Nicolas Louis de Lespinasse (French, 1734-1808) One of the first views of the Russian city of Ek...

Nicolas Louis de Lespinasse (French, 1734-1808) One of the first views of the Russian city of Ekaterinburg since it was founded signed with Latin initials (lower left) pen, ink, whitewash and watercolour on paper with original wash-line mount 26.5 x 37cm (10 7/16 x 14 9/16in). circa 1770s Footnotes: Provenance Private collection, UK The engraving of this view is presented in the publication by LE CLERC, Nicolas Gabriel (1726-1798) Atlas for Histoire physique, morale, civile et politique de la Russie. Paris and Versailles: Froullé and Blaizot [1783-1794]. The cityscapes of major Russian cities, meticulously painted by the artist Nicolas Louis de Lespinasse and featured in the renowned Le Clerc's Atlas publication, garnered widespread fame and admiration across Europe during that era. In the second half of the 18th century, these images were certainly among the first and most reliable, as they reflected the peculiarities of the landscape and ethnographic features of the local population's dress, which corresponded to the perception of Russia as an exotic country. Present view of Ekaterinburg was the visual reference for the image of Giulio Ferrario's work 'Il costume antic o e modero, o, storia.... di tutti i popoli antichi e moderni. Asia, vol. IV. Milan, 1818' entitled 'Yekaterinburg: View of the City of Yekaterinburg, based on engravings by Johann Berkhahn and Nicolas de Lespinas'. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing