LONDON.- Ilya Repin’s magnificent A Parisian Café will lead Christie’s forthcoming Russian sale, which will take place on Monday 6 June in London. Painted in 1875, the work depicts a lively French café scene and represents a daring deviation from Repin’s celebrated Russian subjects. The picture was exhibited at the 1875 Parisian salon and is extensively recorded in the literature on the artist. It was acquired by the present owner’s grandfather, who was personally acquainted with Repin, in 1916 and appears now on the market for the first time in almost a century. It will be offered with an estimate of £3-5 million. The sale will also include Repin’s Parisian sketch-book (estimate: £150,000-250,000), which contains over 120 exquisite drawings, including more than 70 preparatory sketches for A Parisian Café. Four more lots of Repin’s preparatory works for A Parisian Café will be offered aft
