Vasili Kirillovich Nechitailo (1915-1980) was a People's Artist of the RSFSR, a winner of the prestigious Repin State Prize, and a Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Arts. He was one of the most celebrated and skillful masters of the multi-figure genre scene in the Soviet era. His education was superb; after attending the Moscow Art School in Memory of 1905, he graduated from the Surikov Institute in 1942 from the studio of the great master Sergei Gerasimov.
Nechitailo is most famous for his large, vibrant canvases depicting the life and traditions of the Kuban Cossacks, but his mastery extended to all forms of genre and landscape painting. His work in our collection showcases his brilliant ability to compose complex scenes. The "Study for painting Kalkhoz Praznik" (Collective Farm Holiday) is a prime example of his work celebrating rural Soviet life, expertly arranging figures in a scene brimming with optimistic energy. In "Old Village Lower Sutka in the Altai Region," he demonstrates his skill as a landscape painter, capturing the authentic character of a remote village with a rich, expressive palette.
The legacy of Vasili Nechitailo is that of a major master of the Socialist Realism school, confirmed by his highest state honors. His paintings are held in the permanent collections of the State Tretyakov Gallery and the State Russian Museum, a testament to their immense cultural importance. For the collector, owning a painting by Nechitailo is to acquire a work by a People's Artist and Repin Prize winner. His art is a powerful, joyful, and historically significant celebration of Russian life.
