Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980)

Getting to the description of the life of this amazing woman, biographers inevitably run into the traps she herself. In his declining years, she claimed that "tried everything" and that it was her duty as a direct artist. The behavior of its inhabitants, and resented, and bohemia. She could recklessly given to the charms free life, but at times she could be a caring mother and devoted wife. Several times she rewrote his biography, striking out all the inconvenient facts and dates. Tamara de Lempicka posing for a photograph at the easel.

Thanks to the efforts of the artist, we can not even determine the exact date of her birth. The date most often - 11 May 1898 - appears to be too late when compared with other facts of her life. Moreover, she insisted that she was born in Warsaw, but it seems to us debatable.

So, Tamara de Lempicka (Lempicka, Lempicka) was born at the end of XIX century, probably in Moscow. Her parents were Russian Jews Boris Gursky and one Malvina Dekler. A few years after the birth of the future father of her artist disappeared in an unknown direction (and under mysterious circumstances).

As a child, Tamara predicted future pianist. The love of music instilled in her beloved grandmother Clementine. Girl crook crept into her room, listening to my grandmother play the piano and dreamed of concerts, flowers, applause and fans. Perhaps it really would be a pianist, but in 1907 is the same grandmother Clementine went with her to Italy. On this journey - at least that's what the artist later recalled - and began her passion for painting.

In 1910 (or perhaps earlier) education of the rising generation of Tamara, hitherto located almost entirely in the hands of her grandmother, her mother attended to. Since then, the girl spends more and more time with her in St. Petersburg. Young age does not prevent it appearing everywhere interesting. There is a legend (complicit, apparently still on the truth) that once Lempicka in the company of elders managed to enter the masquerade ball dressed and shepherdess carry with him into the hall two live geese. At the same ball, the legend says, Tamara saw her future husband - Tadeusz Lempicka, scion of a wealthy and noble Polish family, has just received the diploma of a lawyer. The young man was predicted a brilliant future and a fantastic career, but he chose a career and a social life with some incredible pace has captivated the heart of St. Petersburg will give its exquisite looks and impeccable manners. Our heroine is desperately in love with twenty years of bon vivant, but from time to time to keep his feelings to himself. She had something to distract - she began attending classes at the Academy of Fine Arts.

Since 1914, she has lived in St. Petersburg, she remembered her parade riotous party (she later said that the city "does not order the champagne bottles and gallons"). Soon, she has achieved what she wanted: Tadeusz won. They met for an after-dinner coffee, then went to the "Stray Dog." Day flowed seamlessly into the evening and the night - a night. After a while they were married.

The first year of their life together was a blur. Russia was tormented by war, but in a luxurious apartment Lempicka not translated guests, dancing, laughter and, of course, champagne. In the spring of 1917 it still seemed like it will last forever. But come October, and all that was so strong, so habitual, budged, vzvihrilos, away we go - where? Must be in the abyss. At the edge of the abyss was Tadeusz Lempitskii, who was arrested shortly after the October Revolution, and was almost shot "as an alien element." Fortunately, he was released, and Lempicka was able to leave Russia. Deafened by "music revolution" otmyakali, they holed up in Poland. When ready, rushed to Paris. Tamara de Lempicka had no idea that it will now take the hardest.