POPOV Boris Nikanorovich

July 7, 1909 (Kem, Arkhangelsk province) — September 11, 2001 (Moscow)

Painter, graphic artist, scene-designer

Boris Nikanorovich Popov was born in 1909 in Arkhangelsk province. His parents were sent into exile for three years in Kem for participation in revolutionary activities. After exile his family returned to Voronezh, to the home of his father. In 1917 after the revolution father of the artist Nikanor Popov took part in foundation of the new school in the village; he also headed the department of public education; he was a member of the volost executive committee. In august of 1919 Nikanor Popov was shot by the detachments of the General Mamontov. When the army of Budyonny came to Voronezh, mother of the artist Olga Yakovlevna Tsingovatova began to serve in the military commissariat, later she worked at the headquarters of the Southern Front. In 70th anniversary of his father’s death B. N. Popov completed the work on the painting, dedicated to his father.

In early 1920s Boris Popov lived in Moscow experimental-demonstrative school-commune of P. N. Lepeshinsky (MOPShKa) in connection with the loss of his breadwinner. At school Popov took interest in drawing; later he began to study painting under the guidance of the artist and teacher A. Ya. Bashilov.

In 1926–1930 Boris Popov studied under E. N. Yakub and S. N. Nikolaevsky at Moscow State College of Fine Arts in memory of the revolt of 1905. He graduated from the college with the diploma of scene-designer. Popov travelled a lot through the country, visited Donbass, the Volga region. Trip to Donbass gave material for miner subject in artworks of the painter. In Moscow Boris Popov often visited the house of his uncle, professor of literature A. Ya. Tsingovatov. Tsingovatov was also the first biographer of Alexander Blok. Popov drew sketches of the guests at his uncle’s home — famous poets, writers, dramatists.

In 1929 Popov participated in the International exhibition of student works in London.

In 1930–1933 Boris Popov worked as a scene-designer in the theatres of Vladivostok, Achinsk and other cities of the Far East and Siberia. He designed the operas Boris Godunov, Queen of Spades, The Barber of Seville. He also drew scene designs to the performances Warm Heart, Bread and others. In 1934 Popov returned to Moscow, entered the Political University of Fine Arts (finished two courses), headed art department of the Central Museum of Red Army. In the Museum he met fairy tale artist and illustrator of the Russian folklore Galina Sergeevna Solovieva (1908–1984) and married her.

In 1936 Popov took part in Exhibition-Show of the works of young artists (painting, drawing, sculpture) in Moscow.

When the Great Patriotic War began, Boris Popov went as a volunteer into the people’s volunteer corps. He was not taken to the army because of weak eyesight. When Moscow was not any more under the threat of enemy’s attack, Popov returned to the painting. He painted portraits the Heroes of Labor, partisans, soldiers, commanders. Later he was taken to the motor-road forces as an artist. His military unit participated in the fighting together with the 1st Belorussian, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts. Popov created agitation panels and political posters. At the end of the war, Popov was in Berlin, drew sketches of the last days of the Nazi Reich. Later he painted battle-scene pictures Nazi capitulation in Berlin and Days of fighting in Berlin. These paintings were exposed at the exhibition of 50th anniversary of the Victory Day at the Kuznetsky Most. Boris Popov was awarded the order The Great Patriotic War, medals For Defense of Moscow, For the Capture of Berlin, For the Victory over Germany.

Boris Popov began to participate in different exhibitions after the War. He took part in many Moscow and all-USSR exhibitions. His works about the War were exposed at the exhibitions The heroic episodes of the Great Patriotic War (1945, Moscow), Artworks of the artists soldiers (1946, Moscow) and others.

Popov painted portraits, landscapes, genre paintings. In 1960s–1980s he painted landscapes of Tuva, Siberia, Central Russia; he created a series of paintings about Yenisei River; he painted also a lot of landscapes of Moscow region.

In 1990s Popov worked in Prague and its environs. The famous Charles Bridge, the flourishing Prague parks, monumental ancient castles and churches were on the canvases of Popov at that time.

In 1975 Popov was conferred title of the Honored Culture Worker of the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic). He was an active member of Moscow association of the Union of artists. He was also on the board of Moscow World Foundation.

Personal exhibitions of the artist’s works were held in 1964, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, and 1979 in Moscow. The last personal exhibition was held in august 1999 at the Kuznetsky Most and was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Popov.

Boris Popov was buried in Moscow.

Works by Boris Popov are in many museums of Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Donetsk and in private collections.

Thank Y. L. Tsingovatov for assistance in preparing the biography.