Nikolai Semyonovich Golovanov’s collection of paintings features images of himself as well. “Portrait of Nikolai Golovanov”, depicting the conductor at his stand, is remarkable both in terms of its artistic characteristics and the painter’s personality.
The painting was created by Fyodor Zakharov, who was born in Astrakhan in 1882. He began his career in Moscow, which at the time was turbulent, pre-revolutionary and bursting with new ideas. Between 1910 and 1916, the future artist studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. He participated in exhibitions of various artistic movements, including “Mir iskusstva”, the Artists’ Union of Russia and the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia. The multifaceted talent of the mysterious Fyodor Zakharov was formed during an incredible surge in art, that occurred at the end of the Silver Age and the beginning of the post-revolutionary period in Moscow. After the success of his work at the Russian art exhibition at the Grand Central Palace in 1924, the artist immigrated to New York, where the diversity of artistic expression of the 1930s–1960s helped him hone his skills to perfection.
A skilled portrait painter that he was, Zakharov soon found numerous patrons among the wealthy Americans, who admired the sophisticated style, the lyrical images, the refined coloring and the artist’s high level of mastery. Zakharov methodically and patiently developed his compositions and color palettes while still finding beauty in everyday objects and the world around him and always searching for perfection. Currently, Zakharov’s works are housed in numerous private collections around the world and even in the White House in Washington.
The artist painted the portrait of Nikolai Golovanov shortly before his departure for the United States. Nikolai Semyonovich was 32 years old at the time of sitting for the picture. He is depicted at the conductor’s stand of the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra. The painter showed both the inspiration on the conductor’s handsome, perfectly even face, reminiscent of the art style of Palekh miniature, and his special place in the orchestra, which is enhanced because the faces of other musicians are depicted less elaborately. He even painted some of the musical lines and pencil marks — it is known that Nikolai Golovanov left a lot of commentary on the pages of the music sheet, mostly using red ink and sometimes green or blue.
The painting was created by Fyodor Zakharov, who was born in Astrakhan in 1882. He began his career in Moscow, which at the time was turbulent, pre-revolutionary and bursting with new ideas. Between 1910 and 1916, the future artist studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. He participated in exhibitions of various artistic movements, including “Mir iskusstva”, the Artists’ Union of Russia and the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia. The multifaceted talent of the mysterious Fyodor Zakharov was formed during an incredible surge in art, that occurred at the end of the Silver Age and the beginning of the post-revolutionary period in Moscow. After the success of his work at the Russian art exhibition at the Grand Central Palace in 1924, the artist immigrated to New York, where the diversity of artistic expression of the 1930s–1960s helped him hone his skills to perfection.
A skilled portrait painter that he was, Zakharov soon found numerous patrons among the wealthy Americans, who admired the sophisticated style, the lyrical images, the refined coloring and the artist’s high level of mastery. Zakharov methodically and patiently developed his compositions and color palettes while still finding beauty in everyday objects and the world around him and always searching for perfection. Currently, Zakharov’s works are housed in numerous private collections around the world and even in the White House in Washington.
The artist painted the portrait of Nikolai Golovanov shortly before his departure for the United States. Nikolai Semyonovich was 32 years old at the time of sitting for the picture. He is depicted at the conductor’s stand of the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra. The painter showed both the inspiration on the conductor’s handsome, perfectly even face, reminiscent of the art style of Palekh miniature, and his special place in the orchestra, which is enhanced because the faces of other musicians are depicted less elaborately. He even painted some of the musical lines and pencil marks — it is known that Nikolai Golovanov left a lot of commentary on the pages of the music sheet, mostly using red ink and sometimes green or blue.
