Alexei Maximov
| Alexei Maximov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1952 (age 63–64) |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Known for | enamellist and portrait painter |
| Awards |
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| Website |
www |
Alexei Maximov (born 1952) is a Soviet-born enamellist, portrait painter of European royals,[1] and oil painter who currently resides in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[2] He is known for using traditional methods of enamel art production, without the aid of contemporary digital set ovens,[3] and is considered a modern master of the artform.[4]
Exhibitions
The first exhibition of Maximov’s work occurred at the Podolsk Town Museum in 1979 along with lifelong collaborator the painter Leonid Efros, and the second was held later that same year at the State Literature Museum in Moscow.[5] A major exhibition Maximov’s work took place at the Kremlin Armoury in the early 1990s that featured his work in the context of enamellists from throughout Russian history.[6]
A more recent exhibition of his work was held at in the William Kent House at the Ritz in the London in April 2012,[7] featuring his enamel miniature portraits of members of the royal families of the UK, the Netherlands, and Norway[8]—and specifically the twentieth anniversary of his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as well as her Diamond Jubilee.[9] Following the exhibition of the works, which can only be seen by appointment, they were put up for auction.[10]
The occasion marked the first time a sitting British monarch agreed to a sitting for a Russian artist in over 200 years, an honor which he shared with Efros.[11][12] Queen Elizabeth II was impressed enough by the experience to recommend that Princess Anne sit for Maximov the following week, and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother on the 31st of the same month.[3] The portraits became his signature pieces. All in all, his work has been a part of over 100 worldwide art exhibitions.[1] Larissa Peshekhonova of the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin described Maximov as an enamellist who has “transformed the traditions of the past to create [his] own inimitable artistic style and world images”.[13]
Awards
In 1982 Maximov was awarded the International Award for Remarkable Artistic Achievement on the III Quadriennale of Applied Arts in Erfurt, Germany. In 1988 he was awarded the Grand Prix of the Leningrad Committee of The Union of Russian Artists.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Natalia Ulyanov. "Royals Drew 'No Dresses'". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Painter Memoirs". VZgallery.com. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- 1 2 Alexei Maximov. "Enamel: The Combination of Elements". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ Rostov Museum of Art. "Enamel Artists in the Archives of the Moscow Kremlin Museums.". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Recollection of the Painter Alexei Maximov". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Letter from I A Rodimtseva, Director of the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "'Let them drink vodka’: how the Queen Mother rewarded a Russian portrait artist". The Telegraph. April 1, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ↑ Vika Nova. "Alexei Maximov: Enamel – a delicate matter". New Style Russian European Magazine. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Queen Mother's vodka toast to Russian artist". The Daily Telegraph. January 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Kremlin’s portraits of royals to fetch up to £10m". The Scotsman. January 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ↑ "Interview between Vadim Zabelin and Alexei Maximov,". VZgallery.com. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ ""Miracle" Russian Book of Records and Achievements: Painting.". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Statement by Larissa Peshekhonova, State Museums of the Moscos Kremlin" (PDF). 1993. Retrieved 2012-01-16.