854. NUDE RECLINING WOMAN, RUSSIA, LATE 19TH CENTURY

An oval oil painting on cardboard, executed in the style of Russian Art Nouveau and the “World of Art” circle. The composition features a nude woman reclining in a relaxed pose on a bed, holding a book, her head resting on a pink pillow. The setting, with its delicate drapery, carved headboard, and silver tea service, evokes the refined domestic interiors of the Rococo era. The brushwork is soft and pastose, emphasizing the sensuality of the figure and the decorative richness of the surroundings. In the lower right corner appears the signature “K. Somov” and the date “1897.” The painting is presented in a gilt oval frame with a light blue museum-quality mat. On the reverse is an old collector’s label inscribed in ink: “K. Somov, 1869–1939,” framed by a decorative blue border.

Dimensions: Painting: 30 × 37 cm. Frame: approximately 50 × 60 cm

Material: Oil on cardboard

Condition: Good condition. The surface is clean, and the paint layer is stable. Minor signs of age on the reverse and frame.

Provenance: Private European collection. Contents of a 19th-century Baltic villa