"*SOMOV, KONSTANTIN (1869-1839) Reclining Woman signed Pencil and watercolour on paper, laid on card, 26.5 by 34.5 cm. Authenticity certificate from E. Zhukova. The genre of retrospective works, united by the theme of a lady sleeping in an interior goes back to Somov's watercolour Natalia Pavlovna — a headpiece for Pushkin's poem Count Nulin (1899, The National Pushkin Museum, Moscow). Somov developed this theme in drawings, watercolours and paintings, recreating images of young women of the early XIX century and, to a greater extent, of the courtly XVIII century, with clothing, hair styles and interiors characteristic of the period. The subject allowed the artist to lift the curtain of time, and, as if unnoticed by these lovely sleeping women, to glimpse into their normal carefree life, to observe their relaxed sleepy poses and rosy cheeks. With superb skill Somov painted the fine lace and silks framing the body of the sleeping woman, and the accessories and objects of luxurious Baroque interiors. The subject was very popular with admirers of Somov's talent, who greatly valued the beauty and erotic charm of his works. The artist always varied the subject for each new commission, but based the work on the same type or “model”. In 1909 he created several works on the subject of a sleeping young woman, executed in watercolour, gouache and oils, which are now held in museums as well as private collections. The best known of these is a gouache now in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, acquired from the artist by V.O. Girshman, an important collector of Somov's work. The artist returned to this subject in later years. It is difficult to date this unfinished watercolour, as its composition echoes works from 1909, but also recalls the 1922 oil painting Young Woman Sleeping (I.I. Brodsky Museum, St Petersburg). The characteristic style of execution and the signature in Cyrillic suggest that it was done ""before Somov left Russia in 1923. Elena Zhukova, expert"""""""