Fonvisin Arthur V.
(1882-1973)

AV Fonvisin was born to a forester. He began his studies in 1901 in the Moscow School of Painting, but was expelled along with two friends, M. Larionov and C. Yu Sudeikin for the device is not permitted by the authorities show.

In the years 1904-06. continued his education in Germany, in private workshops in Munich.

In the first decade of the century was an active and visible participant in the high-profile exhibitions such as "The Blue Rose", "Garland" Salons "Golden Fleece", "Garland Stefanos", "World of Art".

In the 1920s. became a member of the association "Jack of Diamonds", taught in the studios of the Tambov Proletkult in Nizhny Novgorod Art College.

In the early stages of his work he worked in the mainstream of the symbolism in the lyrical style of the so-called primitive. Cloths Fonvizina that time have a refined palette. Of them seemed to have come a mysterious flickering light that creates a certain state of mind. These are his "Bride" (1902), "Leda", "composition with the figure of Christ" (both 1904).

Today, however, is better known as Fonvisin unrivaled virtuoso of watercolor painting. By the 1930s. He finally chose for himself the basic and favorite since the watercolor technique revealed the romantic and upbeat commissioned his art, outlined the range of topics related to the festive images of theater and circus and immersed in a rosy haze of childhood memories. Immediately color pencil without training, he writes from nature light, airy floral still lifes, landscapes melting into the fog, but mostly portraits, preferring female models.

His favorite character - the actress, often in theatrical costumes associated with a specific role, immersed in an upbeat emotional atmosphere of the scene ("Portrait of DV Zerkalova," "Portrait of YS Glizer," both in 1940, and others). A childhood love of the circus he enjoyed countless no longer kind, and imagination generated color sketches of elegant riders (series "Circus", 1940-70th). Romantic haze enveloped melting into the haze of color images of popular songs (series "Songs and Romances", 1940-60th), childhood memories of the life of the provincial ("cabbies", 1940). It also adjoins the best of his work for the book.

However, neither improvised, as if careless freedom of watercolor letter or romantic reverie of his images did not meet in the 1930s and 1940s. official art installations, and therefore creativity Fonvizina subjected at the time attacked in the press. And during the war, he was for a time exiled to Kazakhstan for the German origin. Yet the artist remained consistently true to the nature of his gift, to the end of life developed and varied are the same favorite motifs.