Konstantin Somov, oil on canvas, 1923, Konstantin Andreevich Somov (Russian, 1869-1939), "An Old Ballet", signed and dated center right, paper exhibition label verso, canvas and stretcher each stamped "Russian Art Exhibition/ Grand Central Palace/New York City", 16"h x 21"w (stretcher), unframed

Provenance: Exhibited ‘Russian Art Exhibition', Grand Central Palace, New York City, 1924; acquired directly by Albert Rothbart, NYC; auctioned at Andersen Galleries, NYC, March 1926; Private New York collection, thence by descent

Notes/Literature: The present work is perhaps the earliest example of a theme that Somov returned to repeatedly in his later career; the somewhat humorous depiction of a traditional ballet. After emigrating to Paris in the late-1920s, Somov became associated with this subject, often recycling the composition of the conductor standing in the foreground, and the corps de ballet in exaggerated performance on the stage above. But "An Old Ballet", which showed at the seminal Russian Art Exhibition in NYC in 1924, pre-dates these later works by many years, and is perhaps unique in representing the subject as a fully realized oil painting on canvas. The 1924 exhibition at the Grand Central Palace marked a momentous turning point in Somov's life and career. He left Russia in 1923 to accompany his work to New York City, and never returned, instead settling in Paris in 1925. The exhibition also marked a break in style and ambition from his earlier mannered work, often done in watercolor and gouache with a focus on rococo settings and harlequin scenes, ushering in a mature style of painterly landscapes and sumptuous realist portraits in oil. The current work wonderfully exemplifies this transition, marrying a fantastical stylized setting with deft brush work, giving particular care to the interplay of light and shadow, and showcasing the delicate textures of the dancers costumes. Until now, the whereabouts of "An Old Ballet" has remained unknown, and it was considered lost. Although occasionally cited in academic research, referencing its appearance in the New York Russian Art Exhibition catalog (always identified as work #692 "An Old Ballet", as designated on the label on the canvas), it has remained in a family collection since shortly after its Grand Central Palace debut, and has subsequently not been exhibited.

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