Sergey Smirnov(1953-2006)! "Peter The Great:The Young Czar" Ltd Ed Mixed Media on Canvas, No. and Hand Signed w/Cert! List $3500

Combining time-honored religious icon painting with western style portraiture, the hauntingly beautiful art of Sergey Smirnov (1953-2006) is inspired by the 'Parsuna' art movement. "Peter The Great: The Young Czar" is a limited edition mixed media on canvas, printed in 2002, numbered in verso and hand signed by the artist. Includes Certificate of Authenticity! Measures approx. 14" x 18" (image).

Sergey Smirnov was born in 1953, in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, to a father who was an army officer. In his late teen years, the Smirnov family relocated and settled in Moscow. In 1979 Sergey began taking classes at the Moscow City Art College, where he graduated as class valedictorian, with a master’s degree in art in 1984. Due to the great skill he displayed with church and cathedral art restorations he gained a notable position as an art restorer for aging church icons and frescoes; his restoration work still exists in many Russian churches.

In 1988, Smirnov became a member of the International Federation of Artists and the National Artists’ Union of Russia. And by 1991 Smirnov’s career had taken a different, more commercial route, as he became the Chief Editor for the Advertising and Image Creation Corporation of the Russian government’s International Trade Corporation. While working in Advertising, Smirnov worked for various corporations, designing logos and graphics, many of which won national and international awards. It was his success with this career that spirited his sole devotion to painting in 1994, and inspired him to frequently participate in solo and group exhibitions.

In 1996, Smirnov was exhibited at the historic Orlean House in London. In 1997, he was honored as only the third living artist to have a personal exhibit in the Kremlin’s Manezh, which is ranked as one of the most prestigious art galleries in the world. His personal exhibits dazzled and amazed the public as well as critics. Because his art was received so well, it has become extremely sought after throughout the world and is included in several noteworthy Russian collections, including those of the former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, former Prime Minister Victor Chernomirdin, former Minister of Transportation Sergey Frank and former Minister of Defense Evgeny Shaposhnikov, just to name a few.

In July 2001, he signed a contract with Fingerhut Group Publishers in California. From 2001 to 2006, Smirnov’s paintings were exhibited in the Fingerhut Galleries in California and Fingerhut Group began, and continues to, release graphic limited editions of his work. Unfortunately, Sergey Smirnov died of a sudden heart attack in Sausalito as he was heading to his solo exhibition in La Jolla on November 8th, 2006.

Smirnov’s art has been influenced by Gustav Klimt, the Austrian painter whose work is said to be the cornerstone of the Art Nouveau movement, which was a reaction to the rigidity of academic art and attempted to harmonize lines and forms. Andrei Rublev and Pheophan Grek, masters of Slavic icon painting, have also had a notable influence on Smirnov’s work. And of course Modigliani and Rembrandt have also been noted as being rather influential artists for Smirnov in the realm of western portraiture. Smirnov’s style resembles that of his favorite period of Russian art known as the Parsuna movement. 'Parsuna' or 'mask', derives from the Latin word 'persona', and the movement itself speaks to the transition from archaic religious icon painting to a more western style of personal portraiture that became popular in the late 17th - early 18th century.

The art created by Smirnov's technique has been described as 'jewel like' due to his refined touch on an otherwise rough style; and his deeply saturated hues along with textured backgrounds create depth and intrigue surrounding his subjects. Smirnov's art encompasses many aspects of Russian and Western art technique, but the haunting beauty of his personal style is what sets Smirnov apart and makes him a master of breathtakingly unique works of art.