Plato Cornelius Ustinov (1903-1990) - Autoportrait

Self-portrait of Plato Cornelius Ustinov (1903–1990)
Lot Description:
We propose a fascinating self-portrait by Plato Cornelius Ustinov, a work that testifies to the talent and artistic path of an eclectic author deeply tied to the European tradition of the early twentieth century. Dated 1937, the piece reveals an introspective sensitivity and a technical mastery typical of the artist’s academic training.

Artist Biographical Note
Plato Cornelius Ustinov (1903–1990), often known as "Tonchik", was born in Jerusalem into a family of illustrious lineage and international breadth. Son of Baron Plato Grigorievich von Ustinov and member of the famous Ustinov family (uncle of actor Sir Peter Ustinov), Plato grew up in a lively intellectual environment.

His training reflects the cultural openness typical of the European elite of the era: he studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Art in Stuttgart and later at the École Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris. This solid background allowed him to develop a rigorous and versatile style, which led him to move to Canada in 1927.

In Vancouver, Ustinov became a prominent figure in the local art scene, distinguishing himself as a teacher of painting and life drawing at the Vancouver School of Art. His career was full of successes: he was a member of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts (of which he was president from 1951 to 1953) and of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. In 1935 he was awarded the prestigious Beatrice Stone Medal for the quality of his work, confirming himself as one of the brightest talents in the region.

Besides painting, Ustinov has always cultivated technical and artisanal interests — working during the war in the metallurgical sector — which enriched his formal sensibility, often directed toward the representation of the human figure and everyday reality with an analytical and deep eye.

Artwork Details
Author: Plato Cornelius Ustinov (1903-1990)
Subject: Self-portrait
Year: 1937
provenance: The work carries a label on the back indicating a gift to Sir Peter Ustinov from Doris and Henri Alko, underlining the family link between the artist and the famous actor.
The frame if visible in the photo is included in the lot as a pure gift from me and is not part of the sale, it does not determine the value and, due to its delicacy, is not insured. Consequently, any defects already present on the frame are not reported and any damage it may suffer during transit will not be considered for claims or returns.

Shipping and Customs Notes
The item will be shipped from Geneva, Switzerland. For this reason, delivery times to European Union countries might be slightly longer than usual due to standard customs clearance procedures.

I would also remind you that, since Switzerland lies outside the EU customs area, import taxes, local VAT, and customs duties are the full responsibility of the buyer and will be requested by your country's authorities upon delivery. I recommend informing yourself in advance to avoid surprises. Alternatively to shipping, if you have the possibility, in-person pickup in Geneva is always the option I prefer and strongly recommend, as it will eliminate transport costs and ensure the utmost safety for the work. If shipping is chosen, I will do my best to package it to protect the painting during the journey.