The Fine Art Auction House Christie’s is preparing to demonstrate the most expensive lots of its forthcoming Russian Art sale at Christie’s London. The highlight of its Moscow preview will be Ilya Repin’s masterpiece, ‘A Parisian Café’.

Painted in Paris in 1875, the painting has never before been exhibited in Russia. This monumental canvas, arguably the most important work by the artist not held in a museum collection, has remained in a distinguished private collection since 1916. This summer it will appear at Christie’s auction in London as the top lot at a record-breaking estimate of $5 million to $8 million.

Created in the turbulent centre of artistic innovation that was Paris in the late 19th century, Ilya Repin’s epic painting “A Parisian Café” is a masterpiece of the period, revealing both the influence of Western art on the Russian artist and Repin’s status as a trailblazing pioneer.

Alexis de Tiesenhausen, International Head of Russian Art Department, Christie’s: «For Christie’s, it was a long-cherished dream to bring to Moscow a very special painting that would speak to the heart of a Russian audience. No other work, no other artist could do it better than than ‘A Parisian Café’. Its historical importance is indisputable». Nearly 80 exquisite preparatory sketches and studies for Repin’s seminal work will be sold alongside ‘A Parisian Café’.

Christie’s preview in Moscow will take place on April 2-3 at Maly Gdezdnikovsly pereulok, 9/8, building 1-4(Spiridonov Mansion).

Christie’s Russian Art sale will be held in London on June 6.

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