Alexander Danilichev

Alexander Timofeevich Danilichev (1921 - 1994) was one of the most famous and popular painters of the Soviet Union, whose career was marked by exceptional talent and international recognition. Born in Zadanovo Tula in 1921, his advanced skill was evident from his earliest studies. He graduated from the Artistic Institute of Moscow in 1937 and continued his education at the prestigious Surikov Art Institute from 1939 to 1945. During World War II, Danilichev was identified by the Soviet government as a key cultural asset and was evacuated to Samarkand, Uzbekistan to ensure his safety. He later returned to the Surikov Institute, where he received his doctorate in 1947 and eventually became the head of his own studio in 1960.

Danilichev’s stature was so great that he was chosen for a unique and critical cultural mission. During Franco's regime, Spain sought to rebuild its national artistic tradition and requested a master artist from Russia to lead this revival. Danilichev was the artist sent, and he became revered in Spain as Russia's greatest Soviet-era painter. This is exemplified by the title "Pintor del Pueblo" ("Painter of the People") bestowed upon him in 1950. His international career was extensive, with over 60 exhibitions in Western Europe, including shows in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Bologna, Romania, Hungary, Mongolia, and Spain.

As a Merited Artist of Russia and a celebrated professor, Danilichev's legacy is secured in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the Museum of Russian Art in Kyiv. For the collector, acquiring a work by Danilichev is to own a piece of significant historical and artistic importance. His paintings represent the pinnacle of the Soviet art tradition, created by a master who was not only celebrated at home but was also a cultural ambassador to the world.