Boris Kustodiev

Boris Kustodiev was born on the 7th of March in 1878 in Astrakhan.

While studying in the theological seminary, he began attending the classes of artist P. Vlasov, a graduate of the Petersburg Academy of Arts, whom he always considered to be his best and beloved teacher. In the summer, the teacher, who became the founder of the Astrakhan art school, went with his pupils to nature.

After an unsuccessful attempt to enter The Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, the young man went to St. Petersburg and entered the Higher Courses at the Academy of Arts, where he studied with Savinsky. At the 2nd course, he moved to the workshop of Repin, who became his mentor and even his colleague (the master invited the student to work together to order).

Went to Kostroma to search for materials. There he met “smolyanka” Julia Proshinskaya (they lived in love for many years). He graduated from the Academy with a gold medal, receiving a grant for study trips. Participated in international exhibitions in St. Petersburg, Munich, received a grand gold medal of the International association. At the end of the year, went to Paris together with his wife and son.

The qualified artist dared to enter a private Parisian studio, visited exhibitions, museums and galleries in Germany, Spain, studying old masters and copying their works. Painted his famous “Morning” in the style of impressionism.

Created his first book illustrations – he did it during his whole artistic career, creating paintings for Gogol, Lermontov, L. Tolstoy and others, showing deep immersion into the core of his works.

Upon returning to his homeland, he left for Kostroma, where he worked hard and built a quaint little peasant mansion – “Terem”. The artist, briefly departing, lived there for a long time, traveling around the neighborhood. He created the series of paintings “Fair”, “Village Holidays”, often depicted his small daughter and grown-up son, placing their figures into the storylines.

Made a trip to Italy, got carried away with sculpture, became a member of the Union of Russian artists, worked as a decorator at the Mariinsky Theater, participated in exhibitions of the Union of Artists, in the First Group Exhibition of Russian Artists of the Vienna Secession.

The Academy of Arts, on the proposal of Repin and Kuindzhi, chose the artist as an academician of art “for his fame in the artistic field”. He felt symptoms of a backache. In the next three years, the illness turned the young healthy man into a disabled man, although did not impact his skill and efficiency.

Entered “The World of Art”, started painting a group portrait of its members (only a sketch of it remains), conducted lessons at the workshop of Zarudnaia-Kavos, took part in the last exhibition of the Union of Russian artists and in the exhibition of “The community of L. Da Vinci” as its member.

Received a course of treatment in Switzerland, having obtained permission from the staff to paint scenery for Ostrovsky’s play; their success ensured permanent orders. He visited Dresden, painted a portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, a self-portrait for the Uffizi Gallery.

Worked at the New Petersburg art workshop and at the Moscow art theatre (created decorations and sketches of costumes). Had an operation in Berlin, and in 1914 became a participant of the exhibition at the Parisian Gallery of the Bernheim gallery, International exhibitions in Venice and Rome. The famous and popular portraitist received an order from Nikolay (created in 1915).

Despite the beginning of the paralysis, the artist worked hard almost lying down, participated in the creation of the “ideological” design of Petrograd for the first anniversary of October. Created “Maslenitsa” (1916), the monumental “Stepan Razin”, “A merchant taking tea” (1918), etc.

His first and only personal lifetime exhibition was held at the Petrograd House of Arts; the artist painted a portrait of Shalapin and copied it (the variant of 1921is now in France); created illustrations for two books of Leskov, created a series of fine art works “The Four Seasons”. Became a member of The Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia.

To design the play, went to Moscow; received an honorary diploma at the International Parisian Exhibition, made his last trip across the Volga; later, according to his “a room became a world”. At the exhibition of The Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia in 1926, 24 works of the artist were sent to the department with the ambiguous title “Formal Quest”.

He died on the 26th of May in 1927 in Leningrad.