MARTIROS SERGUEEVICH SARYAN (1880-1972) Lot n° 25

Ardanouch (1912) Oil on cardboard. Signed and dated in Russian lower left, titled and countersigned on the back in Russian and Armenian. Framed. H_22 cm W_29.5 cm (at sight) Provenance: collection Armen PETROSSIAN History: Born in 1880 in Rostov-on-Don, Martiros Saryan was trained by the masters Valentin Serov (1865-1911) and Constantin Korovine (1861-1939) while drawing inspiration from representatives of the modern Parisian school such as Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). The synthesis of Russian, French and Armenian artistic concepts helped shape Saryan's unique style. Author of more than 3000 paintings, his most cherished theme was the representation of the land of his ancestors, Armenia. Saryan's work is a true hymn of love for his homeland which he sublimates through landscapes, portraits and still lifes. The sun-flooded fields, the steep slopes of the mountains or the villages are imbued with a very present patriotism but beyond this idea of national spirit, these representations are a tribute to the greatness and beauty of nature. "Not only did he know Armenian history and centuries-old Armenian poetry, but for decades he studied lovingly and tirelessly, as a mature and versatile orientalist: for him, this history and poetry, as well as the Armenian way of life, were the original spiritual environment, the closest to meaning and imagination, so to speak, the first circle of earthly existence" N. Kamensky, "Martiros Sarian", Leningrad, 1987, p. 8. A certificate of authenticity signed by the Director of the Saryan Museum and the National Gallery of Armenia dated 23 January 1994 will be given to the purchaser.