Russian Pictures
Russian Pictures
Property from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Sold to Benefit Future Acquisitions
European School
Scene from the Russo-Turkish Wars
Auction Closed
December 1, 03:47 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Sold to Benefit Future Acquisitions
European School
19th Century
Scene from the Russo-Turkish Wars
oil on canvas
Canvas: 54.5 by 65.5cm, 21½ by 25¾in.
Framed: 60 by 71cm, 23¾ by 28in.
Acquired at the above sale by C. Michael Paul
A gift from the Josephine Bay Paul and C. Michael Paul Foundation, Inc., and the Charles Ulrick and Joseph Bay Foundation to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in 1968
The Russian soldiers are shown on the left of the composition bravely defending the motherland (symbolised by the Orthodox church in flames and the graves of their fallen comrades) from the charging Ottoman cavalry officers bearing lances and dressed in fezes and sarouel trousers.
C. Michael Paul (1901-1980) was born Pavel Mikhailovich Iogolevitch in Imperial Russia where, after a brief career as a violinist, he joined the Russian army. He changed his name to Capton Michael Paul when he emigrated to the United States after World War I. After accumulating a large fortune in the petroleum business, he founded the C. Michael Paul Foundation and in 1965, he endowed the C. Michael Paul Hall at the Julliard School.