Aleksandr Viktorovich Moravov

Alexander Viktorovich Moravov (1878-1951) Russian Soviet artist, member of the Association of the Itinerants, member of the USSR Academy of Arts. Honored Art Worker of the USSR (1946). Born into a family of a doctor in Ukraine. The choice of the profession was influenced by the closest friends of his father, the famous artists Vrubel M. A. and Ge N. N. .. The young artist received his first painting skills at the private art school Murashko N. I. in Kiev. In 1887 he entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where he studied until 1902 with such masters as A.E. Arkhipov, N.A. Kasatkin and A.M. Korin. at the School, the workshop of VA Serov. Immediately after graduating from the school, in 1903, he participates in the 31st exhibition of the Association of the Itinerants, presenting there his diplomatic work, the painting "Mother" (State Russian Museum). Ilya Repin highly appreciates this work. Since 1904, after the 32nd exhibition, Moravov becomes a member of the Association of Itinerants. There he became close to such outstanding Russian artists as Repin I.E., Surikov V.I., Makovsky V.E. and Maksimov V.M. Even in the pre-revolutionary years, Moravov became an accomplished artist. His paintings were often exhibited at domestic and foreign opening days, and were also willingly acquired by museums. Moravov also taught at a number of art schools in Moscow. From 1903 to 1911 - at the Art and Printing School at the publishing house of ID Sytin, widely known for the democratic orientation of his publications. The school at the printing house was organized and also headed by the teacher Moravova - Kasatkin N. A. The school trained chromolithographs and book illustrators-graphic artists. In 1909, Moravov worked on illustrations for children's stories by Leo Tolstoy. He received an invitation to come to Yasnaya Polyana and painted a portrait of the great writer, shown at the 38th traveling exhibition. In 1902, he first came to paint at the estate of N. M. Arakcheeva "Garusovo" (Udomlya, Tver province), as well as in the surrounding villages - "Ostrovno", "Moshnaya Gorka". There he closely converges with Byalynitsky-Birulei V.K.Pains his portrait. After 1917, Moravov settled with his family for a long time, first in "Garusovo", and in 1930-40 in the village "Akulovo" of the Udomel region. After the 1917 revolution, he began to engage in public work. Along with artistic activities, he actively works as a propagandist. Decorates revolutionary holidays, clubs, workers' theater in "Maksatikha", participates in the activities of the Committees of the Poor and in the commission for the protection of monuments of art. In 1918 and 1921, together with VK Byalynitsky-Birulya, AE Arkhipov and VV Rozhdestvensky, he participates in the organization and teaches at the Free State Art Workshops at the Chaika dacha in Udomlya. In 1919 he took part in the First Exhibition of Itinerant Artists in Tver. In 1938-39 he taught at the studio of military artists and from 1938 to 1941 at the V.I.