Rare Nahr kalb landmark by Russian Orientalist George Aleef
$1,500.00 USD
Rare 65x50cm oil on canvas George Aleeff signed Born in Russia, he served as a bodyguard for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia until the October Revolution broke out. He became part of a large group of civilians and former members of the White Russian Army (collectively known as white émigrés) who, after the Russian Civil War, retreated to South Crimea and then to Istanbul before ultimately emigrating to other countries. [2] Aleef remained in Istanbul, and during this period, in around 1920, became a professional painter. He later moved to Palestine and in 1948 during the Palestinian exodus, he relocated to Jordan, where he lived until 1967. In Jordan, he set up a studio. Aleef was one of the few artists who arrived in Jordan at that time, willing to give private art lessons in his studio. [3] Aleef was able to make a living by giving painting lessons, Russian language lessons and by selling small works of art. He started the first art college in Jordan,[4] and was considered to be a very useful teacher who introduced locals to easel painting and promoted an appreciation of European art. [5] Local artists including Muhanna Al-Dura, Rafiq Lahham, and Suha Katibah Noursi studied in Aleef's studio. According to Dura's memoirs, Aleef taught his students the basics of watercolor, drawing and painting, and the European understanding of perspective. [6] He taught his students to meticulously render a matchbox as an exercise in perspective. [7] Dura along with the other young artists who studied with Aleef helped to spark a local, Jordanian art movement. [8]
- Status
- live
- Condition
- used
- Category
- Antiques
- Location
- Lebanon, Beirut, Achrafieh
- Seller
- Classified Ads