Prince Paul Troubetzkoy

inscribed: Petersbourg. 1904 and the base with a metal plaque inscribed: PAOLO TROUBETZKOY 1866-1937

Nella Longari, Milan

The overall condition of the plaster is very good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The quality of the modelling is very good indeed. There are a few air bubbles in the plaster including to the face and the hat. There is a wash on the top of the surface. There are a few losses to the edge of the terrace including at the back and on the proper right side. There is wear to the base consistent with age including a few knots in the wood and some minor splitting consistent with the material.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This very fine plaster is likely to have been worked by Troubetzkoy, whilst he was living in Russia between 1898-1904. Troubetzkoy, who was born in Intra, Lake Maggiore, initially moved to Moscow in 1898, where he taught at the Academy of Fine Arts, before moving to St Petersburg, where he modelled the monument to Tsar Alexander III in Znamenskaya Square (today housed in the State Russian Museum).

Troubetzkoy was fond of representing dignified ladies gently holding their skirts up from the ground (as the sitter does in the present portrait), see also his plaster figure of Mrs Harry Payne Whitney (Gertrude Vanderbilt), dated 1910, and his plaster Mia moglie, dated 1911 (Piantoni and Venturoli, op. cit. nos. 145 and 152). The thin base is typical of Troubetzkoy's plasters, as is the signature with date and placename.

RELATED LITERATURE
G. Piantoni and P. Venturoli (eds.), Paolo Troubetzkoy 1866-1938, exhib. cat. Verbania Pallanza, Museo del Paesaggio, Palazzo Viani Dugnani, 1990, nos. 145 and 152