Couple in Moscow

Ilja Glazunov (Leningrad 1930 - Moskau 2017)

Oi/canvas. 100 x 67,5 cm. Lower left cyrillic signed and dated I. Glazunov 1969, on the reverse signed again and dated 1973 and dedicated to Eduard Ackermann. Tiny pigment losses. As part of his commitment to preserving old Russian traditions, Glazunov was particularly keen to preserve Moscow's historic cityscape and old buildings. In the painting, the juxtaposition of the old and new city is given a wistful yet harmonious character by the couple in the foreground. - Provenance: Present of the artist to Eduard Ackermann (1928-2015), a close confidant of former German chancellor Helmut Kohl; thence by descent - Russian landscape, history and figure painter. G. studied at the Leningrad Academy from 1951 to 1957. He had the opportunity to travel abroad and painted portraits in Italy, including one of Gina Lollobrigida; in 1987, he painted a portrait of Arno Breker. From 1978, G. taught at the Moscow Academy of Arts, and in 1987 he founded his own art academy in Moscow, which was named after him in 2009. G. is a leading representative of a specifically Russian traditional art form, for which he has received high honours in both the Soviet Union and Russia. His initiative has also led to significant successes in the preservation of Moscow's monuments.