Alexander Orlovsky (1777-1832)

The very first album of lithographs printed in Russia was that of Alexander Orlovsky in 1816, following the introduction of the lithographic press in St Petersburg one year earlier. Lithography provided Orlovsky with the opportunity to further enhance his masterful draftsmanship. His skills as a draftsman evolved while studying under the Polish court painter Jean Pierre Norblin, and matured with later work in Poland and then in Russia, where he lived for the rest of his life.

Orlovsky's works reflect the romantic and revolutionary spirit of the time, particularly in battle scenes such as Battle between the Georgians and the mountain tribes and Battle between the Kirghiz and the Cossacks, which vibrate with the authentic excitement of fighting, which the artist had known first-hand from his own experiences in battle. In these active, vibrant compositions he gracefully creates a sense of depth and realism, as every line - each tense muscle and wrinkle of fabric - is rendered with precision. Both prints exemplify the artist's exquisite attention to detail. This lot represents the earliest known edition printed in 1826. Both scenes were copied by other artists in various media. Battle between the Georgians and the mountain tribes, for example, is depicted atop a micromosaic table by Gioacchino Barbieri that was sold earlier this year in New York for $1,986,500.
For more information on Orlovsky, please see lot 6.