A rare oil painting by the Russian artist Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov (1844-1927), part of a series titled ‘The Life of Christ,’ will take center stage at Bonhams’ upcoming 19th-century and British Impressionist Art Sale on March 20 at New Bond Street in London. Entitled ‘And she went and told them that she had been with Him as they mourned and wept,’ the artwork is expected to fetch between £400,000 and £600,000. Another painting from the same series, ‘There were also women looking from afar off,’ achieved a price of over £1.5 million at Bonhams last year.
Known among his peers as the “Knight of Beauty,” Polenov’s artistic style seamlessly blended European and Russian painting traditions. “And she went and told them that she had been with Him as they mourned and wept” is part of his series ‘The Life of Christ,’ completed in the late 1890s and early 1900s. These paintings garnered widespread acclaim after being exhibited in 1909, first in St. Petersburg and then in Moscow.
In 1908, Polenov published an album featuring photographs of the series. He sent a copy to the renowned Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, who responded with admiration: “Your album made a strong impression on me. I can imagine how impressive the exhibition itself would have been, and I deeply regret not being able to see it… Beyond the beauty of the paintings and your sympathetic treatment of the subject, the monumental effort you put into this series commands profound respect for the artist.”
Commenting on the upcoming sale, Daria Khristova, a specialist at Bonhams, noted, “Polenov’s work exudes a remarkable realism that draws in the viewer. He considered ‘The Life of Christ’ series to be his magnum opus. We are thrilled to present ‘And she went and told them that she had been with Him as they mourned and wept’ in this auction, especially following the success of another painting from the same series last year. ‘There were also women looking from afar off’ fetched over three times its estimate, demonstrating the enduring allure of his work among collectors.”
Additionally, the sale will feature a renowned piece by James Tissot, the French painter (1836-1902). Titled “Un dejeuner,” the painting depicts an 18th-century flirtatious scene and showcases a departure in subject matter for Tissot. First exhibited at the Salon of 1868 in Paris, “Un dejeuner” is rich in narrative detail and symbolic depth. Set in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, with its iconic tall merchant houses lining the waterfront, the painting portrays a man and a woman seated at a café table, seemingly alone except for two men at a nearby table. The woman’s lapdog gazes directly at the viewer, adding to the intrigue of the scene. Filled with subtle hints open to various interpretations, the artwork is estimated to sell for £200,000-£300,000.
Among other noteworthy offerings in the sale are Alphonse-Étienne Dinet’s “Jeu de fillettes dans la palmeraie,” an oil painting on canvas with an estimated value of £150,000-£250,000, Gaetano Chierici’s “First Steps,” an oil painting on canvas anticipated to fetch £70,000-£100,000, Sir George Clausen’s “The little orchard,” estimated at £25,000-£35,000, and Sir Walter Westley Russell, RA’s “A day on the beach,” valued at £20,000-£30,000.
Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in over 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. It is a global network of auction houses boasting the largest number of international salerooms and offering the broadest range of collecting categories, catering to all price points. Recognized for its bespoke service and dedication to fostering local market relationships, Bonhams enhances its global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams hosts over 1,000 sales annually, spanning more than 60 specialist categories such as fine art, collectibles, luxury items, wine & spirits, and collector cars.
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