L. Kowalenko Russian artist before 1917 - Flowers
Oil painting from before the October Revolution. Brought by his grandgrandfather from Tsarist Russia.
All time in family ownership.
Inherited
Yes
Thank you for submitting your item for appraisal. This still life painting of red poppies, cornflower and daisies in a vase would have met the general taste of the middle class art buyer all over continental europe during the 1910s to the 1940s. The reason might have been that this was a purely decorative motif with no political connotation at all. The artist Л. Коваленко is not listed anywhere, not on russian art sites nor on western art databases. He or she might have been a talented amateur artist or an artist producing paintings for home decor.
The general taste has shifted and still lifes of this type are in lesser demand today.
The estimate is based on similar paintings offered or sold at auction.
I would not attach any political issue to the painting. Millions of people were killed in the wars or died of the spanish flu, many biographies ended all of a sudden. I am sure that this painting is a family treasure to you, but the art market is driven by supply and demand. There is no measurement for the sentimental value you might attach to it. Enjoy the painting.
You are right, but You do not understand what October Revolution has done in Russia. So by the way
I think there is an error in your mind... I have found another painting ofL. Kowalenko: russian pilot from I WW. My painting shows a higher class of artists. But why is he nowhere listed? Simple! May be he or she was "white". If you do not understand it then white was opposite to red during October Revolution.They were killing millions of people.