Leu Abramavich Alpyarovich

Background

Leu Alpyarovich was born on the 4th of December 1874 in Kuraniec, Vileika District, Minsk region, Belarus. The family moved to Minsk around 1882.

Education

From 1890 to 1892, Leu studied in Vilnya at Drawing School of academician I. P. Trutnev. In 1892-1896, L. Alpyarovich lived in Odessa and studied at the Drawing School and general education college of the Society of Fine Arts. Then he went to Saint-Petersburg where he became a student of the Higher Art College under Imperial AScademy of Arts on January 1, 1897, after six-month probation, but he was excluded because of illness, lack of money and failure of exam. In October 1899, L. Alpyarovich was included into the list of irregular students of the I. E. Repin`s studio.

Career

In 1902, Leu settled in Minsk and lived there for eleven years. In February 1906, L. Alpyarovich presented an impressive nuber of works (37 pieces). There were a sketch of a small screen in the style of Louis XIV and a screen among portraits, landscapes and studies. He participated in an exhibition which took place in the Museum of Arts and Industry under Minsk Commerce College in April, 1910.

From 1906 to 1909 Leu lived abroad. In 1911-1913, L. Alpyarovich participated in three exhibitions in Minsk and Vilnya. Besides, he worked as a time clerk and at his last year he taught in a private Jewish non-classical school for boys.

The artist died on December 23,1913 after a short and severe illness. In 1925, the First All-Belarusian Exhibition still exhibited 20 works by Leu Alpyarovich. Then everybody forgot about him. And only in 1939 his friend, Yuliyan Zhukhovitsky, the Minsk violin player, returned the name of the artist and introduced the society to his creative heritage.

The landscapes "Landscape", "Autumn", "Riverbank" were created in the first Minsk period, in the middle of the 1900s. Sketches "At a Bench", "At a Moonlight Night" belong to early countryside genre compositions. "Portrait of a Girl in a Red Dress" stands out from three early portraits of woman. "Portrait of a Woman" (Portrait of the Artist`s Wife) is a peculiar continuation of that portrait.

"Berlin in Evening", "Above the Spree" and "Portrait of Y. Y. Klever" are known among works from the journey to Berlin at the 2nd half of the 1900s.

There are several modest sketches among works of Alpyarovich which could be called "minute masterpieces". According to a specific mature independence of the artistic language, they were created shortly after the return from Europe or during the journey. A majority of works are full of joy: "Landscape with a Fence", "Cottage in a Country", "Drying Cloths", "Girl in White".

Leu's late works: "Portrait of a Woman in a White", "Funeral of a Schoolgirl", "Flock of Geese" are full of drama and dissonance with external integrity and completeness.

Graphic works make up a significant part of the creative legacy of the artist.

Achievements

• In 1902 L. Alpyarovich received the title of artist, X class rank in case of admission to the civil service, the right to wear a silver academic badge and to teach drawing in schools.
  
  At the Drawing School of academician I. P. Trutnev, he was awarded with a certificate of merit and a silver medal.
  
  The majority of graphic works is kept in the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus. More than 50 works are known nowadays. Alpyarovich`s works are also exhibited in the Historical Museum of the Republic of Belarus and Odessa Art Museum.

Works

• landscape

  • Landscape

  • Autumn

  • Riverbank

• painting

  • Fleck of Geese

• portrait

  • portrait of Y.Y.Klever

    (The portrait was acquired from a grandson of the landscap...)

  • Portrait of a Girl in a Red Dress

    (The painting marked with a monogram in all probality show...)

  • Portrait of a Woman (Portrait of the Artist`s Wife)

    1910

  • Portrait of an Unknown in a Chair

  • Portrait of a Woman in White

  • Woman by the Sea

    1905

• sketch

  • Cottage in a Country

    (The painting shows Nature in storm and to express it the ...)

  • Landscape with a Fence

  • Drying cloths

  • Girl in White

  • Friends

  • At a Bench

  • At a Moonlit Night

Personality

Leu was talented and sincere, open in emotions, and dignified in restrain.

Connections

Leu was married.

teacher:

N. D. Kuznetsov

Friend:

Y. Zhukhovitsky