Lot 37: ABRAM EFIMOVICH ARKHIPOV | Peasant Woman in a Red Dress

oil on canvas

125 by 100cm, 49 1/4 by 39 1/2 in.

oil on canvas

Structural Condition The artist's canvas is unlined and is securely attached to what appears to be the original keyed wooden stretcher. This is providing an even and stable structural support. There are intermittent fragments of residual brown gum tape running along the four edges of the composition. There is a small canvas patched repair in the lower left as viewed from the reverse. Paint Surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. There are scattered areas of slightly raised craquelure, most notably within the figure's headscarf and the background in the upper right quadrant of the composition. These are stable and are not visually distracting. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows some small scattered retouchings, including a thin diagonal line within the lower part of the sitter's red dress, a few intermittent spots of retouching running above the lower horizontal framing edge, a small vertical retouching within the lower right of the sitter's dress corresponding to the small patched repair mentioned above, and some further small retouchings within the red pigments of the sitter's dress in the lower part of the composition. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in very good and stable condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Collection of Dr Pierre Pobé, Basel
Auctiones A.G. Basel, Sammlung Dr. Pierre Pobé: Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Aquarelle, Möbel, Kunstgewerbe, Teppiche, 23-24 February 1979, lot 74
Private Collection, Basel
Thence by descent to the present owner