Berkos Mikhail Andreyevich (1861-1919)

M.A.Berkos was born on September 3, 1861 in Odessa, by nationality - Greek. He studied at the Odessa drawing school (graduated in 1877) and the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg in the painting class led M.K.Klodta and V.D.Orlovskogo (in 1878-1889 gg.). Berkos - senior students became a prominent figure, participates in exhibitions and competitions of artistic works. He was awarded the small and large silver medals (1884-1886 gg.), A gold medal for his painting "View of one of the oldest parks in St. Petersburg" (in 1887), a large gold - for the painting "Landscape. Forest in the swamp. " He became friends with the future artists of Slobozhanshchina: Sergei Vasilkovsky , Mikhail Tkachenko, Konstantin Krizhitskim , Michael Samokisha. While on vacation with his friends come to Kharkov, paints landscapes, in particular study "Complete poppies" (in 1885). He graduated from the Academy with the rank of class artist of the first degree and the right to travel abroad for a four state-owned facility. Travelling Europe, Michael A. studied scenic treasures of the Museums of France in Germany, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. A lot of writing, perfected the technique of drawing, painting was influenced Plener (as a method of artistic recreation of the world directly in an empty space with colored light and achievements of impressionism). At the end of the pensioner's life M.A.Berkos lived for some time in St. Petersburg, presented his works at exhibitions of the Society of Artists.

From the second half of the 1890s, he lives and works in Kharkov. With my family (wife and two children) live in the estate in the Little Danilivtsi where the station is now Sorter. Located in this picturesque village, the artist wrote sketches, some of them have survived until now, "Landscape with Church" (in 1897), "Greenhouses" (in 1895). Besides painting engaged in teaching activities. Of 1904r. teaches at the Kharkiv city school of drawing and painting. In 1912 he was elected as the first director of the Kharkov Art College. In the case of the development of Ukrainian culture is involved in the commission of industrial Kharkov Art Museum, has a large enough help in the formation of its art department. In the early 1900s M.A.Berkos becomes an active member of the architectural art department of Kharkiv-based literary and artistic circle, taking part in the painting of his premises. During this period (about 1907), Kharkov artists, including Berkos, proposed to issue in the national style home interiors Poltava zemstvo. As chairman of the Society of Kharkov artists (from 1906) and a member of the literary and artistic circle M.A.Berkos spends enough great job of popularizing Ukrainian painting, landscape, historical and local history paintings, exhibitions of works of art.