Today at the close of personal exhibition of artist Vasily Biryukov that happened in regional branch of Russian Fund of culture Vladimir Evlanov received 9 portraits from the Gallery of Cossacks Glory.
— In Krasnodar and the whole Region Vasily I. Biryukov is known and highly praised as the author of a unique portrait gallery of frontline soldiers, Cossacks. He is considered to be a remarkable portraitist and master hand of subject scenery. Many of his paintings are being exposed at city, regional and All-Russian exhibitions. I know that during his lifetime Vasily Biryukov wanted to donate his own works to the city where he was born, lived and worked. And now his dream has come true, — Vladimir Evlanov marked.
The exhibition closing ceremony was also participated by Krasnodar Region Legislative Assembly deputy Vladimir Gromov, director of Krasnodar regional branch of Russian Fund of culture Tatiana Kraleva and creative intellectuals of the city.
The Gallery of Cossacks Glory is consisting of nearly fifty paintings created by Honoured Cultural Worker of Kuban, frontline soldier, hereditary Cossack, captain of Kuban Cossack Army Vasily I. Biryukov (1918-2010).
Fine art expert and researcher of the artist’s creative work Natalia Schurik stated that Vasily Biryukov had lived a rich, interesting and not an ordinary life — the best proof of it is his creative works. Among exhibited works there were portraits of veterans, participants of the Great Patriotic War, war scenery paintings, a series of self-portraits, landscapes and still-life paintings. And what is very valuable — there were his fellow soldiers’ drawings from the front. As early as 1943 he took part in an exhibition of Krasnodar artists organized just after the city liberation.
The artist started to create the Gallery of Cossacks Glory in his declining years. In the work Vasily Biryukov has captured Cossacks as participants of the Great Patriotic War, heroes of the local conflicts. Overall nearly 50 portraits have been painted; many of them are kept by relatives. When donating 9 works to Krasnodar the artist’s daughter expressed her hope that other portraits from personal collections will complement the city gallery.
— We will surely find the proper place for the Gallery of Cossacks Glory in order all citizens, children and youth could have a look at it given the fact that heroic life of our Cossacks is a good example for our rising generation, — Vladimir Evlanov said.
Additionally, authorities of the city will assist in publication of a catalogue with the collection of all works of the great artist.
Read the news of Krasnodar in our channel Telegram
