[Ice transportation in Russia].

Original watercolour

Fresh original watercolour, signed by Kollmann.

The subject of this charming composition is a traditional winter scene in the Russian countryside. Russian peasants are depicted transporting large blocks of ice on a horse-drawn sledge.

Active in St. Petersburg, Kollmann (1786/88-1846) was one of the greatest engravers and lithographers of the nineteenth century. He worked for the established publisher Pluchart and engraved a substantial portion of Kruzenstern's atlas. Indeed, the present composition is similar in subject to the one published by Pluchart, though, to our knowledge, no lithograph reproducing this specific composition is available on the market.

The scarcity of original works by this master make the present work all the more desireable.

Watercolour (sheet: 31.5 x 23.5 cm) within an ink ruled and washed border, signed 'C. Kollmann. St. Petersbourg' in the lower left corner, slight rubbing to lower margin.