Nicolai Fechin Born: Kazan, Russia 1881 Died: Santa Monica, California 1955 Taos painter of Indian portraits, sculptor Nicolai Fechin's father was a destitute craftsman in wood and metal in Russia. When Fechin was four, he became seriously ill and was given up for dead but restored by the touch of the Ikon of Tischinskoya. His boyhood was spent in the dark Volga forest with its wild Tartar tribes. When he was 13, he received a scholarship to the Art School of Kazan founded by his grandfather. At 19, he began his studies at the Imperial Academy of Art in St. Petersburg, the pupil of Ilya Repin who had introduced contemporary Russian art to the West in 1893. Fechin graduated in 1909 and was awarded a traveling scholarship through Europe. He was called "the Tartar painter" and was an instant success in European and American exhibitions with his palette-knife technique. When the Bolshevik Revolution followed WWI, Fechin left Russia for America after six years of privation. He was immediately popular in NYC with portrait commissions from celebrities and a first prize for portraits from the National Academy in 1924. In 1927, he moved permanently to Taos, beginning at once on his stream of portraits of Southwestern types, painting by day and sculpting at night. Fechin was of medium, quick and direct, as sparse in speech as in art, painting only from life, a master of color. Fechin never lacked technical deftness but he did limit depicted emotions to "rugged and sober" for Indians and "exuberant and pleasing" for his other sitters. About 1936 he traveled through Mexico, making drawings. In 1938, he moved to Bali but was forced back to the US by WWII. He settled in Santa Monica, again painting people of the Southwest.
Expressive portrait of a woman attributed to Nicolai Fechin, executed in mixed media on paper with energetic pen and ink linework enhanced by watercolor or gouache washes. The composition captures the sitter with Fechin's characteristic loose, gestural handling, emphasizing psychological depth through bold contours, expressive facial features, and subtle color accents. Signed lower right "N. Fechin." Presented in a black frame, the artwork measures approximately 24" x 24" framed. Note: "Attributed to" indicates the work appears stylistically consistent with the named artist and bears a corresponding signature, but it has not been formally authenticated; no provenance or expert certification is included. Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin (1881-1955, Russia/United States) was a Russian-American painter and sculptor celebrated for his expressive brushwork, psychological portraits, and vibrant use of form and color. Trained at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, Fechin immigrated to the United States in 1923 and later settled in Taos, New Mexico. His powerful portraits and Southwestern subjects, blending Impressionism, Expressionism, and Russian artistic traditions, established him as one of the most influential portrait artists of the 20th century.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin (1881-1955) Portrait of a young girl Lithograph on BFK Rives paper Edition: 4/50 Signed and inscribed "P.R. 50-4." in pencil in the lower right and left corners: Nicolai Fechin
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin (1881-1955) "Farm Boy" Lithograph on BFK Rives paper Edition: 30/50 Signed and inscribed "P.R. 50.-30," in pencil lower right: Nicolai Fechin
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin (1881-1955) Untitled, from the "Portfolio of Sixteen Lithographs," 1946 Lithograph on wove paper From the edition of 978 Signed and inscribed in pencil lower right and lower left, respectively: Nicolai Fechin / P.R.; Northridge House, pub.; alternatively titled "Portrait of a Matriarch" or "la Abuela," by repute
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin (1881-1955) Russian, Oil on board, Tiger Girl, Taos, New Mexico October 1927. 56 cm x 50 cm, image 45 cm x 39 cm. Note: See Altermann Galeries Auction July 2004 for a similar portrait sold $332,500, Provenance: Sold by the artist to Mrs Evenlyn E McCullough (Mountain Centre, Riverside Co, California. Then given to Bette Davis in 1949 who later gave to Richard Challis (Laguna Beach).
Nicolai Fechin (Russian, 1881-1955) Girl with White Headscarf, c. late 1920s oil on canvas laid down to Masonite signed N. Fechin (lower right) The present Lot will be on view at Freeman's Upper East Side galleries located at 32 E. 67th St in New York from April 20-29, 10am-5pm. Masonite: 17 7/8 x 14 7/8 in. (45.4 x 37.8cm) / canvas: 15 1/4 x 12 5/8 in. (38.7 x 32.1cm) Property from the Stimmel Family Collection, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Painting done in the manner of Nikolai Fechin (Russian/American, 1881-1955) signed oil painting portrait of a woman. Size: 25 X 20.5" framed Condition: Very fine
Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955) | Daisies in a Glass Vase Oil on Canvas Signed: Signed lower right in his characteristic bold, red cursive: “N. Fechin”. Dimensions: Artwork: 44 × 30 cm | 17.3 × 11.8 in Provenance: Private collection, Philadelphia, USA; Private collection, Germany; Acquired from the above by the current owner. Condition: Good vintage condition; features the artist’s signature heavy impasto and “dry” paint application; stable paint layers with minor surface craquelure consistent with age; original wooden stretcher with traditional corner keys. Conditions of Sale: All lots are sold as is. See Section 4 of our Terms and Conditions for return policy. All inquiries must be made prior to bidding, as no further details can be provided after the sale. By placing a bid, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms and Conditions in full. Shipping: Aurora & Athena does not provide in-house shipping. The successful buyer arranges shipping directly with a company of their choice. For shipments outside the EU, Spanish export tax may apply to certain higher-value artworks; no export tax applies within the EU. Any such tax is payable by the buyer. Please refer to our Shipping & Export Information page for further details. -- This radiant still life is a masterclass in the technical brilliance that made Nicolai Fechin one of the most respected painters of the 20th century. The composition features a lush bouquet of white daisies set against a moody, atmospheric background of deep teals and charcoal greys. Fechin’s approach to the floral subject is far from delicate; he utilizes a palette knife and broad, sweeping brushstrokes to build a sculptural surface. The white petals are rendered with a thick, buttery impasto that catches the light, while the centers of the flowers are punctuated with vibrant dabs of golden yellow and orange. The background is treated with a “scumbled” technique, where thin layers of paint are dragged over the canvas to create a sense of vibrating air and depth. This work captures the energy and “controlled chaos” that defined Fechin’s best work, balancing the elegance of the subject with a raw, modern intensity.
Title is Carmelita. 4 1/2" by 4 1/8" by 3 1/4". 44/50. Comes with matched book, which is signed by Eya Fechin. Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin (1881 - 1955) was active/lived in New Mexico, California / Russian Federation. Nicolai Fechin is known for Portrait, figure and genre painting, wood carving. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of America's foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. He spent his childhood in the Volga Forest and learned wood carving from his father who worked with metals and wood as a craftsman. When he was 13, Fechin enrolled with a scholarship at the Kazan Art School, founded by his grandfather, and six years later, he began study at the Imperial Academy of Art in St. Petersburg. There he was a student of Ilya E. Repin, who tried to make his students aware of social evils and to reflect the realities of Russian life in their art work. Architecture was also a required part of the curriculum. Fechin was highly influenced by Repin, who asserted that artists' work should be motivated by the idea of conveying morality and literal truth rather than just aesthetics. A second teacher, Malavin, taught him to use wide, nervous-seeming brush strokes and to use his fingers in the paint to achieve a sense of texture. After graduation from the Academy, Fechin was a teacher at the Kazan Art School, and also studied at the Imperial Academy of Art in Petrograd, which became Leningrad. Excelling there, he earned scholarship money to study in Paris and throughout Europe, and he was glad to leave Russia because of suffering deprivation during the Bolshevik Revolution. In Europe, he was fascinated by the Impressionists' manner of breaking up color, and he experimented with this style and with painting with a palette knife. Very poor, he and his wife, Alexandra Belkovitch, and baby daughter, Eya, emigrated to America in 1923, something his wife insisted they do. Helped by wealthy sponsors, the family settled in Central Park in New York City where he struggled for a while to find work. Meanwhile he painted the variety of ethnic subjects he saw around him and was especially fascinated by black-skinned people. He taught at the New York Academy of Art until he gained gallery recognition, and his skills for portraiture became so well known that many upper class persons including novelist Willa Cather sought him out to do their portraits. During the summers, the family traveled west including to California, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. When Fechin's suffering from tuberculosis became quite troublesome, his artist friends, John Young-Hunter and his wife, Mary, persuaded him to join them and their circle of friends in the drier climate of Taos, New Mexico. The Fechins stayed with former New Yorker Mabel Dodge Luhan for several months and felt comfortable in a community of adobe architecture and Indians that reminded him of Tartars of Kazan. Describing her father's reaction to this environment, his daughter, Eya, later wrote: "He loved the place. He had found an American 'home'. He said the Taos mountains reminded him of the beauty he had seen in Siberia. He painted with fervor. He felt particularly close to the Indians and his greatest American works were of Indians." (Balcomb xi-xii) He built the family home around a previous structure, and inspired by Russian folk art, crafted much of the furniture using pinon fireplace logs . He also did intricate carving on the interior beams, columns and doors as well as the furniture. In Taos, he was a hard-working man who did not socialize much but did numerous portraits of Indians, Mexicans and cowboys. These paintings are regarded as among his best work because of the exotic subject matter, high degree of modeling of the faces, and forceful, intense coloration. He also did impressionist wood sculpture. In 1927, stormy divorce proceedings with his wife caused him to leave Taos. He and his daughter, Eya, went to New York briefly, and in 1936, about six months later, to California on the invitation from Los Angeles art dealer, Earl Stendahl, to have art shows and teach classes. For the next ten years, Fechin and Eya lived near each other in the Hollywood Hills. Fechin was well received, and his spirits picked up with his popularity among his students and the sales of his artwork. Bob Wagner in his magazine "Critic" wrote in the May 12, 1934 issue: "The first Nicolai Fechin canvas I ever saw nearly put me on my back---such color and brilliancy of technique!. . .what I saw convinces me that this Russian is one of the great artists of all time." (Balcomb xiii) From California, Fechin traveled to Mexico, Japan, Java and Bali, which he loved and where he spent considerable time, but the damp climate caused him illness. In the mid 1940s, Eya married, became a performing modern dancer and dance therapist, and then moved around, living in Colorado, New Mexico, and then in Iowa where she opened a psychodrama department in a state mental hospital. After some years, she divorced, remarried, and moved back to California. Meanwhile, left alone with a big house, Fechin decided at the urging of Eya to buy his Santa Monica studio property. There, according to his daughter, he was content and social "in contrast to his withdrawn silent attitude towards people in the past." (Balcomb xvi) Shortly before he died in Santa Monica on October 5, 1955, he was persuaded by his biggest collector and good friend, John Burnham, to have a simultaneous retrospective at the art museums in San Diego and La Jolla. The events were huge successes and a chance for Fechin to see canvases he had not seen for many years. After the death of Nicolai Fechin, his former wife and daughter lived in the family home in Taos. In 1981, Eya Fechin Branham spearheaded the formation of the Fechin Institute, a non-profit, educational organization headquartered in the house. An extensive collection of his work is housed there. Also the Stark Museum in Orange, Texas has over 50 Fechin paintings as well as some of his wood carvings.
Nikolay FESHIN (1881-1955) ; Still-life with a wildfowl & lemons ; 1st half of the 20th century ; oil n canvas - unframed ; dimensions 44 x 63 cm (17 1/3 x 24 7/8 in.) ; signed lower left corner ; Shipping to USA: DHL - $250 / National post with tracking service - $120 ; Shipping to Europe, Russia, Middle Assia: DHL - $150 / National post with tracking service - $65
[IN THE STYLE OF] FECHIN, Nicolai Ivanovich (Russian, 1881-1955) Untitled. (Female Portrait). Pastel on wove paper. Signed lower right. Examined out of frame. Paper is 15 ½ x 12“and is folded over. On left side the vertical is folded over an extra ½” and on right side paper is folded over an extra 1 ¼”. The bottom edge is free and the top edge is under the mat. Adhesive tape is holding down the mat over the top edge of drawing and too unclear to open it up any further, as we would not want to tear the paper. Good condition. Frame (glass) 22 x 19 x ¾”.
Nicolai Fechin 1881 - 1955 Portrait of Eya signed Fechin (lower right) oil on canvas 21 ½ by 21 ¾ in. 54.6 by 54.6 cm. Executed circa 1924. We wish to thank Galina Tuluzakova for her assistance in researching this lot.
NICOLAI FECHIN (1881-1955) Carmen (Head of a Girl) signed with initials 'N.F.' (lower right) charcoal on laid paper sheet 18 x 13 1/4 in. (45.7 x 33.6 cm.)
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin 1881 - 1955 Indian Head bronze, edition 6 of 20 inscribed: N. FECHIN 6/20 cast by Hammer Galleries at Roman Bronze Works from the original plaster model
An oil painting on paper depicting a female portrait. Signed Nicolai Fechin lower right. Matted and framed. Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955, was a Russian American painter known for his portraits and works featuring Native Americans. After graduating with the highest marks from the Imperial Academy of Arts and traveling in Europe under a Prix de Rome, he returned to his native Kazan, where he taught and painted. Portrait Paintings And Art Collectibles.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955, pencil painting on paper depicting a portrait of a man with glasses. Signed with initials, lower right. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. One of a kind artwork.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955, pencil painting on paper depicting a portrait of a woman. Signed with initials, lower right. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. One of a kind artwork.
A mixed media painting on paper depicting a portrait of a woman after Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955. Signed, N. Fechin, lower right. Framed. Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955, was a Russian American painter known for his portraits and works featuring Native Americans. After graduating with the highest marks from the Imperial Academy of Arts and traveling in Europe under a Prix de Rome, he returned to his native Kazan, where he taught and painted. Portrait Paintings And Art Collectibles. One of a kind artwork.
A pastel painting on paper depicting a portrait of a Balinese womsn in the manner of Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955. Signed, N. Fechin, lower right. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. One of a kind artwork. LOT CONDITION & DESCRIPTION: All items are sold "as is". The auction house does not warrant authenticity on any specific piece. THERE ARE NO RETURNS. We can only offer an opinion and the material facts about the item. It is up to the buyer to determine authenticity before bidding and purchasing an item. If we state facts about gold or silver content or weight, it is sold as fact...
In manner of Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955, mixed media painting on paper depicting a portrait of a man. Signed with initials, to the center right. Framed. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. Modern Fine Art, Male Portrait Paintings, and Collectibles. One of a kind artwork.
Charcoal on paper drawing by Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955, a Russian-American artist, and student of Ilya Repin and Filipp Malyavin who became America's foremost ethnic portrait painter. The artwork depicts a female portrait. Signed with initials in the bottom middle. Undated. Golden frame. Collectible Mid Century Graphic Art, Portraiture.
NIKOLAV FESHIN / NICOLAI FECHIN (AMERICAN 1881-1955) 'Tiger Girl - Taos, New Mexico, October 1927', portrait of a girl with a shawl, oil on board, inscribed verso, label verso in original frame, 18" x 16" (46cm x 41cm) Provenance - Sold by the Artist to Evelyn McCullough of Riverside County, California. Then gifted to, her friend, the Actress Bette Davis in 1949, who then Gifted to her friend Richard Bracebridge Challis (Respected Art Gallery Owner) of Laguna Beach, then gifted to his nephew Christopher Challis Owen Serjeant in 2014.
An oil painting on canvas depicting a cityscape. Signed Nicolai Fechin lower right. Framed. Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955, was a Russian-American painter known for his portraits and works featuring Native Americans. After graduating with the highest marks from the Imperial Academy of Arts and traveling in Europe under a Prix de Rome, he returned to his native Kazan, where he taught and painted. Cityscape Paintings And Art Collectibles.
An oil painting on canvas depicting a female portrait. Signed Nicolai Fechin lower right. Framed. Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955, was a Russian-American painter known for his portraits and works featuring Native Americans. After graduating with the highest marks from the Imperial Academy of Arts and traveling in Europe under a Prix de Rome, he returned to his native Kazan, where he taught and painted. Portrait Paintings And Art Collectibles.
A portfolio of 14 portrait charcoal drawings and lithographs by Nicolai Fechin. Northridge House, 1946. Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955, a Russian American artist, and student of Ilya Repin and Filipp Malyavin who became Americas foremost ethnic portrait painter. Collectible Mid Century Graphic Art, Portraiture.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955, pencil painting on paper depicting a portrait of a man with a pipe, 1952. Signed and dated, lower right. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. One of a kind artwork.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955, pencil painting on paper depicting a portrait of a man with g;lasses. Signed with initials, lower right. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. One of a kind artwork.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955, pencil painting on paper depicting a portrait of a woman. Signed with initials, lower right. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. One of a kind artwork.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin Russian, American, 1881 to 1955, pencil painting on paper depicting a portrait of a Balinese Girl. Signed and probably dated, lower right. Nikolai Ivanovich Fechin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of impressionism and modernity. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost ethnic portrait painters during the early 20th century. One of a kind artwork.
A portfolio of 14 portrait charcoal drawings and lithographs by Nicolai Fechin. Northridge House, 1946. Nicolai Fechin, 1881 to 1955, a Russian American artist, and student of Ilya Repin and Filipp Malyavin who became Americas foremost ethnic portrait painter. Collectible Mid Century Graphic Art, Portraiture.
NICOLAI IVANOVICH FECHIN (Russian/American1881-1955) Portrait of Sasha -1909 Oil on board Inscribed on verso in Cyrillic "Ник. Фешин этюд 'Саша', 1909" (Nik. Fechin Color sketch Sasha 1909) 9.8 inches x 7 inches (24.8cm x 17.8cm) Provenance: Private US collection SHIPPING NOTICE: Except for large, oversized items, Jackson's is your sole and only source for one stop packing and shipping. With over 50 years of experience, our professional, affordable and efficient in-house shipping department will be happy to provide you a fair and reasonable shipping quote on this lot. Simply email us before the auction for a quick quote: shipping@jacksonsauction.com or call 1-800-665-6743. Jackson's can expertly pack and ship to meet any of your needs. To ensure quality control Jackson's DOES NOT generally release to third party shippers, with the exception being large, oversized items.
Nikolai Ivanovich Feshin, Russian, 1881 to 1955, charcoal on paper female portrait painting. Signed with initials lower right by the artist. Matted and framed. Nikolai Ivanovich Feshin is a Russian and American artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor, carver, representative of Impressionism and Modernism. Born in Russia in Kazan on the banks of the Volga River, Nicolai Fechin became one of Americas foremost portrait painters during the early 20th century. Antique Portraits Paintings And Russian Art Collectibles. One of a kind artwork.
Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin (1881-1955) Self-Portrait oil on canvas 14.75 x 11.5 inches 22.75 x 20.5 inches (frame) stamped lower right: N. Fechin verso: titled on stretcher Nicolai Ivanovich Fechin, born in Kazan, Russia, was renowned for his portraits. Raised in the Volga Forest amidst Tartar tribes, Fechin overcame a near-fatal illness at four. At thirteen, he earned a scholarship to the Art School of Kazan, later studying under Ilya Repin at the Imperial Academy of Art in St. Petersburg. Fechin's palette-knife technique gained acclaim in Europe and America, and after fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution, he settled in Taos, New Mexico in 1927, capturing the essence of Southwestern life through vivid portraits. It was in Taos where Nicolai designed and built his masterpiece of a homestead, with beautiful carved details reminiscent of Russia yet perfectly blended with the native pueblo architecture of New Mexico. The home still stands as a museum today, donated by his daughter Eya Fechin Branham in 1981. This painting, a self-portrait once owned by Fechin’s daughter Eya, provides an intimate view of Nicolai Fechin and is listed in Harold McCracken’s 1961 catalogue of the artist’s works. A smaller version of this self-portrait hangs in the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House.
Nikolai Fechin (Russian, 1881-1955) Portrait of artist's daughther Eya signed 'N.Fechin' (lower right) oil on canvas laid to board 37.4 x 33.6cm (14 3/4 x 13 1/4in).
Nikolai Fechin (Russian, 1881-1955) Portrait of Mademoiselle Ducter signed and dated 'N. Fechin 25' (lower right); further inscribed 'Mlle. Ducter' (on stretcher) oil on canvas 76.2 x 63.5cm (30 x 25in).
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