James Butterwick began collecting and selling Russian Art in 1985 and has established himself as one of the world’s leading experts. He moved to Moscow in 1994, becoming the only foreign member of the Russian Society of Private Collectors. He forms collections, takes part in museum exhibitions and reads lectures on Russian Art, including at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow in 2013.
Explore our collection of sensational Avant-Garde works on paper in gouache and/or Indian ink by Yakov Chernikhov, dubbed the ‘Soviet Piranesi’ on account of his powerful architectural visions.
We are delighted to announce the sale of Alexander Bogomazov’s dynamic 1916 “Self Portrait” to the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands.
By 1916, Bogomazov had reached the apogee of his creative genius, and this “Self Portrait”, drawn whilst the artist was teaching in Gerusiya (present day Goris) in Armenia, is a vivid example of the powerful and vibrant style for which he has become famous.
It is unclear what is emerging from the artist’s mouth in the work. Is it the act of kissing his wife? The artist may be embracing his wife, the palette he holds in his right hand is certainly thrust forward. Meanwhile, at the base of the painting, lower right, are the words, ‘Self-portrait’, clearly inscribed, one of the few times when Bogomazov permitted himself such an signature.
“Self Portrait” joins six other works by Bogomazov in the magnificent Kröller Müller museum, a centrepiece for the November 2021 joint exhibition of Bogomazov and his friend, Alexander Archipenko at the same location.
We are a private, by-invitation-only gallery in West London with a stock of works by many of the Russian and Ukrainian early 20th century masters - Goncharova, Larionov, Vrubel and Bogomazov, six of whose works we sold to the Kröller Müller Museum at TEFAF 2015-16. In addition to our core stock, we have items by Monet, Matisse and other Western masters together with a small stock of Soviet non-conformists. We also provide full authentication of the Russian Avant-Garde.
