Konstantin Andreyevich Somov (1869-1939) was a Russian artist associated with the Mir iskusstva. Born into a family of the major art historian and Hermitage Museum curator, he became interested in the 18th century art and music at an early age. He studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts under Ilya Repin from 1888 to 1897. While at the Academy, Somov befriended Alexandre Benois, who would introduce him to Sergei Diaghilev and Leon Bakst. When the three founded the World of Art, Somov liberally contributed to its periodicals. Inspired by Watteau and Fragonard, he preferred to work with watercolours and gouache. For three years he worked upon his masterpiece, Lady in Blue, painted in the manner of 18th-century portraitists. During the 1910s, Somov executed a number of rococo harlequin scenes and illustrations to the poems by Alexander Blok. Many of his works were exihibited abroad, especially in Germany, where the first monograph on him was published in 1909. Following the Russian Revolution, he emigrated to the USA, but found the country "absolutely alien to his art" and moved to Paris. 1869 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Miriskusniki tended to idealize the 18th century as the quintessential Age of Art. ... The Hermitage Museum (Эрмитаж) in St. ... The Imperial Academy of Arts, informally known as St Petersburg Academy of Arts, was opened by Count Ivan Shuvalov under the name of Academy of Three Noblest Arts in 1757. ... Ilyá Yefímovich Répin (Илья́ Ефи́мович Ре́пин) (August 5, 1844 (Julian calendar: July 24) – September 29, 1930) was a leading Russian painter and sculptor of the Peredvizhniki artistic school. ... 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois (May 4, 1870, St Petersburg - February 9, 1960, Paris) was probably the most important member of the artistic Benois family. ... Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev (Сергей Павлович Дягилев) (March 19, 1872 – August 19, 1929), often known as Serge, was a Russian ballet impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes from which many famous dancers and choreographers would later arise. ... Leon Bakst (1866-1942) was a Russian painter and scene- and costume- designer. ... Miriskusniki tended to idealize the 18th century as the quintessential Age of Art. ... Jean-Antoine Watteau (October 10, 1684 - July 18, 1721) was a French painter. ... Jean-Honoré Fragonard (April 5, 1732 – August 22, 1806) was a French painter. ... Watercolor is a painting technique making use of water-soluble pigments that are either transparent or opaque and are formulated with gum to bond the pigment to the paper. ... Gouache (from the Italian guazzo, water paint, splash) is a type of watercolor paint, made heavier and more opaque by the addition of a white pigment (chalk, Chinese white, etc. ... Rococo movement enlivens the façade of the Cathedral, Càdiz The Rococo style developed as a relief from formalities of Late Baroque interiors. ... Harlequin may refer to: Penis ... Blok in 1907 Alexander Blok (Александр Александрович Блок, 1880- 1921) was probably the most gifted lyrical poet that Russia produced since Alexander Pushkin. ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The phrase Russian Revolution can refer to the following events in the history of Russia. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ...

Works

Sergey Rachmaninoff (1925)

Alexander Blok (1907) The portrait of Alexander Blok by Konstantin Somov (1907), now in the Tretyakov Gallery. ... Blok in 1907 Alexander Blok (Александр Александрович Блок, 1880- 1921) was probably the most gifted lyrical poet that Russia produced since Alexander Pushkin. ...

Mikhail Kuzmin (1909) Mikhail Alekseevich Kuzmin (Михаил Алексеевич Кузмин, 1872 - 1936) was a Russian reincarnation of Andre Gide. ...

Blok's Theatre (1909)