Merab Abramishvili

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in 1995

There are abrasions along all four edges with minor associated paint loss. There is a small area of paint loss to the green area directly above the centre of the composition. There is a light covering of surface dirt and some light scuffs and scratches to the surface in places. Held in a simple black wooden frame. Unexamined out of frame.
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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."

The scene depicts the last stand of the battle of Krtsanisi (11th September 1795), in which 300 warriors from the Aragvi valley defended Tbilisi against the attack of the Persian army led by Agha Muhammad Khan. Outnumbered by the Qajar army, the Georgian army was overwhelmed and all 300 Aragvian warriors were slain, fulfilling their honourable oath to fight to the death. Abramishvili first broached the subject of the 300 Aragvians in the 1987 eponymous painting considered to be the artist's first major work in his signature medium of tempera (150 by 150cm, the artist's estate).