Nikolai Egorovich Sverchkov

Possibly commissioned by Mitrofan Sergeevich Mazurin in 1878
In the present collection by 1934

Structural Condition The canvas is unlined and is securely attached to the artist's original keyed wooden stretcher. This is providing a stable structural support. There is the remnants of an old label adhered to the reverse of the stretcher. The canvas is slack and would benefit from retensioning. There are raised stretcher-bar lines mainly corresponding to the central vertical and horizontal stretcherbars. These appear entirely stable. Paint Surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. The are several scattered minor paint losses, including a few tiny losses below the upper horizontal framing edge, a small vertical line of minor paint losses to the right of the central figure, a small paint loss below the central white horse, and a few small paint losses on the legs of the brown horse on the right of the composition. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows a slightly discoloured varnish layer. Inspection under ultra-violet light does not appear to show any previous restoration work. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in very good condition and would benefit from cleaning, restoration and revarnishing including the infilling, texturing and retouching of any minor paint losses.
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In the artist’s report to the Imperial Academy for the years 1878 and 1879, no.27 is a painting of a wolf hunt commissioned by Mitrofan Sergeevich Mazurin, a Moscow merchant and paper manufacturer (N.Chapochnikova and D.Gouriévitch, Nikolaï Egorovitch Svertchkov: le peintre russe du cheval, 1817-1898, Lausanne, Paris, 2000, p.146). It is possible that this entry refers to the present work.

The most celebrated Russian equine painter of his day, Nikolai Sverchkov had a passion for drawing horses from a very early age. He grew up near the Imperial Stables, where his father served and where Russia's best horses were kept.

Despite displaying a precocious talent for drawing, Sverchkov went into government service at the Ministry of the Interior. The first paintings that he submitted to the Academy in 1839 enjoyed considerable success encouraging him to leave his governmental post to fully devote himself to painting. He received commissions from all over the country and travelled frequently.

An Academician by 1852, Sverchkov showed his work in the Paris salons from the late 1850s and spent the early 1860s abroad. In 1863 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur for Return from the Bear Hunt, which was subsequently acquired by Napoleon III. From 1864 onward, his creative output mostly included hunting scenes and equestrian portraits commissioned by leading horse breeders and important members of Russian and European nobility, including Alexander II.