Live Auction 8003Russian Art
Alexander Orlovsky (1777-1832)
Lot 6 PROPERTY OF A DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN COLLECTOR

Alexander Orlovsky (1777-1832)

A veteran of the Imperial Russian army

Closed28 November 2011

Price Realised

GBP 16,250

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Alexander Orlovsky (1777-1832)
A veteran of the Imperial Russian army
signed with initials, inscribed and dated 'AO 1837/l'Invalide' (lower right), further inscribed 'Roul ta bosse.' (upper left)
pencil and charcoal on paper
13½ x 7¾ in. (34.3 x 19.7 cm.)

The collection of Marshal Edward Rydz-Smigly, 1920s.
Colonel Tadeusz Rudnicki.
Acquired from the above by the present owner in Paris in 1967.

Specialist note

Alexander Orlovsky preferred drawing to oil painting and his deft artistry is evident in A veteran of the Imperial Russian Army. This drawing is a fine example of his mastery in depicting military attire and insignia, a skill that was stressed by his patron the Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, son of Emperor Paul I. The number of chevrons indicates this veteran's years of service and brings us back to 1794, the year of the Polish Insurrection.

Orlovsky's superlative artistry was not overlooked by celebrated authors of the time. Alexander Pushkin, Adam Mickiewicz and Pyotr Vyazemsky all praised him in their writing - Pushkin in Ruslan and Ludmila, Mickiewicz in Pan Tadeusz and Vyazemsky in a poetic eulogy following the artist's death.