SERGUEI SOLOMKO (1867-1928) Costume of the Grand Vizier signed 'Solomko' (lower left), inscribed 'Grand Visir', watermarked 'Bristol watercolour, ink and pencil on paper 23 x 15 cm Sergey Solomko (1867-1928) was a Russian painter, watercolourist and illustrator born in St Petersburg into the family of a general. He studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture from 1883 to 1887, then at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St Petersburg from 1887 to 1888. Solomko became famous for his masterful watercolours depicting historical, allegorical and fairytale scenes, in particular images of the life and folklore of Russian boyars. Solomko collaborated with leading magazines such as Mir Iskusstva, Golden Fleece, Pole and Shut, and illustrated works by Pushkin, Lermontov and Gogol. His work also appears on popular postcards. Solomko also designed for the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory and created miniatures for the Fabergé firm. In 1914, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna acquired his watercolour Cuirassier. A member of several Russian art societies, he moved to Paris in 1910, where he continued to illustrate for French publishers and created series of postcards celebrating Russian heritage. He took part in exhibitions of Russian émigré artists and was active in the Russian artistic community in Paris. At the buyer's request, we are happy to provide a general condition report for the lot described above. However, as we are not professional curators or conservators, we strongly advise prospective buyers to carry out their own inspection or to consult a specialist or conservator of their choice for a full professional assessment. Descriptions of the condition of objects in the catalogue or in any correspondence are given for guidance only and should not be regarded as a substitute for a first-hand valuation. ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD 'AS IS' IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE