Stanislaus von Chlebowski

Goupil & Cie, Paris;
Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, June 4, 1975, lot 94;
There purchased by the present owner.

Unlined, two 1/2 by 1 inch patches on the reverse along the upper edge, widely patterned craquelure, frame abrasion visbile at left edge; under UV: two thin 1 inch horizontal lines of inpainting correspond to aforementioned repaired tears along upper edge, a few dots of inpainting in lower quadrant.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Chlebowski was born in Podole, located in south-central Poland.  The artist began his drawing studies in Odessa before moving on to the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg and then spent six years in Jean-Leon Gérôme's Paris studio. While Chlebowski painted a wide variety of oils and watercolor compositions, his most notable works depicted the historical battles, people, and history of Turkey and other Orientalist subjects, all inspired by his years as attaché at the Court of Sultan Abdülaziz  In the present work, Chlebowski depicts two Circassian guards, recognizable by their fur-trimmed hats and long coats decorated by both traditional and more modern weapons (the long rifles and bullet belts hung across their shoulders).  Historically known as northwest Caucasus, Circassia designates a people rather than an exact geographic location. After the fall of Circassia to the Russians and subsequent massacres of the Circassian tribes in 1864, remaining members left for the Ottoman Empire, where many were employed in military service.