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Wladimir Ivanoff

  • Not only did Ivanoff become one of the founders and chairman of the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople, but he also became famous for “Drawing Thursdays”, which took place at his apartment.
  • Wladimir
  • Ivanoff
  • Владимир Степанович Иванов, Vladimir Ivanov, Vladimir Ivanoff

  • 1885
  • Dnipro (UA)
  • 22-12-1964
  • New York City (US)
  • PainterSculptor
  • Not only did Ivanoff become one of the founders and chairman of the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople, but he also became famous for “Drawing Thursdays”, which took place at his apartment.

    Word Count: 33

  • Members of the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople, Summer 1922. Presumably one of the men in this picture is Wladimir Ivanoff. Source: Scrapbook “To Mr. and Mrs. Stearns from Russian Painters”, p. 8 (Stearns Family Papers. Archives & Special Collections. The College of the Holy Cross).
  • Wladimir Ivanoff presumably settled in Istanbul in 1920. Not only did he become one of the founders and chairman of the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople, but he also became famous for “Drawing Thursdays”, which took place at his apartment. Artists such as the painter Nikolai Vasilieff, the architect Nikolai Vasiliev (Nicholas B. Vassilieve), Nikolai Saretzki, Nikolai Becker, Vladimir Bobritsky, Fridolin, Khudyakov, Pinegin, and many others were regular visitors to these “Thursdays”: “At first, everyone painted from life (usually models were also invited), after everyone drank tea and hotly discussed burning issues of the day” (Novitskiy, “Pamyati hudojnika W.S. Ivanova”, 1965). Judging by newspaper reports, critics rated Ivanoff's Istanbul works as highly successful. Thus, in 1922 the following was written about him: “A talented artist. The ships created in epic style are very colourful and good.” In 1923: “This artist interprets the nature he contemplates in a very special way. His landscapes form whole symphonies of clouds. Mr. Ivanoff conveys them as something spiritualised and his landscapes are extremely interesting” (Ted’, “K Vystavke Hudojnikov”, 1923). Curiously, his art education (Moscow, Art school of F.I. Rerberg; he considered Konstantin Korovin and Rerberg to be his teachers) was preceded by a commercial one, since Wladimir came from a merchant family (he graduated from the Kharkiv Commercial School). It is possible that he became the leader of the Union precisely because of this combination of skills. It is known, for example, that the Union did not just simply function, but also “helped its members to find work, supported them in difficult times and did not let those who were tired and exhausted become despondent” (Novitskiy, “Pamyati hudojnika W.S. Ivanova”, 1965).

    After Istanbul Wladimir Ivanoff moved to New York. From 1923 until his death he was engaged in painting, creating sculptures and writing poetry. Vyacheslav Zavalishin, who visited his New York studio, noted the painter’s landscapes: “The artist has many landscapes, but at the same time the best, the most romantic ones remained unsold. Ivanoff is especially attracted to the harbours of Maine and remote rivers and lakes. He applied the formal aesthetic achievements of Levitan, Ostroukhov, Dubovsky to the depiction of American nature.” According to Zavalishin, Ivanoff did not have a shortage of orders, but, unfortunately, only his customised works became famous. In his opinion, the works that Ivanoff painted for himself are little known, although they certainly deserve attention. In New York he was moreover one of the leaders of the Society of Friends of Russian Culture and, to quote Novitskiy, “brought joy everywhere and was always up to scratch”.

    Word Count: 426

  • Members of the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople, Summer 1922. Presumably one of the men in this picture is Wladimir Ivanoff. Source: Scrapbook “To Mr. and Mrs. Stearns from Russian Painters”, p. 8 (Stearns Family Papers. Archives & Special Collections. The College of the Holy Cross).
    Photograph of the artwork by Wladimir Ivanoff (most likely). Source: Scrapbook “To Mr. and Mrs. Stearns from Russian Painters”, p. 16 (Stearns Family Papers. Archives & Special Collections. The College of the Holy Cross).
  • Anonymous. “Odnodnevnaya Vystavka Kartin.” Presse du Soir, 10 October 1921, p. 4.  

    Anonymous. “Vystavka Kartin.” Presse du Soir, 20 October 1921, p. 4.

    Anonymous. “Vystavka Soyuza Russkih Hudojnikov.” Presse du Soir, 19 June 1922, n.p.

    Bournakine, Anatoliy, and Dominic Valery, editors. Al’manah Na Proschaniye. The Farewell Almanac. L’Almanach Nos Adieux (1920–1923). Imp. L. Babok & fils, 1923.

    Leykind, Oleg, et al. Hudojniki Russkogo Zarubej’ya (1). Izd.dom “Mir”, 2019, p. 565.

    Novitskiy, G. “Pamyati hudojnika W.S. Ivanova.” Novoye Russkoye Slovo, 23 December 1965, n.p.

    Ted’. “K Vystavke Hudojnikov.” Presse du Soir, 29 June 1923, n.p.

    Zavalishin, Vyacheslav. “V studii Wladimira Ivanova.” Novoye Russkoye Slovo, 19 November 1964, n.p.

    Word Count: 97

  • Archives & Special Collections at the College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, Massachusetts).

    Slavonic Library (Slovanská knihovna) in Prague.

    Word Count: 19

  • Ekaterina Aygün
  • Istanbul, Ottoman Empire/Turkey (?–1923); New York, USA (1923–1964).

  • Küçük Yazıcı 4 (now presumably Tarlabaşı Blv. 79), Hüseyinağa, Beyoğlu, Istanbul (studio).

  • Istanbul
  • Ekaterina Aygün. "Wladimir Ivanoff." METROMOD Archive, 2021, https://archive.metromod.net/viewer.p/69/2949/object/5138-10440389, last modified: 14-09-2021.
  • Nikolai Saretzki
    PainterGraphic ArtistIllustratorArt CriticCollectorScene Designer
    Istanbul

    Saretzki took a rather long exile route: from the Russian Empire he fled to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Berlin, from Berlin to Prague, and from Prague to Cormeilles-en-Parisis near Paris.

    Word Count: 30

    Nikolai Kalmykoff
    PainterScene DesignerMuralist
    Istanbul

    Kalmykoff played an active part in the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople and at the same time worked as a stage designer. Later he acquired the Turkish citizenship.

    Word Count: 29

    First Russian émigré artists in Istanbul exhibition
    Exhibition
    Istanbul

    The first Russian-speaking émigré artists in Istanbul exhibition was a one-day event but its success led to the formation of the Union and paved the way for other exhibitions.

    Word Count: 29

    Exhibition of Russian émigré artists at Taksim Military Barracks
    Exhibition
    Istanbul

    The exhibition of Russian-speaking émigré artists at Taksim Military Barracks was the first major exhibition organised by the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople.

    Word Count: 24

    Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople
    Association
    Istanbul

    The Union existed for less than two years but in that short space of time a tremendous amount of work was done by its members, refugees from the Russian Empire.

    Word Count: 30

    Nikolai Becker
    PainterGraphic Artist
    Istanbul

    Nikolai Becker worked tirelessly in Turkey for three years. He created at least 168 portraits of men and women (among them admirals and their families, commanders-in-chief, diplomats, etc.).

    Word Count: 27

    Nikolai Vasilieff
    PainterScene DesignerMuralist
    Istanbul

    Vasilieff was not only one of the Union of Russian Painters in Istanbul’s leaders, but he is also remembered for his stage settings and costumes for the ballet Scheherazade at the Theatre des Petits Champs.

    Word Count: 36

    Vladimir Bobritsky
    PainterScene DesignerGraphic ArtistMusician
    Istanbul

    Bobritsky worked at the Theatre des Petits Champs, where he successfully dealt with stage designs and costumes, at the same time he participated in the Union of Russian Painters in Constantinople.

    Word Count: 31