Alexander M.Gerasimov's Life
and Creative Work
Life and creative work of the prominent Soviet artist Alexander Gerasimov
were closely connected with the Tambov region and his native town Michurinsk
(former Kozlov), where he was born on
August 12, 1881. Since 1888 to 1903 A.Gerasimov studied at school.
In 1903 he entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
Such the distinguished Russian artists as A.Arkhipov, K.Korovin and V.Serov
were his teachers. They exerted a great influence upon Gerasimov's creative work.
In 1915 Gerasimov graduated from the Moscow
School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture and three years later he returned
to his native town. In 1925 he moved to Moscow. Beginning from 1926 he took
part in the exhibitions of the Revolutionary Russia Artists Association.
More than 100 works of painting and graphic were exhibited in Gerasimov's first personal
exhibition which was held in Moscow in 1936.
In 1947 Gerasimov became the first Director of the USSR Academy of Art. He was
at the head of the Academy for 10 years. A.Gerasimov died on
July 23, 1963.
The creative legacy of a prominent Soviet painter, People's Artist of the
USSR, laureate of four State prizes, is significant and various one.
It icludes more than 2 thousands works saved in the prominent museums in our
country - Tretyakov Gallery, Russian Museum - art galleries and museums,
private collections.
The scope of Gerasimov's activity was surprising; but whatever he was
engaged in doing landscapes or genre paintings, portraits or still-lifes -
he always approached his task with a thorough knowledge and deep understanding
of his subject.
Most of Gerasimov's paintings have became the classics of the Soviet Art.
Troika. Winter Road, After Rain,
Roses, the
Portrait of M.P.Christie, the Portrait of the Oldest Painters,
the Portrait of the poet S.Y.Marshak and others are among them.
In his creations Alexander Gerasimov continued and developed the best
traditions of Russian realistic painting.
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