Irene Klestova (Polish/Russian 1908-1989) Still Life of Red, Pink and White Roses in a Vase. Oil on board, Signed lower left. Mounted in a gilt wood frame with fabric slip; 22.5cm x 18cm (9” x 7”) sight (visible painting) size 36cm x 31cm (14” x 12”) outside frame size.

CONDITION: In ready to hang condition, with no restoration or retouching visible under ultraviolet light. There is a small dirt mark visible just above the white rose. Most of this has been removed since the photographs were taken. The frame is also in excellent condition.

PROVENANCE: Purchased from the Unicorn Gallery by the previous owner in 1975.

BIOGRAPHY: Irene Klestova, nee Tchistovski, was born in 1908 of Polish/Russian stock. With her brother, Lew Tchistovski, she left Russia during the Bolshevik revolution. Although little is known of their lives, both went on to establish fine reputations as still life painters and gained some of the most prestigious awards in Leningrad.

Irene was married and lived in Italy for over twenty years before moving to Paris in the 1950's to live again with her brother, where both exhibited regularly at the Salon d'Hiver and the Salon des Artistes Independents.

The outstanding quality of Irene's painting, her distinctive style and depth of colour and particularly the charm of her still life paintings of roses, is marked by the admiration it has drawn both during and since her lifetime.