Sergei Bongart Original Vintage Ukrainian Russian European American Santa Monica California Post Impressionist Expressionist Portrait Oil Painting
Original, striking vintage portrait oil painting, by Russian American artist, Sergei Bongart, (1918-1985). Possibly a young self portrait, of the artist; as the subject/sitter has the same pointed chin, mouth, and eyes, and even up-tilted, quizzical, (our) left eyebrow, as the artist.
Born in Kiev, in the Ukraine, Sergei Bongart, (1918–1985), was traditionally trained in the academics, and Russian Realism at the Kiev Art Institute. With remarkable early talent, his paintings graced the walls of museums, by age eighteen. Sergei Bongart studied art in Prague, Munich, and Vienna, as well as Kiev; before emigrating to the United States, in 1948. Bongart lived 6 years in Memphis, Tennessee; the location of his sponsor. In 1954, he moved to Los Angeles, where he furthered his training, with the renowned Russian-born master, Nikolai Fechin, and founded an art school. He taught a number of aspiring young painters who later became well-known, nationally collected American artists—among them: Peter Liashkov, Del Gish, Sunny Apinchapong, Ron Lukus, Rulon Hacking, Melinda Miles, Patricia LeGrande Bongart, Susan Greaves, James Dudley Slay, Don Sahli and Ovanes Berberian.
In 1969, Bongart established an art school in Idaho. He lived half the year in Santa Monica, California and the other half in Idaho. Much of his art reflects the rustic settings which reminded him of his homeland.
Bongart is admired for his richly colored and emotionally expressive landscapes, still lifes and portraits. He was best known as a colorist, working in exaggerated color, using dynamic but carefully controlled color relationships and extolling the virtues of approaching painting as "color first, subject last." His work is featured in prominent museums, and has received many awards, including a 1982 Gold Medal from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame for his oil painting entitled "Spring Evening." In 1968, he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member.
Reference Catalogued Examples:
https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2011_06/11/21/213029612/c0c7d83c-1bbf-45cb-afca-8fe9b78dff7f_570.Jpeg
http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll00275lldMRFJFguTECfDrCWvaHBOcJTvE/sergei-bongart-self-portrait.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/24/6d/1d/246d1df393ed13d175a6480ead0cfbfe--art-oil-art-paintings.jpg
http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll00147lldvpMJFgbXECfDrCWQFHPKcxQ6E/sergei-bongart-at-the-easel.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-97thTBUnIvc/T0wC7asFfeI/AAAAAAAACNg/1nsSFQ7VFZI/s640/Man+with+Turban+-+c1965.jpg
https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2010_10/17/0021/989013/129317293649089051_0b894193-80ca-4c16-ba22-e6d8642a1519_206448_570.Jpeg
Sergei Bongart
(1918–1985)
Russian-American Painter, Colorist, Post Impressionist
Portrait, (possibly a young self-portrait, of the artist)
Oil on Canvas
Estimated to have been created approximately 1965 or a bit earlier; when the artist painted/resided with Nicolai Fechin, in the Santa Monica studio
Painting measures approximately 18" X 24"
Signed lower right. (BO is the most prominent). Above this, are letters in Russian Cyrillic "Bp", then illegible. On reverse, there is also a signature on the top wood stretcher bar; next to that, there is a number-possibly the year.
Painting is in good condition. There has been some slight shrinkage and expansion of the canvas over the years, which has caused some feathering of the paint through-out in larger areas, as shown. Does not affect the overall stability of the paint; however, should be mentioned for quality assurance.
Contact Us:
pacificfineart@gmail.com
424-259-3290