Next week, a bronze cast of the death mask of the renowned Soviet singer-songwriter and actor Vladimir Vysotsky will be auctioned in Monaco, as reported by the international auction house, Hermitage Fine Art.
This item is part of an extensive collection that includes over 200 pieces of Russian and Eastern European art from the 19th century. The auction is set to take place both in person and online next Tuesday.
The bronze cast comes from the collection of Vysotsky’s widow, French actress Marina Vlady, and is estimated to fetch between 100,000 and 120,000 euros (approximately $115,700 to $138,800).
The original plaster mask was crafted by Soviet sculptor Yury Vasilyev, with Vlady overseeing the process on the day of Vysotsky’s passing, July 25, 1980. It is known that two additional bronze casts were made from the original plaster mold.
In her memoir published in 2005, Vlady recounted how she had asked “a sculptor friend” to create a lasting likeness of her husband.
“Some perceive this practice as macabre, while others may be startled to see such an artifact displayed,” she noted, alluding to Vysotsky’s own ownership of the death mask of poet Alexander Pushkin.
Vysotsky, who passed away at the age of 42 after battling alcoholism, became a cultural icon in the Soviet Union due to his powerful songs that addressed themes of freedom and everyday struggles, as well as his celebrated performances in theater and film. His deep voice and poignant lyrics still resonate in Russia, even decades following his death.
