Grigori GAGARINE (Saint Petersburg 1810 - Châtellerault 1893) Cossacks bivouacking in the Caucasus at the foot of Mount Elbrus Watercolor over black pencil lines Handwritten annotation on verso in Russian: "I certify that the present watercolor "Caucasian landscape" represents an authentic work by a great Russian artist G.G.Gagarina (1810-1893), Alexandre Benois, Paris, 1948". 17.3 x 31 cm (Slightly darkened, small stains) Provenance: Possibly former Alexandre Benois collection Grigori Gagarin was a Russian prince, officer, diplomat, patron of the arts and, above all, court painter to His Imperial Majesty. He was part of Prince Chernichiov's expedition to Dagestan, where he served in the dragoons until 1848. His bravery earned him decorations and the rank of cavalry captain, then colonel. Our drawing may also have belonged to Alexandre Benois (Saint Petersburg 1870 - Paris 1960), another great Russian artist, best known for his sets and costumes for the Opéra and Comédie française. He left Russia for good in 1926 and settled in Paris, where he died.