Theodora Krarup (b. Schelenborg 1862, d. Copenhagen 1941)
Portrait of Grigori Jefimovich Rasputin (1869–1916) as the holy man, with his remarkable gazing eyes following the viewer of the painting all the time, dressed in black suit on a dark brown background. Signed and dated Th. Krarup 1915. Oil on canvas. 58×44.5 cm. Later framing. Four receipts (hence two on one sheet) and reproduction rights document enclosed. (5).
From the Collection of the Finnish General Consul in St. Petersburg Otto Auer, lot no. 283 and 284.
We are now offering two of the painter Theodora Krarup's contemporary and rare portraits of Grigori Jefimovich Rasputin, where he personally sat as the model, are now being auctioned off by descendants of Otto Auer, who originally acquired them directly from the artist in 1927. You have a unique opportunity to acquire art pieces from one of Russian history's most curious and enigmatic periods. Rasputin, about whom many fantastic stories circulate, was called everything from a mystic and charlatan to a ladies’ man and seen as the political adviser to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia as well as one of the causes of the revolution in 1917. All this combined with the remarkable story surrounding the Danish painter in Russia, Theodora Krarup. The fabled Rasputin is remembered, while Theodora Krarup has almost been forgotten in the mists of the revolution, civil war and later purges. In her interesting memoirs she is telling about her life, her friendship with Rasputin and the Finnish General Consul.
In her memoirs Theodora Krarup also mentions that one of her portraits depicting Rasputin was bought by the “Moscow Museum”. This is today owned by the State Central Museum of Contemporary Russian History (signed Th. Krarup 1914 and registered as painted by Zinaida Krarup). This is reproduced in: René Fülöp-Miller: “The Holy Devil, Rasputin and the Women”, Leipzig and Zurich 1927, illustration no. 2 at page 3.
Please read more about Theodora Krarup, Rasputin and Otto Auer in our catalogue or see attached text on the lot no. above.
The submission of bids on this lot number requires the prior registration of a valid debit/credit card, presentation of photo ID and the payment of a deposit of 25,000 DKK on request. Registration of debit/credit card, photo ID and deposit is due no later than Friday 28 May. Please contact Bruun Rasmussen regarding this via email: bids@bruun-rasmussen.dk or tel.: +45 8818 1013.
Please note: The item is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In the event of a hammer price of DKK 50,000 or more, including buyer’s premium, the buyer must submit a copy of a valid photo ID and proof of address in order to collect the item.
Russian art and antiques, 2 June 2021