The basis of the exposition of the theme exhibition “A letter from the front by the
painter Vladimir Fedorov” dedicated to the Victory Day, is formed by the unique original
photographs and sketches by V.A.Fedorov that were given to the museum by his widow
N.G.Fedorova. Special attention is drawn by the painter’s letter to his mother written
on January 23, 1944, Kirovograd was liberated on January 8, 1944. Personal photographs of
V.A.Fedorov in military uniform with inscriptions to his mother are also of great
interest.
Fedorov Vladimir Alexandrovich (1920-1986) was born in Elisavetgrad
(Kirovograd). In 1940 graduated from Odessa Art College. Participated in the Great
Patriotic War, was decorated with an orders and medals. Since 1978 is a member of the
Union of Artists of the USSR. Was an active participant of All-Union, republican and
regional art exhibitions. The oeuvre comprises more than a thousand of paintings and
graphic works, which are kept in museums and private collections.
Life and career of the painter was difficult and thorny. He spent his
childhood and youth in Elisavetgrad on the shore of the river Ingul in the house that was
situated near the Neuhaus’s mansion, because V.A.Federov’s grandmother worked as a
housekeeper there. The Neuhaus family of musicians influenced world outlook of the future
painter. H.V.Neuhaus, father of the world-known pianist H.H.Neuhaus, was the first to
point out the boy’s absolute pitch and advised him to take music seriously. But an
ardour for painting gained a victory. The first painting lessons V.A.Fedorov received from
the sister of H.V.Neuhaus’s wife – D.R.Przhshihovska, a graduate of Munich Academy of
Arts.
V.A.Fedorov belongs to the generation that suffered the horrors of the Great
Patriotic War. From the very first days he participated in hostilities, as he had been in
the ranks of the Red Army since 1940, just after graduating from Odessa Art College. He
got demobilized only in 1947. His notebook and pencil were with him during all the war.
Unique images of fighters who forged victory are reflected in the front sketches that were
made during infrequent minutes between the battles.
Returning to the native town V.A.Fedorov worked as a painter at first
in the local history museum and then in art-industrial workshops.
The theme of war excited V.A.Fedorov all his creative life, that is why many
of his paintings are dedicated to the immortal feat of the Soviet soldier – “Defeat of
the German near Moscow” (1971), “Police in the battles for the Caucasus” (1978),
“Feat of Hero of the Soviet Union V.Galushkina” (1980) and many others, that were
repeatedly exhibited at anniversary and theme art exhibitions. |