Valentin Alexandrovich Serov (1865 - 1911) was a Russian painter. The greatest works of Serov’s early period were portraits ("The Girl with peaches" (1887), "The Girl covered by the sun" (1888); both in Tretyakov gallery). In these paintings Serov concentrated on spontaneity of perception of model and the nature. In development of light and color, in transfer of complex harmony of reflections, in the saturation of the environment by air, in freshness of picturesque perception of the world there appeared the features of early Russian impressionism. From 1890 on, the portrait became the basic genre in Serov’s art, in which his early style would become apparent, and with psychologically pointed characteristics of the subjects revealed in his works. Serov’s favorite models were actors, artists, and writers. During his late period (which began in 1900), Serov was connected with "The World of art", an association Serov was a member of from its beginning. At the turn of the century, Serov was at a stylistic turning point: features of impressionism disappeared from his work, and his modernistic style developed, but his characteristic truthful and realistic comprehension of the nature of his subjects remained constant. The last years of Serov’s life were marked by works on themes from classical mythology. Combining a mythological image with his own perspective, while addressing the ancient tradition, Serov gave his own interpretation of the ancient myths. The best works of Serov are among the greatest of Russian realistic art.
