AFTER JEAN-BAPTISTE LE PRINCE (1734-1781) Three peasants on market-day

Two peasants pulling a sleigh laden with fish pencil, watercolour on paper 21 x 27.3 cm (each) Provenance: Christie's London, Russian Pictures, 30 November 2005, lot 3. Private collection Jean-Baptiste Le Prince arrived in Saint Petersburg in 1758, then set off to explore the Russian heartland. He visited Moscow, Livonia (a region near the Baltic Sea), Finland, and even ventured as far as Western Siberia. The numerous drawings of people, costumes and landscapes he produced during this journey would serve him well throughout his career as a painter. He also brought back various objects and items of clothing typical of Russia. After four years in Russia, he left Saint Petersburg in 1762.