Kostandi Kyriakos K.

October 3, 1852 (s Dofinovka Odessa province) - October 31, 1921 (Odessa)

painter and graphic artist.

born in a family of Greek immigrant KK Vasilketi, whose modified by surname Konstantinidi became the basis for the names Kostandi. Original art education received while working as a retoucher in a photographic studio Byullova in Odessa. In 1870-1873 he studied at the Odessa drawing school. In 1874 he moved to St. Petersburg, where he enrolled at IAH. Worked first as volnoprihodyaschego pupil from 1877 - a permanent student PP Chistyakov. Also received advice INKramskoy and AIKuindzhi. In 1876 he was awarded a small silver medal in 1879 and 1881 - two large silver medals. In 1882 he released from the Academy with the rank of class artist of the 3rd degree.

lived in Odessa. He worked as a genre painter, landscape painter, portraitist. Since 1884 he participated in exhibitions TPHV, since 1897 a member of the Association. From 1885 until his death he taught drawing and painting at the Odessa drawing school, converted in 1899 in the Odessa Art School of Fine Arts Society. Among his pupils - I. Brodsky, MB Greeks, AA Shovkunenko and others.

In 1887, together with the artist ND Kuznetsov and his brother traveled to France, Austria, Germany and Italy. Been influenced by French impressionism. In 1890 became a founding member and regular exhibitor of the Association of South Russian artists, from 1902 he chaired the association. In 1898-1899 took part in the creation of the Municipal Art Museum in Odessa. In 1900 at the World Exhibition in Paris was marked by a silver medal. In 1907 "in recognition of the artistic field" was awarded the title of academician.

After the revolution of 1917 attended Gubnarobraza, worked in the Commission for the Protection of works of art and antiquities. From 1917 served as director of the Odessa Art Museum. After his death his disciples in Odessa was organized by the Art Society to them. KK Kostandi (lasted until 1929). In 1924 it was organized a memorial exhibition of the master in Odessa. Retrospective exhibition of works Kostandi held in 1941 in Kiev, in 1952 - in Odessa.

Kostandi - one of the largest Ukrainian painters abroad XIX - XX centuries, the representative of late Peredvizhnichestvo. His work has undergone a certain evolution: from the early works (1880), created in the spirit of critical realism, he came to the impressionistic free manner of painting with a subtle transmission of light-air, rich colors, texture stroke. The best works of the 1890's - 1900's, filled with subtle lyricism and contemplative. The artist liked twilight lighting effects, blurs clear substantive contours. In his later works is subordinated to the shaky scenic elements, which seemed to dissolve the figures and objects.

Kostandi works are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum, Odessa State Art Gallery, Museum of Ukrainian Art in Kiev and others.