Portrait of Yevgeny Mravinsky


Portrait of Yevgeny Mravinsky is a painting by Russian portrait artist Lev Russov, whose work depicts the famous Russian and Soviet musician Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Mravinsky, principal conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra in 1938–1988 years.

History

The portrait was painted in Leningrad in 1957. Evgeny Mravinsky is shown at home, sitting in an armchair in a quiet position, immersed in thought. His appearance, details of clothing and interior design and hand positions convey him at the time of creation. The instruments of his profession are pushed into the background. Before us is primarily a contemporary, intellectual, man of an independent character, will and developed self-esteem. It is these qualities that Yevgeny Mravinsky wanted to convey onto Russov in this work. This helped not only his profession, but also their long-term friendly relationship linking the two artists. In the same year of 1957, the portrait had been exhibited for the first time at the Leningrad artists show in the Russian State Museum.
The portrait won a special place in the vast iconography of Yevgeny Mravinsky. The Musician portrayed appears in the prime of his life and full of creative forces. In 2007 the «Portrait of Yevgeny Mravinsky» had been commented on and reproduced in the book «Unknown Socialist Realism. The Leningrad School» among 350 selected works by artists of the Leningrad School.