Due to the Russian genealogy web-site geni.com Vera Ivanovna Malama-Sinelnikova (1854 - 1908), famous noble lady in Ekaterinoslav of the time, was the grand-granddaughter of Ivan Maksimovich Sinelnikov , well-known Russian statesman and military, Major General, ruler Yekaterinoslav governorship in 1784-1788, a companion to Prince Gregory Potemkin. Her husband Vladimir Malama came also from famous Russian noble family Malama, which is connected to the Ruthenian Hetman Daniel Apostol and also establishes a relationship with the Count of K.G.Razumovsky, the last Hetman of Ruthenia/Malorossia.

But back to the motif of this first painting.

According to the memory back label inscription of the grandson the painting depicts "Ekaterineskaja Rock and Nenasytenskie riffles on the river Dnieper in the estate Nikolaevskoe of my grandmother Vera Malama".

Since in the same inscription by grandson's hand was translated into Italian and the last owner of the paintings was also an Italian family, it could be assumed that the provenance of these paintings was as following:

The author Mikhail Alisov painted them in the order of Vera Malama, and they were taken by her from the revolutionary Russia abroad and later was inherited by her grandson, who settled in Italy.

To the proof of this conclusion you can see the quotation from the Russian Wikipedia about the history of this noble estate of Vera Malama (see in Russian the following link: https://ru.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Малама):

"... Vera Ivanovna Malama, as great-granddauther of General Sinelnikov, was inherited the estate Nikolaevskoe, which was gifted by Empress Catherine II to her great grandfather. The estate was on the shore of Dnieper at Nenasytenskih Rapids (riffles). Catherine II, travelling to Kherson, visited this estate and stayed in a specially constructed temporary palace in the same name. From the Rock of the Monasteries, Her Majesty enjoying the riffles and the way pilots conduct the Royal Flotilla through the thresholds. The Rock was re-named after the Empress "Ekaterininskaja Skala"... In this estate there were many things that belonged to the Hetman Daniel Apostol: two ivory and black tree pins, painted inlaid and precious stones, Hetman saddle and Zhupan, caftan, weapons, and a friend. A lot of family portraits, a lot of antique crews, by the way, a ruler that drove the entourage of the Empress of Catherine II of Ekaterinoslav in the estate Nikolaevskoe during the journey of Empress in Kherson. The palace and the museum lived safely before the 1917 revolution, and according to some information, Vera Malama succeeded in leaving Russia, rescuing with herself many relics".

Alisov Mikhail Alexandrovich (1859 (Kharkiv)-1933 (Yalta). Landscape- and seascape painter.

From 1887 to 1889, he studied at the Petersburg Academy of Arts by J.Klever. He then moved to Crimea, where he worked and studied in Feodosiya by Ivan Ajvazovski. His main canvas is devoted to the types of Crimea, as well as Kharkiv: for example, "Yalta", "Feodosia Cove", "Fog" (all 1889), "Uda near the Base" (1900), "Rail linen" (1902) and others.

In 1900 Alisov was at the exhibition of an art mug in Astrakhan; In 1910, at the exhibition of the artistic and performing society in Yekaterinoslav. In 1914, he appeared as a founding member and an exponent of an art circle in Yalta. His personal life exhibitions are known three: In 1900, 1902, 1903, they all went to Kharkov in the framework of the partnership of Kharkov artists.

The typical work of an artist is "Crimea." "The Coast of the Sea" (late 19th century). Quiet, emerging day on the shore of Crimean Bay is served through soft, muted tones. In the gamut of colors, there's a lot of blue: the Sea mirrors the sky. The rocky shore and trail along the sea are deserted. In the manner of an artist, the ways in which the water is depicted are influenced by the Aivazovskys.

Paintings by the artist are stored in Kharkov, Tula, Nizhny Novgorod, Dnepropetrovsk Art museums, and the Sevastopol art gallery.

Images of paintings by Alisov from Museum of Ukrainian Fine Art in Dnepro / Dnepropetrovsk see on following link:

http://museum.net.ua/hudognik/alisov-mihail-aleksandrovich/

Provenance: former estate of Vera Ivanovna Malama-Sinelnikov, estate Nikolaevskoe by Yekaterinoslav /now Dnipropetrovsk; then the property of her grandson / Italy, later, in 2014 purchased by us from a Italian private estate ( copy of export documents of Italian culture ministry for the last owner attached to the painting). Literature: Solovjev "Russian painters of 18th-20th cwnturies", 2005; Kondakoff "Aniverssary book of the St. Petersburg Academy 1764-1914; Dictionary of Ukrainian artists (in Ukrainian)" , Ukrainian encyclopedia Edition, Kiew, 1973; in on-line: Wikipedia and artinvestment.ru (both in Russian). Inscription: signed in Old-Russian and dated on the stone lower left: "M.Alisov, 1906", on the back of canvas - old label in Russian and Italian with original memory inscription of the grandson of the previous owner: "Ekaterineskaja Rock and Nenasytenskie riffles on the river Dnieper in the estate Nikolaevskoe of my grandmother Vera Malama". Technique: oil on canvas, original period gold-plated frame. Measurements: unframed w 18 1/4" x h 12 1/4" ((46,5 x 31 cm ), framed 24" x h 18" ( 61 x 45,5 cm ) Condition: in good original condition.