VENIAMIN UMANSKY (RUSSIAN 1910-CIRCA 1970S) Sailor from Cruiser Aurora, Participant in the Storming of the Winter Palace, Comrade Vislobokov G.E., 1910 oil on canvas 127.5 x 98.5 cm (50 1/4 x 38 3/4 in.) signed lower right; signed, dated and titled on verso LOT NOTES Russian painter Vniamiin Umansky, a graduate of the Arts Academy of I.E. Repin (1948), is best known for works in Social Realist style, which he exhibited in All-Union as well as regional exhibitions (now held in Russian institutions and international private collections). As evidenced by the inscription Stavropol division on verso, the present half-length portrait, depicting a sailor on board the infamous Aurora cruiser, was likely shown at one of the All-Union Soviet art exhibitions. The event that inspired the painting was the single "dry" shot fired from the Aurora on the night of October 26th, 1917, marking the beginning of the siege of the Winter Palace, a watershed event of October Revolution with which the ship itself became synonymous. Shown in reference image (Fig. 1) is preparatory painting from life made apparently a decade after the revolution. CONDITION Observed in frame, the work is in good age-appropriate condition. Some surface dirt; would benefit from a light cleaning. Some warping to the canvas, mainnly apparent upper right. Fine and stable horizontal craquelure overall, mainly to the sky. Inspection under UV shows scattered areas of retoucing, mainly to the face. N.B. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.