#Russia

Valentin Serov, Russian Master of Portraits

Valentin Serov (1865–1911), was a student of Ilya Repin, and heir to the best traditions of the Russian realistic school. From the very beginning...

Elizaveta Ermakova 17 February 2021

Rococo

Smolyanki: The Nymphs of Russian Enlightenment

The Russian empress Catherine the Great aspired to Enlightenment ideas that propagate human intellectual power. Numerous tracts, essays, and books of...

Guest Profile 8 February 2021

Russian History through the Eyes of Vasily Surikov

In the 19th century Russia historical painting was freed from formality and canons. We find a good example of this in the work of Vasily Surikov...

Elizaveta Ermakova 18 January 2021

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Princess Olga Orlova by Valentin Serov

Late Tsarist Russia evokes images of great social inequality in respect of health, wealth, and happiness. In addition, it evokes images of extreme...

James W Singer 17 January 2021

Masterpiece Stories

Painting of the Week: Firs Zhuravlev, A Fashionista Wife

Firs Zhuravlev’s realistic paintings show all aspects of Russian life. And we can imagine the scene from the picture A Fashionista Wife in the...

Elizaveta Ermakova 20 September 2020

Rococo

The Government Venus: Top Five Portraits of Elisabeth of Russia

Elisabeth of Russia (1709-1761) was the most beautiful empress from the Romanov dynasty. Contemporaries called her “the sparkle of Peter the...

Guest Profile 12 August 2020

Sotheby’s 1988 Auction. A Turning Point for Unofficial Moscow Artists

Perestroika and reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev affected all spheres of life in Russia. As a result, unofficial artists in Moscow felt the full...

Elizaveta Ermakova 27 June 2020

Rococo

Ivan VI of Russia: The Baby Emperor

Ivan VI of Russia (Ivan Antonovich) was the youngest Russian tsar in history. He was proclaimed emperor when only two months old, and his 22-year-old...

Guest Profile 3 June 2020

Art Travels

Roman Holidays: Italian Landscapes Through the Eyes of Russian Artists

It is well known that Italy is a motherland of world masterpieces. Renaissance paintings, baroque architecture and Italian opera are the children of...

Guest Profile 23 April 2020

Museum Stories

Around the world with the National Portrait Gallery – P.5 Europe

The National Portrait Gallery in London is due to close its doors from 29 June 2020. The Inspiring People gallery redevelopment works will take three...

Joanna Kaszubowska 24 February 2020