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Biography of Alexander Ljubimov (1879-1955), Russian Artist
Alexander Ljubimov (1879-1955)
Biography Paintings
Graphics
Caricatures
The life and art of Alexander Ljubimov, spanned more than half a century.
Himself a student of the famous Ilja Repin, Ljubimov was known as one of
the great Russian artists and teachers of his time.
He was born on February 25, 1879 in the village of Paltsevo in the Kursk
region. His father was a nobleman, and his mother, a peasant. At the age
of 14 his family was executed and he was relocated to St. Petersburg. There,
he began his art education. His first 3 years were spent in the School
of Drawing of Baron Shtiglits, followed by the then called Drawing School
of the Society for the Encouragement of Applied Arts.
In 1901 he was sent to the prestigious Russian Academy of Art. After
taking only two classes he was assigned to study under one of the most
outstanding Russian artists of the time, Ilja Repin. While in Repin's studio
Ljubimov had the privilege to study alongside other now famous Russian
artists such as Feshin, Brodcky, Gorelov, and others. Ljubimov, earning
great favor from the teacher, eventually became known as the *best and
favorite pupil of Repin". |
1) Repin, 2) Ljubimov, 3) Feshin |
Pustovoit, 1904 |
Ljubimov |
| His first serious painting was a portrait of the actor
Pustovoit. Ljubimov worked in both painting and in graphic arts. He was
hired as a staff artist for the magazine "Theatre and Art" where he was
a regular contributor from from 1900 through 1912. During that time, while
working in the field of theatrical portraits, he painted some of the best
known performers of the time including: Vrubel, Golovin, and Korovin. |
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*Signal*  |
In 1905-1907, during the
first Russian revolution, he worked as an illustrator alongside the artists
Brodsky and Feshin for several anti-government magazines such as "Volnitsa",
"Signal", and "Infernal Mail". |
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Gipsy Woman (1906) |
In 1906 Ljubimov painted his famous "Gipsy Woman" which
received great acclaim from the council of the Academy. In 1907, after
Repin left the Academy, Ljubimov began studying under the great artist
Chistjakov. Under Chistjakov's direction Ljubimov created a masterpiece
entitled Kain that finally earned him his Academy degree and the
official title of "artist". In 1912 he began working as the director and
as a teacher in an art school in the city Kharkov (in the Ukraine). |
| Sadly, the majority of his beautiful period landscapes
and portraits that were produced during this period were lost during the
revolutionary war. In 1919, during Russia's Civil War, the artist worked
in an artist's organization called "ROST" where he mingled with other
known Russian artists such as Lansere, Kochergin, and Ivanov. The organization
was primarily charged with the creation of propaganda art and they worked
in the cities of Rostov, Baku, Kislovodsk, Tbilisi. |
Kain (1907) |
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| By 1920 Ljubimov was working and living in
Tbilisi as a propaganda artist.
In 1927 he returned to St. Petersburg (then known as Leningrad) where
he worked for several magazines and newspapers. During the period from
1927-1933 he produced more than 2,500 political figures and caricatures. |
Redko, 1928 |
Composer Glasunov 1928 |
Artist Brodsky, 1938 |
He was also known for his many outstanding portraits of popular cultural
and political figures of the time. |
| In 1934 the artist returned to teaching as a professor
at the All-Russian Academy of Art. During that period, while the institute
was under the direction of Brodsky, he taught many who would later become
well known for their own accomplishments. Some of his students included
Kardovsky, Lansere, Jakovlev, Osmerkin, Maniser, Matveev, etc.. |
Ljubimov in his studio |
During the Second World War the artist worked in the besieged
city of Leningrad. Here again he found himself engaged with propaganda
painting.
After the war Ljubimov taught in what was the only remaining educational
institution that had a fine art program; an industrial school called "Mukhina"
where he served as the supervisor of the painting faculty.
In 1949 in conjunction with his 70th birthday and 50th anniversary of
his creative work, a personal exhibition in his name was held at the hall
of Leningrad's Union of Artists. |
Professor Ostankov, 1946 |
The Artist Buchkin, 1951 |
The last of Ljubimov's rich and interesting work was completed
in 1955. His works are now held in many collections including the Russian
State Museum (St-Petersburg), the Tretjakovsky State Gallery (Moscow) and
in museums in Voronezh, Kiev and other cities throughout Russia.
Without doubt one can say that Alexander Ljubimov, once heralded as
Repin's
talented pupil, was one of the outstanding fathers of 20th Century
Russian Art and one of its greatest keepers of traditional style. |
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The following images are provided courtesy of the daughter of Ljubimov,
Vera Alexandra Ljubimov, from her private collection.
Graphics:
  
Paintings:
 
 
 
Portrait of his sister Kavos, 1911
 Portrait
of his wife, 1926
 
 
 
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