The works of the artist Viktor Popkov considered to be the legend of the Russian art of the 20th century are presented in the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes. The exhibition titled “Master’s Return” was opened in the Treasury Chamber yesterday, on September 15. The opening ceremony began with the speech of the art critic Galina Vladimirovna Dementieva, “Every artist knows the name of Viktor Popkov. He had both adherents and antagonists. He was a person who triggered various emotions”.
Viktor Yefimovich Popkov was born and lived in Moscow. He studied in the Moscow Art and Graphics Pedagogical School and then graduated from Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V.I. Surikov defending his graduation thesis with an excellent mark. The first creative steps of Viktor Popkov were successful. His graduation work consisted of 10 large water-colours about transport and 13 coloured linocuts. The Tretyakov Gallery bought three of them. However, the series about transport didn’t remain in the shade. The water-colours were displayed at large exhibitions and then were also bought by the Tretyakov Gallery. Since the late 1950s, the artist travelled within the country a lot expressing his impressions in his creative activity. One of his most famous works inspired by the trips was the picture “Builders of Bratsk”. It was included into the cycle “Thoughts on Life” for which the artist received the USSR State Prize, but he was awarded posthumously.
The Russian North was seared into the soul of Viktor Popkov along with Siberia. He often visited Ferapontovo together with his wife, famous artist and illustrator Klara Kalinycheva. Mikhail Sharomazov, director of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve, greeting the guests of the opening ceremony underlined this fact from the master’s biography, “Viktor Popkov is a local person for us. He came to Ferapontovo and created the best Russian water-colours during these trips. His works are kept in the collections of the museums in the capital and it is not surprising because it is the high-level painting. Viktor Popkov was going to depict the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral in his new picture. He had a similar work created during the trip to Germany when he missed Russia. It is titled “Cathedral”. It was certainly necessary to open an exhibition of Viktor Popkov in the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes. We are presenting the artist who is delighted with the Russian North to the visitors”. This event became possible thanks to the master’s son, Alexei Viktorovich Popkov, and the Vologda Regional Picture Gallery that gave the pictures for the display.
Viktor Popkov was on friendly terms with some artists of Vologda. During his trips to Ferapontovo, he stayed with Nikolai Burmagin who lived at Tsypino. Vladimir Korbakov became a hero of his works – two portraits of the artist are exhibited in the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes. The diary notes of Dzhanna Tutundzhan about the tragic death of Viktor Popkov were read out at the opening ceremony of the display. He liked the Russian North and its residents that served as prototypes of the characters of his pictures with all his heart. You can see the artist’s works about the northern region till November 15. The exhibition is open from 9:00 to 17:00. The lunch break is from 12:30 to 13:00.
