VIKTOR ELPIDIFOROVICH BORISOV-MUSATOV (1870-1905)
One of lthe argest Russian artists at the turn of the 19th century. Born in Saratov, into the family of a railway clerk. Studied in Saratov under V.V.Konovalov, at the Academy of Arts in St.-Petersburg under P.P.Chistyakov and in Paris under F.Cormon. Borisov-Musatov's products were among highlights at many exhibitions of Russian art in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin and Paris. The artist's works are attractive first of all beacuse of their musicality, elegy mood, subtle depicting of human inner feelings.

Numerous landscape compositions by Borisov-Musatov representing blooming lilac or jasmine, created from the middle of the 1890s onwards, allow us to penetrate directly into the artist's creative laboratory. Made in the plain air, they demonstrate that degree of deviation from natural impressions, that allows him, even in small works, to achieve effects intrinsic to decorative painting.

In their turn, the artist's explorations in this direction have influenced the art of many known masters of the early 20th century: P.Kuznetsov, M.Saryan, M.Larionov and others.