- 301
RUSSIAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1765 | Portrait of Count Grigorii Grigorievich Orlov (1734-1783)
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
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Description
- Portrait of Count Grigorii Grigorievich Orlov (1734-1783)
- Watercolour and bodycolour on vellum, gilt-metal mount
- 5.9 by 7.9 cm.; 2 1/4 by 3 1/8 in.
Provenance
Prince Orlov, Lamorlaye, near Paris, by 1935;
sale, Geneva, Sotheby's, 7 May 1982, lot 326
sale, Geneva, Sotheby's, 7 May 1982, lot 326
Exhibited
London, 1 Belgrave Square, Exhibition of Russian Art, 1935, no. 123 K (loaned by Prince Orlov)
Condition
A number of tiny foxmarks in the background. Minor crease lower right corner (4 mm).
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Count Orlov was an officer of the guards who led the coup of the 28th June 1762 that placed Catherine the Great on the throne. For fourteen years, between 1759 and 1772, he was her lover and in recognition of his position, Catherine ennobled him and installed him in the Winter Palace, in apartments directly above her own. The present miniature, showing Orlov wearing an embroidered blue dressing-gown and holding a letter in his left hand, would have originally been mounted on the inside lid of a snuff-box. The image was used by Andrei Ivanovich Cherny (Chernov or Chorny) as the basis of his portrait of Orlov painted on the inside lid of the celebrated 'Orlov' porcelain snuff-box, made by the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory with gold mounts attributable to Jean Pierre Ador (see Sotheby's, London, The Rostropovich-Visnevskaya collection, 18-19 September 2007, lot 63.)