Bidspirit auction | Gavriil Pavlovich Kondratenko (1854–1924). “The

Gavriil Pavlovich Kondratenko (1854–1924). “The Site of Lermontov’s Duel near Pyatigorsk”, 1885. Canvas, oil. 57.8 × 116 cm. Signed by the artist in the lower right: “G. Kondratenko 85”. Expert examination by N. S. Ignatova. - The painting by Gavriil Pavlovich Kondratenko refers to one of the most symbolic places of Russian cultural memory — the place of the duel of Mikhail Lermontov in the vicinity of Pyatigorsk. The artist interprets the historical motif through a poetic, contemplative landscape, where space and mood become the main characters. The composition has a wide panoramic scope: the road in the foreground leads the eye to the mountain line, and small buildings are visible to the side, emphasizing the scale and silence of the Caucasian nature. The soft evening light and the subdued, noble palette create a state of calm thoughtfulness; the air and distance are subtly painted, with attention to the transitions of tones and atmospheric perspective. Kondratenko is a recognized master of lyrical landscape, traveled extensively in southern Russia, Crimea and the Caucasus. The theme of ”Lermontov places” occupies a special place in his legacy. The work belongs to the mature period of the artist's work and demonstrates his characteristic manner: precise sense of space, tonal integrity and poetic interpretation of nature. Gavriil Pavlovich Kondratenko (1854–1924) was a painter, graphic artist, and landscape painter; he also created still lifes and worked as an illustrator. He held the rank of Class Artist of the 2nd Degree. He was born in the village of Pavlovsk, Gorodishchensky Uyezd, Penza Governorate. From 1873 to 1882 he studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts. He lived in St. Petersburg–Petrograd. He traveled annually throughout southern Russia, Crimea, and the Caucasus, frequently visited Italy, and traveled to Greece. He participated in exhibitions at the Imperial Academy of Arts, the St. Petersburg Society of Artists, the Kuindzhi Society, the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, and the Moscow Society of Lovers of Art. He organized solo exhibitions for charitable purposes. He created two cycles of paintings depicting places associated with the life and work of Mikhail Lermontov and Princess Olga. His works are held in the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, and many other museums in Russia and Ukraine. Kondratenko’s artistic legacy is significant: dozens of his landscapes depicting Crimea, the Caucasus, and the Russian Black Sea coast adorn the permanent exhibitions of numerous museums and art galleries, including the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, and other public and private collections in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.