Il'ia Efimovich Repin (a firma di)

(1844 - 1930)

The painting comes from the important art collection of Boris Hristov ( known in the West as Boris Christoff), an unforgettable Bulgarian bass who perfected himself and spent most of his life in Italy. A multifaceted man, he was a passionate bibliophile and great collector of ancient books, paintings and silver. 

Part of his collection was donated to the National Academy of Santa Cecilia (some paintings are currently available at the MUSA); other works, including the one presented here, were donated by his wife Franca De Rensis Christoff to the current owner.

The canvas, which was purchased by the singer around the '70s of the twentieth century (document of which no documentation is preserved), bears a label on the reverse with the transcription of what, most likely, it could be found on the back of the canvas, now superimposed on a plywood board. Written in the characters of the Cyrillic alphabet in use before the Revolution, it seems to indicate the place where Repin would have painted the picture (in the country manor "Zdravneno", near Vitebsk, purchased by the painter in 1892) and the title of the work, which should represent the Master's daughter in the countryside. 

Similarities can be found with the painting entitled "Young ladies out for a walk among the cow" dated 1896 and now preserved at the Kiev National Museum of Russian Art. 

The experts of Ilya E. Repin Estate-Museum 'Penates', to whose attention the canvas was submitted, declared that they could not express opinions of any kind on the basis of the photographic documentation sent alone.