm (image size). Provenance: Collection of Count Georges Martin du Nord, Paris. Russian Paintings, Sotheby’s London, 10 June 2008, lot 189. Acquired at the above sale by the previous owner. Thence by descent. Private collection, Europe.
MacDougall's
Jun. 08, 2016
*§ KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955), L’ange rebelle, signed with a cipher and dated 1924.
Est: £60,000 - £90,000
*§ KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955), L’ange rebelle, signed with a cipher and dated 1924, Oil on board, 53.5 by 35.5 cm. Provenance: With Galerie Motte, Paris, c. 1964. Collection of the film director and actor Kenneth Anger, USA. Acquired from the above by a previous owner in 1998. Russian Ar t, Christie’s New York, 18 April 2007, lot 65. Acquired at the above sale by a previous owner. Russian Art , Sotheby’s London, 22 April 2010, lot 344. Acquired at the above sale by the present owner. Private collection, USA. Exhibited: Nicolas Kalmakoff , Galerie Motte, Paris, 7 February-5 March 1964. Literature: Exhibition catalogue, Nicolas Kalmakoff , Paris, Galerie Motte, 1964, p. 12, No. 46, listed. J. Bowlt, Yu. Balybina, Nikolai Kalmakov i labirint dekadentstva . 1873-1955, Moscow, Iskusstvo - XXI vek, 2008, p. 269, illustrated. L’ange rebelle by Nikolai Kalmakov is one of the few surviving works from the artist’s “Infernal” series, which dates from the beginning of the 1920s. Its theme, which Kalmakov first introduced to his art in the 1910s, when St Petersburg society were entranced by Austrian esotericist Rudolf Steiner and his notions of anthroposophy and the “authority of Lucifer”, became the painter’s most attractive, mysterious and “forbidden” motif. At every stage in his artistic journey, Kalmakov turned to depictions of the Prince of Darkness and his army, always interpreting such visions as a mystical revelation.However much the world and artistic predilections changed around him, Kalmakov’s own priorities remained unaltered. In 1924 a large exhibition of the artist’s work took place in Brussels. Some 133 works were exhibited at the Le Roy gallery, including depictions of Lucifer and fallen angels. While one cannot say with certainty that the painting L’ange rebelle offered here was part of that exhibition, the very fact that it was executed in 1924, shortly after he completed the triumphant devil in Satan , undoubtedly attests to his unflagging interest in the occult. Here, the composition is unmistakably influenced by the characters of Satan and his rebel angels from John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost ; they rise into the sky in flame, to clash with God and once again be cast down from Heaven. The entire body of this black fallen angel is directed upwards in a frenzy-like manner. His powerful athletic torso extends out of the one-dimensional composition to create an unexpected effect, while enormous scaly wings shimmer with gold like an encrustation on the surface of the canvas. The dark night sky on the background of the figure appears as a rugged relief, and seems to vibrate due to a flickering combination of varying shades of blue, green and almost black. Everything here is exaggerated and improbable: the disproportionate wings that seem to sprout from the figure’s arms, his toothy grin, his fiery halo. Kalmakov’s whimsical fantasy is toying with the extreme, ignoring the principles behind artistic processes and order. Yet the outcome of this game played out on the edges of pictorialism is a peculiar and unnerving sense of some perversion and vice; distortion and oddity both jar and allure our gaze. It is no coincidence that the French Slavic scholar and collector René Guerra once described Kalmakov’s painting as “demonic symbolism and esoteric magic”. Indeed, L’ange rebelle , presented here at auction, is the finest confirmation of that.
MacDougall's
Dec. 02, 2015
§ KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955) La Femme de Satan
Est: £40,000 - £60,000
§ KALMAKOV, NIKOLAI (1873-1955) La Femme de Satan, signed with a cipher and dated 1919, further inscribed and titled on the reverse. Pencil and gouache on paper, laid on cardboard, 49.5 by 26.5 cm. Provenance: Collection of Georges Martin du Nord, Paris. Private collection, UK. Exhibited: Nicolas Kalmakoff. L’Ange de l’Abime (1873–1955) et les peintres du Mir Iskousstva , Musée-galerie de la Seita, Paris, 26 March–17 May 1986, No. 24. Literature: Exhibition catalogue, Nicolas Kalmakoff. L’Ange de l’Abime (1873–1955) et les peintres du Mir Iskousstva , Paris, Musée-galerie de la Seita, 1986, p. 64, illustrated.
MacDougall's
Dec. 01, 2015
NIKOLAI KONSTANTINOVICH KALMAKOV | Muse
Est: £20,000 - £30,000
oil on panel
Sotheby's
Nov. 30, 2015
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Joan of Arc
Est: -
Nicolas Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Joan of Arc
Christie's
Nov. 27, 2015
Nicolai Kalmakoff (1873-1955), Bedroom/Set Design, 1914
Est: €8,000 - €10,400
Gouache and gold paint over pencil on cardboard, laid on cardboard Russia, 1914 Nicolai Konstantin Kalmakoff (1873-1955) - Italian-Russian painter, illustrator and set designer as well as exponent of the ‘Mir iskusstva’ group Signed with a cipher and dated 1914 lower right Cardboard dimensions: 41.5 x 38.8 cm Mounted under glass in gilt wooden frame: 54 x 51.5 cm Very good condition Set design from the early Russian period. The current highest auction record for a similar paper work from this period is circa €27,000 Estimate by Auctionata Expert: 16,000 Euro Nicolai Kalmakoff (1873-1955) was stylistically close to the Art Nouveau and Symbolism. From 1900 on he lived in Russia and became well known with his elaborate and avant-garde costumes and stage designs Condition: The sheet is in very good condition, showing minor wear marks. The frame shows slight signs of use. The sheet dimensions are 41.5 x 38.8 cm, while the frame measures 54 x 51.5 cm. Comparative Literature: Exhibition catalog, Kalmakoff, L'Ange de l’Abîme, 1873-1955, et les Peintres du Mir Iskousstva, Paris, Musée-galerie de la Seita, 1986, p. 54 (for a similar work) Nicolai Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Nicolai (or Nicolas and Nicholas) was of Italian-Russian descent and grew up in Italy. From 1890 till 1895, he studied law in St. Petersburg and afterwards painting and anatomy in Italy. From 1900 he lived alternately in St. Petersburg and Moscow and get in contact with the artistic movement ‘Mir Iskusstva’ (World of Art) and the St. Petersburg theater world. He created numerous set designs. After the Russian Revolution he lived in Constantinople and Tallinn. In 1924, he settled in Paris, where he worked as a painter until 1947. Kalmakoff’s works received increasing popularity in the auction market in recent years. (cko) Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.
Auctionata Paddle8 AG
Sep. 26, 2015
NIKOLAI KALMAKOV (RUSSIAN 1873-1955)
Est: $30,000 - $40,000
NIKOLAI KALMAKOV (RUSSIAN 1873-1955) Hebe and the Eagle of Jupiter, 1926 oil on paperboard 39.5 x 56 cm (15 1/2 x 22 in.) monogrammed and dated lower left PROVENANCE Noble Collection, since the 1930s Thence by descent Sotheby`s London, June 9, 2010 lot 268 LOT NOTES There is an undeniable, pulsing undercurrent of eroticism found throughout Nikolai Kalmakov`s oeuvre. A member of the ascetic Skoptzy movement, Kalamakov eschewed the company of women, including that of his wife. In his works one is frequently faced with the menacing femme fatale, threatening to lead astray and consume her male victim. In the present lot, we see the sensuous nude body of Hebe, the goddess of youth, encircled by a lustrous cascade of red hair, presented before her father in the form of an eagle. By removing from the composition the cup of ambrosia Hebe is meant to be presenting to the eagle of Jupiter, Kalmakov places the main focus on to the tension between the two figures in the still, star-filled night. PLEASE NOTE If you will be bidding live on auction day, please note that Session I of the Auction (Asian and Russian Fine & Decorative Art), starts at 10:00 AM New York Time and goes from Lot 1 through Lot 254. Session II of the Auction (European, American and International Fine & Decorative Art) starts at 3:00 PM New York Time and goes from Lot 500 through Lot 676. We sell approximately 70 lots per hour.
Shapiro Auctions LLC
Sep. 25, 2015
Nicolai Kalmakoff (1873-1955), Bedroom/Set Design, 1914
Est: €14,000 - €18,200
Gouache and gold paint over pencil on cardboard, laid on cardboard Russia, 1914 Nicolai Konstantin Kalmakoff (1873-1955) - Italian-Russian painter, illustrator and set designer as well as exponent of the ‘Mir iskusstva’ group Signed with a cipher and dated 1914 lower right Cardboard dimensions: 41.5 x 38.8 cm Mounted under glass in gilt wooden frame: 54 x 51.5 cm Very good condition Set design from the early Russian period. The current highest auction record for a similar paper work from this period is circa €27,000 Estimate by Auctionata Expert: 28,000 Euro Nicolai Kalmakoff (1873-1955) was stylistically close to the Art Nouveau and Symbolism. From 1900 on he lived in Russia and became well known with his elaborate and avant-garde costumes and stage designs Condition: The sheet is in very good condition, showing minor wear marks. The frame shows slight signs of use. The sheet dimensions are 41.5 x 38.8 cm, while the frame measures 54 x 51.5 cm. Comparative Literature: Exhibition catalog, Kalmakoff, L'Ange de l’Abîme, 1873-1955, et les Peintres du Mir Iskousstva, Paris, Musée-galerie de la Seita, 1986, p. 54 (for a similar work) Nicolai Kalmakoff (1873-1955) Nicolai (or Nicolas and Nicholas) was of Italian-Russian descent and grew up in Italy. From 1890 till 1895, he studied law in St. Petersburg and afterwards painting and anatomy in Italy. From 1900 he lived alternately in St. Petersburg and Moscow and get in contact with the artistic movement ‘Mir Iskusstva’ (World of Art) and the St. Petersburg theater world. He created numerous set designs. After the Russian Revolution he lived in Constantinople and Tallinn. In 1924, he settled in Paris, where he worked as a painter until 1947. Kalmakoff’s works received increasing popularity in the auction market in recent years. (cko) Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance. Auctionata charges the resale rights tax pursuant to Section 26 of the German Copyright Act (UrhG) towards the buyer in case of the sale of an original work of art or photography prior to 70 years having lapsed since the death of their creator. Therefore, Auctionata charges when purchasing a good – if a protection as an original work of art or photography is given – starting from a hammer price of EUR 400 an additional amount, which is calculated according to Section 26 (2) German Copyright Act (UrhG) and which does not exceed the amount of EUR 12,500. You can find more information about resale rights tax in Auctionata´s table of fees and T&C.
Auctionata Paddle8 AG