Bonhams to sell two important works by Vasili Polenov

Vasili Polenov
He that is Without Sin
est. £1.2 – 1.8 million

Bonhams to sell two important works by Vasili Polenov On November 30th 2011, Bonhams will auction two important works by 19th century Russian painter Vasili Polenov: ‘He that is Without Sin’ and ‘He is Guilty of Death’]]>

September 7th, 2011, source: Bonhams / theartwolf

Described by Yelena Harbick -Director of Russian Fine and Decorative Arts- as “the most important works by the artist to ever come up for auction“, ‘He that is Without Sin’ (est. £1.2 – 1.8million) and “He is Guilty of Death” (est. £600,000 – 800,000) are amongst the highlights of Bonham’s Russian sale that will take place on the 30th of November, 2011.

Both works are part of an important series of sixty paintings by Polenov, entitled “Life of Christ.” Exhibited in its entirety only once in 1909 in Russia, the series were reputedly scheduled to cross the Atlantic aboard the Titanic. Fortunately, the series avoided the journey due to a shipment delay.

‘He That is Without Sin’ is a version of an earlier work by the artist, now in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. In ‘He is Guilty of Death’ “the lonely and introspective image of Christ is in direct contrast to his hostile and aggressive surroundings“, as the catalogue says.

Prior to their appearance in the Russian Art sale in London’s New Bond Street, the paintings will be exhibited in Moscow and New York.

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