Ilya Glazunov

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Ilya Glazunov (Russian: Илья Глазунов), contemporary Russian artist from Saint Petersburg, born in 1930. Ilya Glazunov is a founder of the Russian high realism artistic school, deeply influenced by Eastern Orthodoxy and iconography and a head of Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Ilya Glazunov’s paintings have mostly historic or religious themes. Famous works include Russia the Eternal, The 20th Century Mystery, The Ruination of the Temple on the Easter Night and illustrations to the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Ilya Glazunov was one of the main advocates behind the restoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Moscow). In his recent years soviet statesman Mikhail Suslov formed a close relationship with Glazunov. After a long time spent out of favour, Glazunov was given permission for a massive solo exhibition in the Manège In the 1980s Ilya Glazunov was associated with far-right Pamyat society and became known for his patriotic views. Awarded "For Service to the Motherland" decoration by the President Vladimir Putin.

[edit] Biography

Artist’s father – Glazunov Sergey Fedorovich, a historian. Artist’s Mother – Glazunova Olga Konstantinovna. Ilya Glazunov survives the WWII and in 1942 eleven-year-old Ilya is transported from besieged Leningrad along the “Road Of Life”. He stays in the village of Greblo in the Novgorod region after his entire family parishes from starvation. In 1944 he comes back to Leningrad and studies in the secondary art school. From 1951 to 1957 he studies art under the direction of Professor B. Iaganson. In 1956 he gets married to the love of his life – Nina Vinogradova-Benois. The image of the artist’s wife Nina is visible in many of his works. Nina Aleksandrovna was a descendant of the Benois family which is familiar to all art lovers. Her uncle was the artistic director of the “La Scala” Opera for 30 years. Artist’s success at the International competition of Young Artists in Prague prompts the opening of his first one-man exhibition in Moscow. Soon enough he travels to Italy for the first time to paint the portrait of famous actress, Gina Lollobridgida. From 1978 Glazunov is teaching in the Moscow University of Art. Glazunov’s children – Ivan and Vera – have both become artists. His wife died in 1986.

[edit] Honors

A minor planet 3616 Glazunov, discovered by Soviet astronomer Lyudmila Zhuravlyova in 1984 is named after him.^[1]

[edit] References