Lot 335: 2 David Burliuk Oil Paintings, Nudes by the Sea Incl. Florida

Two (2) David Davidovich Burliuk (New York/Russian Federation/Ukraine, 1882-1967) paintings of female nudes in coastal landscapes. Item 1: Oil on canvasboard painting with a nude woman who walks along a shoreline before a colorful sky. Two birds, one perched on her hand, accompany her. Heavy impasto describes the waves, body, birds, and some areas of sky. Signed “Burliuk Fla” lower right. With label inscribed “Nude & Birds” en verso plus “D.B. 46.81” inventory or accession number sticker to back of frame. Housed in a rusticated, silvered and painted wood frame. Sight: 9 1/2 in. H x 7 3/8 in. W. Frame: 14 1/2 in. H x 12 1/4 in. W. Item 2: Oil on panel painting of a reclining nude who smiles and raises her arms as she lies on a blanket beneath a striped umbrella. The ocean recedes toward an orange and blue sky behind her and before her very heavy, sculptural impasto describes thick foliage. Signed lower right, “Burliuk.” Housed in a rusticated painted and giltwood frame with purple suede liner and gilt fillet. Sight: 6 7/8 in. H x 7 in. W. Frame: 15 7/8 in H x 16 in. W. Biography: “Born into a privileged class of Russian Society, David Burliuk became a central figure in the history of the Russian avant-garde movement as an accomplished poet, art critic, and exhibition organizer. He studied at the Kazan School of Fine Arts in 1898, then in Odessa, Moscow, Munich, and in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, however, as a breaker of artistic tradition, he found himself expelled from the Moscow Institute in 1911. His early works were Fauve-like and were exhibited with the Blue Riders in Munich. With the advent of World War I, he left Russia and traveled for four years. He moved to America in 1922 and settled on Long Island where he continued to paint until his death in 1967.” (Source: Michael David Zellman, 300 Years of American Art)

PROVENANCE:

Private Virginia Collection, acquired from Peter Marcinak, Arslonga Gallery, Hillsborough, NH. The Nude with Birds was acquired by Marcinak from Ella Jaffe, who represented Burliuk in New York. 

CONDITION:

Both paintings in overall very good condition, not examined out of frames. 1st item’s frame with minor abrasions and losses, especially to corners.