Congratulations to O. Luna who placed the winning bid of $1,750 for "Forest in Autumn", by Oleg Ivanovich Andreyuk, estimated at $4,500- $5,500.

For our December silent auction, we are pleased to offer a rare work by one of the great Russian landscape painters, "The Frosty Day" by Vladimir Pavlovich Krantz.

Krantz was a master of the lyrical landscape and considered Nature as a his main teacher. He was drawn to the simple beauty of the Northern Russian forests and the seascapes of the Crimea. He painted with a unique eye towards nature's mystery, and his works rivet the eye by their romantic mood and masterful technique. He had a special gift for capturing the special light that filters the Russian wilderness, each season bringing its own distinct glow and drawing the viewer into the landscape.

Krantz often visited the museum-estate of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin near Pskov. Admiring the poet, Krantz presented the museum a series of 44 landscapes in different seasons.

This is one of the few times we have offered a museum quality work by a highly respected and important artist in the silent auction. Estimated at $5,000 to $6,000 with a current bid of just $2,750. This is indeed a rare opportunity not to miss and a great way to start the New Year!

Vladimir P. Krantz, "The April"
19" x 27", 1975, Oil on Board, Unframed
Estimated $5,000- $6,000, Current Bid, $2,750 S. Scott

"I visited Mr. Krantz at his studio in St. Petersburg shortly before his death in 2003. While he was close to blind and very weak, he lit up as I picked up paintings one-by-one and asked him if he could remember painting the particular work. Although he was slumped and ill, as I held up the painting, he seemed to come to life as he animatedly described each painting. Vivid with detail, excitement and overwhelming enthusiasm, he described the place and the people. It was almost as if he had painted the work that afternoon. For a few brief moments, the artist emerged and reveled in his life and his work. As we reached the end of the visit, he returned to his illness". - Jim Dabakis

We invite you to participate in this month's auction and thank everyone who placed bids 's last month. Estimated at $5,000 to $6,000, the current high bid is just $2,750! The next bid is $3,000, followed by minimum bidding increments of $250. Remember, there is no reserve, at the end of the auction the high bid wins!

Bids will be taken via telephone, or e-mail until 7:00 pm MST, Thursday, January 2nd. Follow all the bidding updates on the Gallery's website.

Tel: 801-755-7072
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Please e-mail bids only to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and make sure your receive confirmation of your bid.Note that you may place a maximum bid and the Gallery will bid on your behalf up to your maximum. By placing a maximum bid you will be assured you are not out bid at the last minute.

 BID FO

Vladimir Pavlovich Krantz (1913-2003) Mozdok, Northern Caucasia

The lyrical landscape is the genre of painting that evokes reciprocal feeling in every Russian, especially if it is done in such brilliant manner as that of Vladimir Krantz. The life itself made him an artist. He was lucky not to be forced painting in an official formal manner, glorifying the socialist labor. The artist simply polished his brushwork, developed his coloring working hard, nevertheless staying an amateur for the bureaucrats of the Soviet art. Being an "amateur" at that time meant to be free in choice to paint landscapes - the genre that was not greeted by the authorities. The most preferable were large multi-figural pictures depicting social life or historical events.

Vladimir Pavlovich Krantz was born in Mozdok, Chechnya in 1913. His mother's origin was Cossack, and his father came from nobility. His ancestor, German born Von Rosen Krantz, was sent in exile to the Caucasus after the December uprising in Petersburg in 1825.

The artist showed his talent in early years when he studied at the atelier of a local painter, A. Turbin. After finishing the secondary school he worked as a draftsman and got a recommendation to the Academy of Fine Arts in Leningrad (Petersburg). Just before the entrance exams, V. Krantz showed his sketches to the rector of the Academy, a prominent Soviet artist Isaak Brodsky and met with his approval.

Unfortunately, the serious disease typhoid prevented him from entering the Academy that year. And in 1935 he successfully passed the exams to the Architectural Faculty of the Civil Engineering Institute in 1940. After graduating, he worked as an artist-decorator and painted in oils independently.

After World War II he returned to his work in the Painting and Design Group of Enterprises in Leningrad and perfected his art at the atelier of S. Nevelstein. He set himself high standards and purposefully painted from nature again and again. One of his most favorite places was the ancient Russian town of Staraja Ladoga in the Petersburg Region. The pictures painted there gained a great success during the first Krantz one-man show in 1967 and in 1973 he joined the Russian Artists' Union, thus giving up the work of decorator.

Success did not come V. Krantz's way easily. His way to acclaim was long and taxing, and only in the 1970's his art was recognized by the public. The Japanese collector Yoko Nakamura acquired series of his landscapes, and the artist became well known abroad.

Vladimir Krantz painted the modest beauty of Russian forest and seascapes in the Crimea, working at the Academic Dacha. There he got acquainted with many colleagues who enriched his mental outlook. Among them was a famous Soviet painter, academician Zagonek, who once presented Krantz his sketch with an inscription: "To the student surpassing the teacher." They worked together on the same motive and Krantz's landscape was voted the best.

Vladimir Krantz considered nature to be the main teacher. None of the painters greatly influenced the artist's manner as he went his path directed mainly by his own inward intuition and original talent. He preferred painting "ala prima," finishing his landscape in one day. Using photos was the common practice of such great masters as Vrubel and Degas, and Krantz following in their example, studied and gave a more precise definition to the juxtaposition of color, light-and-shade. He never went down to the rough naturalism or unwarranted detailing both in drawing and coloring.

Krantz intentionally denied the fleeting effects so typical of the Impressionists and art of the XX Century. He saw the integrity and calm in the landscape, which should represent the stability and firmness of being.

Vladimir Krantz was a real master of the lyrical landscape. His art is immediately recognizable in any gallery as it rivets the eye by the romantic mood and a masterful technique. It gives the spectator an opportunity to enter the truthfully painted atmosphere of the landscape, to share the artist's admiration. The good taste, a sense of rhythm together with following nature without copying, brings a wholeness and completeness to his fine landscapes. -Ekaterina Denisova (Baryshnikova)

Vladimir Pavlovich Krantz

Was born 17 February 1913 in Mozdok, Northern Caucas.
In 1940 V. Krantz graduated from the Architectural department of Leningrad Building Institute.
Since 1957 he has participated in Art Exhibitions.
Joined the LOSKH (Leningrad Union of Artists of the RSFSR) in 1972.
Member of LCRAU since 1972.
Modern Soviet painting exhibition. Gekkoso Gallery. Tokyo, 1977.
Ecole de Saint-Petersburg. Drouot Richelieu. 13 Mars. Paris, 1992.
Personal Exhibitions in Leningrad (1964, 1977, 1991) and St. Petersburg (1992, 1995, 2002).
Paintings by Vladimir Krantz are in the State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg), Museum of the Siege of Leningrad (St. Petersburg), regional Russian museums and private collections in Russia, Japan, Germany, France, Belgium, Finland, and the USA.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Modern Soviet painting exhibition. Gekkoso Gallery. Tokyo, 1977. Ecole de Saint-Petersburg. Drouot Richelieu. 13 Mars 1992. Paris, 1992.