Fine Old Masters & 19th Century Paintings - 9th December 2015
Lot 402
Richard Karlovich Zommer (Russian 1866-1939) At Prayer Signed Oil on canvas 82 x 143cm...
Estimate £20,000 - £30,000 | Hammer £42000
+ Buyers Premium
Description
Richard Karlovich Zommer (Russian 1866-1939)
At Prayer
Signed
Oil on canvas
82 x 143cm
Provenance:
Captain Henry Herbert Douglas-Withers, purchased from artist in Tblisi in 1915/16
By family descent to the present owner Captain Douglas-Withers fought in the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915/16 with the Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) and was awarded the Military Cross for exemplary gallantry. After the campaign he was part of a small British force that was sent stabilise Tblisi, as many White Russians were there, fleeing the Red Army. Richard Zommer was teaching in Tblisi and sold his paintings locally. Captain Douglas-Withers purchased a number of his pictures including At Prayer and stored them in Army Map containers for transport home.