Auguste Raffet, Arrivée à Kicheneff (Bessarabie), 1er Août 1837, 1839

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Lithograph on papier vélin, realized in 1839. Signed and dated in the plate. Image dimension: 16x33 cm. Printed by Gihaut … Read more Lithograph on papier vélin, realized in 1839. Signed and dated in the plate. Image dimension: 16x33 cm. Printed by Gihaut Frères, Paris. Good overall; moderate scattered foxing (especially in the margins), some even toning consistent with age. The printed image is clean and well-preserved. This evocative 19th-century lithograph by Auguste Raffet depicts the dramatic night-time arrival of an official convoy at Chi?inau (then known as Kicheneff, in Bessarabia, part of the Russian Empire at the time) on 1 August 1837. The composition shows a coach flanked by mounted guards and torchbearers, galloping across the darkened landscape. Raffet masterfully contrasts the flickering torchlight with deep shadows, creating an atmospheric, almost theatrical scene. The rendering captures both the grandeur and tension of ceremonial travel in the Russian provinces during the 1830s. This print is part of Raffet’s celebrated travel series documenting his journeys through Russia and Eastern Europe, notable for their rare first-hand depictions of military and civil life. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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