Olga's Gallery

(1865-1911)

Valentin Serov at Artprice. To look at auction records, find Serov's works in upcoming auctions, check price levels and indexes for his works, read his biography and view his signature, access the Artprice database.

            The artist Valentin Alexandrovich Serov was born into the family of a famous Russian composer Alexander Serov. In 1871 his father died, and in 1872-73 the little boy with his widowed mother, née Bergman, lived in Munich, where he had lessons from the artist K. Kepping. In 1874, they moved to Paris, where Valentin regularly visited the studio of Ilya Repin, who was very fond of the little boy. In 1875, the Serovs came to live at Abramtsevo, the estate of the industrial tycoon Savva Mamontov, and the cultural center of the time, where artists, musicians and actors were always welcome. Valentin grew up in an atmosphere of constant creativity, which characterized the Mamontovs’ household. He was lucky in getting a professional education from early childhood from the best Russian artists, and he soon showed himself to be a remarkably precocious draughtsman. He would catch the likeness of a model often more quickly and surely than the older artists in the ‘facetious drawing competitions’, which were so much a part of the gay and idyllic life of Abramtsevo. At the age of 15 Serov entered Academy of Arts in the class of professor Pavel Tchistykov. There he met his lifelong friend Vladimir Derviz. His first exhibited works Girl with Peaches. Portrait of Vera Mamontova. (1887) and Girl in the Sunlight. Portrait of Maria Simonovich. (1888) were a sensation. Critics called them a new word in painting. At the time of painting them Serov was unfamiliar with the works of the French Impressionists, yet he came very close to Renoir in these luminous, sunny, splendidly composed portraits.
            Serov tried himself in different genres: he was a beautiful landscape painter in a more sensuous and less nostalgic vein than another teacher of his, Isaac Levitan: Pond in Abramtsevo. (1886), The Overgrown Pond. Domotcanovo. (1888), Village. (1898), Watermill in Finland. (1902). Serov’s historical paintings are also of value and interest: Peter II and Princess Elizabeth Petrovna Riding to Hounds. (1900), Peter the Great. (1907).
            Serov became the most successful and brilliant portraitist in Russia of the 1890s and first decade of the 20th century. His most famous portraits are Portrait of the Actress Maria Yermolova. (1905), Portrait of Henrietta Girshman. (1907), Portrait of Ida Rubenstein. (1910), Portrait of Princess Olga Orlova. (1911).
He traveled much, participated in exhibitions in Russia and abroad. In 1897-1909, Serov taught in Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. He was a superb technical master of the many media in which he practiced and that too did not fail to impress his students. Among his pupils were N.N. Sapunov, M.I. Mashkov, P.V. Kuznetsov, N.P. Krymov, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, C.Y. Sudeykin, K.F. Yuon and others. In 1903, he was elected the academician of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Serov died in 1911.

Akimova (or Akimyan), Maria Nikolayevna (1869-1933), née Kananov, daughter of a rich Moscow philantropist V.I. Kananov (or Kananyan).
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Maria Akimova.

Angelo Masini (1845-1926) Italian tenor, often sang on tour in Russia.
See: Constantin Korovin. Portrait of Italian Singer Angelo Masini.
Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Italian Singer Angelo Masini.

Balmont, Konstantin Dmitrievich (1867-1942) Russian poet, translator, and essayist, one of the greatest Russian symbolists.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Poet Konstantin Balmont.

Benois, Anna Karlovna  (!869-1952), née Kind, the wife of Alexander Nikolaevich Benois (1870-1960), Russian artist, art historian, art critic, one of the organizers and leaders of the union and magazine ‘World of Art’.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Anna Benois.

Blaramberg, Pavel Ivanovich (1841-1907), composer and publicist, close friend of the Serovs.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Composer Pavel Blaramberg.

Botkina, Maria Pavlovna (1875-1952), née Tretyakova, daughter of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, founder of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Maria Botkina.

Botkina, Sophia Mikhailovna, née Malutina, wife of the merchant Peter Dmitriyevich Botkin.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Sophia Botkina.

Chokolov, Sergey Petrovich (1848-1921), railroad engineer, worked for Savva Mamontov; Chokolova, Ekaterina Nikolayevna (1863? -) is his wife.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Yekaterina Chokolova. Portrait of Sergei Chokolov.

Derviz, Nadezhda Yakovlevna  (1866-1908), née Simonovich, cousin of the artist, married Serov’s friend Vladimir Dmitrievich Derviz. Her sister Adelaida was married to Vladimir’s brother Valeriyan Dmitrievich Derviz.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Nadezhda Derviz with Her Child.

Dragomirova, Sophia Mikhailovna (1871-1953), after marriage Lukomskaya, daughter of Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov (1830-1905), general, scientist in military theory and teacher.
See: Ilya Repin. Portrait of Sophia Dragomirova.
Valentin Serov. Portrait of Sophia Dragomirova-Lukomskaya.

Dyagilev, Sergey (Serge) Pavlovich (1872-1929), specialist in drama practice and studies, organizer of art exhibitions, since 1907 used to organize Russian Seasons in Paris.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Sergei (Serge) Diaghilev.

Fedotova, Glikeria Nikolayevna (1846-1925) actress, famous for her parts in plays by A.N. Ostrovskiy.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Actress Glikeria Fedotova.

Fokin, Mikhail Mikhailovich (1880-1942) Russian ballet dancer, ballet-master and teacher, participant of Russian Seasons in Paris, organized by S.P. Dyagilev.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Mikhail Fokin.

Francesco Tamagno (1851-1905) Italian singer, tenor, was on tour in Russia when V. Serov drew this portrait.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Italian Singer Francesco Tamagno.

Girshman, Vladimir Osipovich (1867-1936) Moscow manufacturer, collector and patron of arts, married to Henrietta Leopoldovna Girshman (1885-1970), née Leon.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Henrietta Girshman. Portrait of Henrietta Girshman. Portrait of Henrietta Girshman. Portrait of Vladimir Girshman.

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1952), daughter of the Emperor Alexander III, sister of the Emperor Nicholas II. At the age of 19 she got married to Prince Peter of Oldenburg. Their marriage wasn't happy. In 1903 she met a military officer, captain Kulikovsky, but they could marry only in 1916, they had two sons. During the World War I Olga Alexandrovna worked as a medical nurse in the army. After Bolsheviks’ Revolution she managed to leave Russia. In 1919-1948 she lived in Denmark with her mother. In 1848-1960 she lived in Canada, on her farm. Died in Canada.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna.

Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich (1832-1909), son of the Emperor Nicholas I, Chairman of the State Council (1881-1901).
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich.

Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich (1860-1919), sixth son of the Emperor Alexander II, uncle of the Emperor Nicholas II. General adjutant. Shot by Bolsheviks on 28 January 1919 in Petrograd.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich.

Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich (1863-1919), grandson of the Emperor Nicholas I; third son of the Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich. Shot by Bolsheviks on 28 January 1919 in Petrograd.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich.

Grunberg, Izabella Yulyevna, after marriage Kamenetskaya, daughter of Maria Greigoryevna (1853-1924) and Y. O.  Grunberg, office manager of the magazine Niva.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Izabella Grunberg.

Golizyn, Vladimir Mikhailovich (1847-1932), Moscow Vice-Governor, then Governor (1887-1891), Mayor of Moscow (1897-1905).
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Prince Vladimir Golitsyn.

A. Kasyanov, a Siberian merchant.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of A. Kasyanov.

Karzinkina, Elizaveta Sergeyevna (1886-1921) ballet dancer.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Elisaveta Karzinkina.

Karsavina, Tamara Platonovna (1885-1977) Russian ballet dancer, one of the main participants of Russian Seasons in Paris (since 1907) organized by S.P. Dyagilev.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Ballet-Dancer T. Karsavina.

Leskov, Nikolay Semenovich (1831-1895), pen-name of N. Stebnitskiy, Russian novelist, author of many realistic novels and stories, depicting life of different layers of the Russian society; satires, essays, memoirs. A well-known story is his A Lady Macbeth of Mstensk, put into opera by Dmitry Shostakovich.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Author Nikolay Leskov.

Loseva, Evdokiya Ivanovna (1881-1936), née Chizhova, artist, pupil of the artist.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Yevdokia Loseva.

Lvova, Maria Yakovlevna (1864-1955), née Simonovich, cousin of V. Serov, sculptor.
See: Valentin Serov. Girl in the Sunlight. Portrait of Maria Simonovich. Portrait of Maria Lvova.

Mamontova, Liudmila Anatolyevna (1874-1937), daughter of Anatoliy Ivanovich Mamontov, niece of Savva I. Mamontov, married to Muravyev.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Liudmila Mamontova.

Mamontova, Maria Fedorovna (1864-1962), after marriage Yakunchikova, niece of Savva Mamontov, known for her activities in developing folk crafts.
See: Valentin Serov. Maria Mamontova Riding a Horse.

Mamontova, Praskovya Anatolyevna (1873-1945), daughter of Anatoliy Ivanovich Mamontov, niece of Savva Mamontov, after marriage Rachinskaya.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Praskovya Mamontova.

Morozov, Aleksey Vikulovich (1857-1934) collector of old Russian paintings, china, graphic and lithographic portraits.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Alexei Morozov.

Morozov, Ivan Abramovich (1871-1921) manufacturer, collector of the contemporary paintings of Russia and France, brother of Mikhail Abramovich Morozov; his wife Yevdokiya Sergeevna Morozova. Morozov has gathered a big collection of Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso and others. After the Bolshevik revolution, in November 1917, his collection was nationalized, a museum of Modern Western Art was founded. Morozov was appointed the assistant director of the museum.
See: Constantin Korovin. Portrait of Ivan Morozov.
Valentin Serov. Portrait of Yevdokia Morozova. Portrait of Ivan Morozov.

Morozov, Mikhail Abramovich (1870-1903), patron of arts, collector of Russian and French newest arts, brother of Ivan Abramovich Morozov; his wife Morozova, Margarita Kirillovna (1873-1958), née Mamontova, pianist. Their son Morozov, Mikhail Mikhailovich (1897-1952), childhood nickname Mika, later a specialist in Shakespeare studies, translator.
See: Valentin Serov. Mika Morozov. Portrait of Mikhail Abramovich Morozov. Portrait of Margarita Morozova.

Morozova, Maria Fedorovna (1829-1911) mother of Savva Timofeyevich Morozov.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Maria Morozova.

Nizhinsky, Vazlav Fomich (1889-1950), Russian ballet dancer, leading dancer and ballet-master of Russian Seasons in Paris, organized by S.P. Dyagilev. Nizhinsky revived the art of male dance and was innovator as choreographer. He left memoirs about his career in ballet and people he met.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Vazlav Nizhinsky.

Oliv, Mara Konstantinovna (1870-1963) a relative of Savva Mamontov.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Mara Oliv.

Orlova, Olga Konstantinovna (1872- 1923), Princess, née Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya.
See: Portrait of Princess Olga Orlova. Portrait of Princess Olga Orlova.

Ostroukhov, Ilya Semenovich (1858-1929), collector, artist and cultural worker.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Artist Ilya Ostroukhov.

Peter II (1715-1730)- grandson of Peter the Great, Russian Emperor in 1727-30.
See: Valentin Serov. Peter II and Princess Elizabeth Petrovna Riding to Hounds.

Pobedonostsev, Konstantin Petrovich (1827-1907), conservative statesman, lawyer, the Chief Procurator of Synod.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of K. Pobedonostsev.

Portrait of Alexander Lensky and Alexander Yuzhin. Lensky, Alexander Pavlovich, stage name of Verviciotti (1847-1908), actor, producer, theoretic of drama. Played in Maly Theater. One of the founding members of the Novy Theatre, where he was a producer. Yuzhin,  Alexander Ivanovich, stage name of  Sumbatashvili (1857-1927), actor, playwright.
See also Ivan Kramskoy. Portrait of Actor Alexander Lensky in a Stage Costume.
Valentin Serov. Portrait of Alexander Lensky and Alexander Yuzhin.

Pavlova, Anna Pavlovna (1881-1931), stage name of Matveyeva, ballet dancer. She was trained in St. Petersburg at the Imperial Ballet School, and became world famous. She performed in Russian Seasons in Paris since 1908; in 1910 organized a ballet company with which traveled with concerts though Europe, America, Asia. This drawing was executed as a sketch for a poster of Russian Seasons in Paris in 1909. Pavlova choreographed over a dozen works and did much to create the stereotyped image of the ballerina which persists today.
See: Valentin Serov. Anna Pavlova in the Ballet Sylphyde. Portrait of Anna Pavlova.

Poznyakov, Nikolai Stepanovich (1879-1941) composer, ballet-master.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Nikolay Pozniakov.

Repina, Vera Alexeevna (1855-1918), née Shevtsova, the first wife of the artist Ilya Repin.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Vera Repina.

Rubinstein, Ida Lvovna (1880-1960), Russian ballet dancer, participated in the first Russian Seasons in Paris, organized by S.P. Dyagilev.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Ida Rubenstein.

Semenov-Tien-Shansky, Peter Petrovich (1827-1914), geographer, botanist, public and state figure, collector of old Holland paintings. He was the head of the Russian Geographical Society (since 1873) and Russian Entomological Society (since 1889). In 1856-57 researched Tien-Shan and was the first to give its scientific description. Organized a number of other expeditions to Central Asia. He was in charge of publishing of several scientific works on geographical description of Russia.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky.

Serov, Alexander Nikolayevich (1820-1871), composer, author of the operas Judith (1862), Rogneda (1865), and music critic, author of brilliant works on M. Glinka, R.Vagner, L. van Bethoven, and others; father of the artist. This portrait Valentin Serov drew from memory, photos and lithographs.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Composer Alexander Serov.

Serov, Sasha (Alexander Valentinovich) (1892-1959) elder son of the artist.
Serov, Yura (Yuri or Georgy Valentinovich)  (1894-1929) son of the artist, actor.
Serov, Mikhail Valentinovich (1896-1938) third son of the artist.
Serov, Anton Valentinovich (1900-1942) forth son of the artist.
Serova, Olga Valentinovna (1890-1946) daughter of the artist.
Serova, Natalia Valentinovna (1908-?) daughter of the artist.
See: Valentin Serov. Sasha Serov. The Children. Sasha and Yura Serov.
 

Scherbatova, Polina Ivanovna (?-1966), Princess, wife of the Prince S.A. Scherbatov, painter and collector.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Princess Polina Shcherbatova.

Simonovich, Adelaida Yakovlevna (1872-1945), cousin of the artist, wife of the mathematician Valerian Dmitrievich Derviz. Her sister, Nadezhda, was married to the brother of Valerian, Vladimir Dmitrievich Derviz.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Lialia (Adelaida) Simonovich. Portrait of Adelaida Simonovich.

Simonovich, Nikolay Yakovlevich (1869-1940), cousin of the artist.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Kolya (Nikolay) Simonovich.

Staal, Anna Markovna (1875-1960) wife of A.F. Staal, barrister.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Anna Staal.

Stasov, Dmitry Vasilyevich (1828-1918), public figure, lawyer; brother of Vladimir Stasov (1824-1906), art critic, art historian, archeologist.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Dmitry Stasov.

Trubnikova, Olga Fedorovna, after marriage Serova, wife of the artist, they married on 29 January, 1889.
See: Valentin Serov. By the Window. Portrait of Olga Trubnikova. By the Window. Portrait of Olga Trubnikova. Portrait of Olga Serova. Summertime. Portrait of Olga Serova.

Yermolova, Maria Nikolayevna (1853-1928) actress, the first to get a title of the People’s Artist of the Republic in 1920.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of the Actress Maria Yermolova.

Yusupova, Zinaida Nikolayevna (1861-1939), Princess from the old noble family of Yusupovs, she was the last representative of the family, that is why upon a special order of the Emperor the title of Prince and the name of Yusupov were transferred to her husband, Count Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston (1856-1928), Moscow General Governor (1914-15); their sons: Sumarokov-Elston, Nikolai Felixovich (1882-1908), Count, the elder son, was killed in a duel; Sumarokov-Elston, Felix Felixovich (1887-1967) Count, later Prince Yusupov, the younger son, was married to Grand Duchess Irina Alexandrovna (1895-1970), niece of Emperor Nicholas II. He is famous for organizing the assassination of Grigoriy Rasputin. Left memoirs about his family and his emperial relatives.
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Princess Zinaida Yusupova. Portrait of Prince Felix Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elstone. Portrait of Count Nikolay Sumarokov-Elstone. Portrait of Count Felix Sumarokov-Elstone, later Prince Yusupov.

Zabelin, Ivan Egorovich (1820-1908) historian, archeologist, one of the founders of Historical Museum in Moscow, academician of the Academy of Arts (1892), Correspondent Member (1884) and then Honored Member (1907) of the Academy of Science. Headed excavations of Scythians’ hill Tchertomlyk, ancient Greek cities of Phanagohria and Olvia. Gathered a big collection of manuscripts of 15th-18th centuries. Author of scientific works, one of the most famous is Everyday life of the Russian people XVI-XVII centuries (1869).
See: Valentin Serov. Portrait of Ivan Zabelin.

Bibliography:
Serov by V. Leniashin. Russian Painters of the XIX century. Moscow. 1989.
The Art and Architecture of Russia (Pelican History Art) by George Heard Hamilton. Yale Univ Pr, 1992.
A Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Artists 1420-1970 by John Milner. Antique Collectors' Club, 1993.
Valentin Serov : Portraits of Russia's Silver Age by Elizabeth Valkenier. Northwestern University Press, 2001.
Valentin Serov. 1865 - 1911. Paintings. Graphic Art. by Vladimir Leniashin, Vladimir Kruglov, Yevgenia Petrova, Joseph Kiblitsky. Palace Editions, 2005.