Nadezhda Konstantinovna Shvede-Radlova (1895–1944) was an artist. She studied with Evgeny Lansere and Mstislav Dobuzhinsky in the New Art Studio and in 1923 graduated from the Academy of Arts. She was married to the artist Nikolay Radlov and was a member of the Sixteen art group, a Soviet art community in Leningrad in 1922–1928 and the Society of Painters. Her most famous works include portraits of Nikolay Gumilyov, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Boris Pilnyak, and Galina Ulanova.
In the early 1930s, Shvede-Radlova worked on a series of paintings on the life of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. In 1935–1936, she travelled with a group of graphic artists from Leningrad to Pushkin-related places in the former province of Pskov for the purpose of touring what remained of places related to Pushkin. All this was done in preparation for Pushkin’s 1937 Anniversary — a series of special events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of the great poet.
One of the most significant events was a competition announced by the Leningrad branch of the Soviet Artists’ Union. 208 works of various genres were put on display. First prize was not handed out. Second prize was awarded to the artists Vasily Fedorov for his work ‘Burial’ (‘Pushkin’s Funeral in the Svyatogorsky Monastery’), Alexander Gorbov for his painting “Pushkin”s Duel with Dantes, ” and Nikolay Pavlov for the etching “Pushkin in the Smirdin Bookstore.” The Portrait of Pushkin by Shvede-Radlova shared third prize with the artist Zverev, who also painted a “Portrait of Pushkin” and the sculptor Danko, with his porcelain figurine “Pushkin on a Divan”.
Leningrad satirists had their own take on the results of the competition. On 24 January 1937 in the newspaper Literary Leningrad under the Pushkin-inspired headline “The barbaric artist”s indolent brush…” a message appeared: “No first prize was awarded at the paintings of Pushkin competition.” Beside this there appeared a caricature of an artist copying the famous Pushkin portrait of O. A. Kiprensky with an “indolent brush”. Anonymous verses followed underneath the caricature: “How many picturesque bards! How many lush sideburns! How many portraits are done. But never does our Pushkin com”. The artist gave the portrait of Pushkin to Fedin, and he used it to decorate the library at his cottage in Peredelkino.
In the early 1930s, Shvede-Radlova worked on a series of paintings on the life of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. In 1935–1936, she travelled with a group of graphic artists from Leningrad to Pushkin-related places in the former province of Pskov for the purpose of touring what remained of places related to Pushkin. All this was done in preparation for Pushkin’s 1937 Anniversary — a series of special events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of the great poet.
One of the most significant events was a competition announced by the Leningrad branch of the Soviet Artists’ Union. 208 works of various genres were put on display. First prize was not handed out. Second prize was awarded to the artists Vasily Fedorov for his work ‘Burial’ (‘Pushkin’s Funeral in the Svyatogorsky Monastery’), Alexander Gorbov for his painting “Pushkin”s Duel with Dantes, ” and Nikolay Pavlov for the etching “Pushkin in the Smirdin Bookstore.” The Portrait of Pushkin by Shvede-Radlova shared third prize with the artist Zverev, who also painted a “Portrait of Pushkin” and the sculptor Danko, with his porcelain figurine “Pushkin on a Divan”.
Leningrad satirists had their own take on the results of the competition. On 24 January 1937 in the newspaper Literary Leningrad under the Pushkin-inspired headline “The barbaric artist”s indolent brush…” a message appeared: “No first prize was awarded at the paintings of Pushkin competition.” Beside this there appeared a caricature of an artist copying the famous Pushkin portrait of O. A. Kiprensky with an “indolent brush”. Anonymous verses followed underneath the caricature: “How many picturesque bards! How many lush sideburns! How many portraits are done. But never does our Pushkin com”. The artist gave the portrait of Pushkin to Fedin, and he used it to decorate the library at his cottage in Peredelkino.
