Shrovetide (Maslenitsa) in St. Petersburg
Painting on canvas • Konstantin Makovsky
Style & Movement
Russian Realism / Peredvizhniki (Wanderers) movement precursor
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing realist landscape and figurative techniques with atmospheric perspective and detailed multilinear composition.
Creation Period
1869 (19th Century)
Dimensions & Format
Large scale, approximately 215 x 315 cm; landscape format.
Subject Description
A bustling street scene during the Maslenitsa festival in Admiralteyskaya Square, St. Petersburg. The composition features a dense crowd of various social classes, street vendors, performers, and samovars, capturing the vibrant folk traditions and the atmosphere of pre-Lenten festivities in Imperial Russia.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved in a museum environment.
Estimated Market Value
Historically significant masterpiece; estimated at $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 if it were to enter the open market.
Auction Estimate
$4,000,000 - $7,000,000 based on the artist's records for large-scale historical works.
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of the Imperial family; currently part of the permanent collection of the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
Art Historical Significance
A seminal work in the development of Russian national realism. It marks Makovsky’s transition toward the large-scale, detailed genre paintings that would define high-society Russian art. It serves as a vital historical document of 19th-century Saint Petersburg life.
Notable Features
Includes a monumental gilded 'Bolognese' style frame; exceptional detail in the individual expressions of the crowd characters; signature and date likely located in the lower right corner.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related craquelure is expected but not visible in current lighting; the canvas appears structurally sound with no recent losses.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (45-55%) and temperature (20-22°C). Use UV-filtered gallery lighting. Professional surface cleaning every 15-20 years.