ALEXANDER DIMITREIVICH SOFRONOFF (RUSSIA AND CEYLON, 1901-1948) Native huts and characters in Ceylon Oil on cardboard Signed on the lower right Bears a label on the back: ‘Framed by Victor Waddington Galleries Art Dealers Picture Framers 8 South Anne Street Dublin no 66281’ Framed with a glass 31 x 45 cm Provenance (according to label): Victor Waddington Galleries, an art dealer located at 8 South Anne Street, Dublin, Ireland. Note: Alexander Sofronoff was a Russian painter trained as an artist in Yekaterinburg. When the Russian Revolution broke out, Sofronoff had to flee the country. In 1922, Sofronoff traveled on the Trans-Siberian railway to Manchuria where he found safe haven in Harbin and made a living as a set designer. In 1936, at the onset of the Second Sino-Japanese war, Sofronoff sailed to Ceylon as a theatrical scene painter with the Shanghai Russian Ballet Company. Sofronoff found life in Ceylon to his liking and found employment at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo as the resident decorative artiste. He soon became popular amongst the British community who commissioned him to do portraits of their families and taught painting, one of his students being the well-known Ceylonese landscape artist Donald Ramanayake. NOTE: CONDITION REPORTS AND MEASUREMENTS It is up to the bidder to satisfy themselves prior to buying as to the condition of a lot. In relation to Condition Reports, whilst we make certain observations on the lot, which are intended to be as helpful as possible, references in the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. The condition report is an expression of opinion only and must not be treated as a statement of fact. Measurements and weight are approximate and the potential bidder may re-ask it to be checked when asking for a condition report.