Konstantin Andreevic Somov was a Russian painter, graphic artist and master of applied arts. His father was a famous art historian and respected decorator of imperial buildings. Somov portrayed people and nature, but was also known for his romantic as well as erotic paintings.
As a child, Somov was a student at the Karl May School in his home town of St. Petersburg, where he studied the famous contemporaries A. N. Benois and D. M. Filosofov. In addition, the talented young man studied drawing and music under the guidance of V. M. Sudilovskaya and attended evening classes of the Society for the Promotion of Arts. After graduating from school in 1888, Somov began his art studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. In the following years he studied with K. B. Venice, V. P. Vereshchagin, P. P. Chistyakov and B. P. Villevalde. Still as a student, the talented young artist was able to record his first successes: In 1891 and 1893 he received two silver medals for his nature drawings. After his studies, Somov moved to Paris for several years and attended various art academies in the French capital, including the influential Colarossi Academy. The Russian artist loved to travel. His stations were France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and England. As a mature artist he could afford a summer cottage in Normandy and worked and lived regularly in France from 1925. During the winter months he lived on a farm in the small French town of Granville. Here he mainly painted landscapes and still lifes.
At the age of 29, Somov founded the magazine "Mir Iskusstva" (Engl: "World of Art") together with colleagues from the cultural sector. Through his work on a magazine, Somov decided to earn his living as an illustrator. For six years he was not only a member of the editorial staff, but also responsible for the illustrations and layout. These works were well received and Somov also became an illustrator for the magazine "Khudozhestvennye Sokrovishcha Rossii" (engl. "Art Treasures of Russia").
Besides, the ambitious Russian took part in several group exhibitions of the Society of Russian Watercolourists. In addition, Somov was able to gain international recognition at the exhibitions of the Secession in Munich and the Secession in Berlin. The highlight of his career was his first solo exhibition in 1903 at the Salon "The Modern Art" in St. Petersburg.
Konstantin Andreevic Somov was a Russian painter, graphic artist and master of applied arts. His father was a famous art historian and respected decorator of imperial buildings. Somov portrayed people and nature, but was also known for his romantic as well as erotic paintings.
As a child, Somov was a student at the Karl May School in his home town of St. Petersburg, where he studied the famous contemporaries A. N. Benois and D. M. Filosofov. In addition, the talented young man studied drawing and music under the guidance of V. M. Sudilovskaya and attended evening classes of the Society for the Promotion of Arts. After graduating from school in 1888, Somov began his art studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. In the following years he studied with K. B. Venice, V. P. Vereshchagin, P. P. Chistyakov and B. P. Villevalde. Still as a student, the talented young artist was able to record his first successes: In 1891 and 1893 he received two silver medals for his nature drawings. After his studies, Somov moved to Paris for several years and attended various art academies in the French capital, including the influential Colarossi Academy. The Russian artist loved to travel. His stations were France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and England. As a mature artist he could afford a summer cottage in Normandy and worked and lived regularly in France from 1925. During the winter months he lived on a farm in the small French town of Granville. Here he mainly painted landscapes and still lifes.
At the age of 29, Somov founded the magazine "Mir Iskusstva" (Engl: "World of Art") together with colleagues from the cultural sector. Through his work on a magazine, Somov decided to earn his living as an illustrator. For six years he was not only a member of the editorial staff, but also responsible for the illustrations and layout. These works were well received and Somov also became an illustrator for the magazine "Khudozhestvennye Sokrovishcha Rossii" (engl. "Art Treasures of Russia").
Besides, the ambitious Russian took part in several group exhibitions of the Society of Russian Watercolourists. In addition, Somov was able to gain international recognition at the exhibitions of the Secession in Munich and the Secession in Berlin. The highlight of his career was his first solo exhibition in 1903 at the Salon "The Modern Art" in St. Petersburg.
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