In memory of D. D. Zhilinsky

Russian culture suffered an irreplaceable loss - on July 29, after 89 years of life, after a severe long illness, the People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, academician and member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Arts, laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR, honored art worker of the RSFSR, professor Dmitry Dmitrievich Zhilinsky, died.

D.D.Zhilinsky is one of the largest Russian artists who have won widespread public recognition through his actively creative activities. Having found his own individual pictorial language in tune with the era, he stands apart in the galaxy of artists of the sixties of the twentieth century, who are called representatives of the "severe style".

D.D. Zhilinsky was born in 1927. A graduate of the V.I.Surikov State Art Institute (1951), where his artistic worldview has developed - an interest in the individual, in his intellectual wealth and gravitation towards a high heroic beginning. The works of this time are distinguished by the desire for a perfect transfer of portrait similarity, monumentality, soft nobility of images. A major Russian portrait painter of the second half of the twentieth century, he paints his portraits with the thoroughness of old masters. Undoubtedly, the artist’s interest in the traditions of Italian Renaissance art is noticeable.

The main characters of Zhilinsky’s work are people of culture, carriers of spiritual principles. Portraits of artists N.M. Chernyshev and V.A. Favorsky, artists of the older generation, reflect the diversity and spiritual wealth of people of creative work. The spiritual nobility of people devoted to science and art is perceived as a lifestyle in the portraits of the outstanding physicist of the twentieth century P.L.Kapitsa. Music that exalts a person solemnly sounds in compositions dedicated to the famous pianist Svyatoslav Richter.

One of the most penetrating images of the master’s work is the image of his mother, whom the artist has repeatedly addressed throughout his creative career. For the painting “Waiting” in 1985, D. D. Zhilinsky received the State Prize of the RSFSR im. I. Repina. The painting "1937" (1985), dedicated to the deceased father, grandfather, uncle and all who died without guilt during the repression and lawlessness, is the pride of the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery.

D.D. Илиilina is the author of the famous series of portraits of Queen of Denmark Margrethe II, Prince Consort Frederick and other members of the Royal Family of Denmark, located in the Royal Palace of Amalienborg in Copenhagen (1993). For his great contribution to the development of fine art, the strengthening of international cultural relations and fruitful pedagogical activity in 1994, D.D. Zhilinsky was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

A group portrait of artists “The Spring of the Art Theater” - a meeting of artists at Chekhov’s Yalta cottage (1996) was painted by the master for the 90th anniversary of the Moscow Art Theater. In addition to artists, the author introduced portraits of prominent writers, artists, musicians of the time: F. Chaliapin, M. Gorky, I. Bunin, S. Rachmaninov. D.D.Zhilinsky is the author of a series of 10 portraits of Russian composers of the twentieth century, which became the decoration of the Moscow House of Music (2005).

A great artist, encyclopedically educated, friendly, deeply intelligent person and teacher, he raised many wonderful artists, many of whom were themselves awarded high ranks and awards. For many years, D.D.Zhilinsky taught at the Moscow State Art Institute named after V.I.Surikova, headed the department of drawing and painting at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute. D. Zhilinsky combined the intense creative and pedagogical work with a large public work. He was a member of the Board and the Presidium of the Moscow organization of the Union of Artists of the RSFSR, the Board of the Union of Artists of the RSFSR and the Union of Artists of the USSR, a member of the editorial board of the journal "Creativity".

Until the last days of his life, he worked hard, created new works, participated in meetings of the Presidium of the Academy of Arts, participated in annual student and diploma works at his native institute, and was a regular participant in art exhibitions.

The bright memory of the great contemporary is forever preserved in our hearts.

Farewell to the artist will be held July 31.

Civil requiem - in the hall of the Union of Artists of Russia (Pokrovka, 37)

The funeral service - at 10.30 in the Novodevichy Convent (Novodevichy passage, 1)

Funeral - at Troekurovsky cemetery (24. Ryabinovaya St.)

More details: http://rah.ru/news/detail.php?ID=29973