Moscow by Viktor Duvidov

Location: Main building / Floor 2 / Second floor hall

Viktor Duvidov was a successor of the school of the famous graphics artist Pyotr Miturich of the XX century and stuck to its traditions. He belonged to the generation of masters who gained fame during the “thaw” and since then had taken an honorable place among the graphic artists of the second half of the XX century. The range of themes that attracted him was enormous, as well as the number of techniques he mastered. Viktor Duvidov illustrated and designed books, worked in painting and easel graphics: drawing, lithography, etching, woodcuts.

Duvidov's biography could have truly become the basis of the novel, and his creative work is a subject for extensive research. The artist was born in Spain in family of communists. During the Civil War he was taken to the Soviet Union among other Spanish children. His parents died, so the child was adopted by a childless family of Moscow doctors A.A. and E.N. Duvidov, and it was the foster parents who gave the name and the date of birth to the future artist. Moscow became the second home of the little Spaniard, who showed great talent in fine arts and music.

Victor Aronovich Duvidov (1932–2000) was a graphic artist, a painter, an illustrator. He studied at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute (1950–1955) and became the member of the Moscow Union of Artists (1961). Since late 60s, Duvidov had traveled a lot, in particular, he visited Tuva and the Pamirs. The artist became famous for his beautiful illustrations and easel graphic series. His temperamental bright cheerful graphics had received recognition. In 1989 Duvidov received the title of Honored Artist of Russia and in 1997 - People's Artist of Russia. In the late 1980s, he tried his hand at monumental painting. The experiment was successful. In 1993, he received the title of Laureate of the State Prize of Russia for painting frescoes in the Paleontological Museum together with M.P. Miturich. In February 2000 Viktor Duvidov died tragically, but his works continue to delight the audience.

Viktor Duvidov had painted urban landscapes and animals, fairy tale characters and ballet dancers with the same passion. Duvidov is sometimes called "the most musical" of our book artists. Even the landscapes performed by him are imbued with a special musicality, tenderness and warmth in relation to the beloved city and its inhabitants. Moscow has become another separate topic in Duvidov's work. The artist loved not only noisy front streets, but also quiet corners: boulevards, courtyards and small city gardens which are good places for leisurely walks with pets.

Viktor Duvidov became famous as an animalist-artist. He often painted animals at the Moscow Zoo. “Speaking of the work of Duvidov,” - wrote the artist I. Bruni, “the definition of “live” often has to be used. This feature of his talent may be the main feature of the artist. His communication with nature is as natural as the song of a bird." The exposition of small exhibition includes works by Viktor Duvidov from the funds of the State Darwin Museum, dedicated to Moscow and its inhabitants, including the four-legged favorites of Muscovites and the inhabitants of the Moscow Zoo.

Duvidov V.A. Cheetahs. Moscow zoo, 1997

Duvidov V.A. Pelicans. Moscow Zoo 1997

Engraving by Duvidov V.A. Sky of Moscow. 1966

Engraving by Duvidov V.A. Tverskoy boulevard. 1967