Russian Art, №3, 2017

“Olga and Leonid Tikhomirov were the only artists who painted the outstanding ballet dancer from life. It took them two years to persuade her to sit for them because her schedule was so busy and, in addition, Ulanova disliked any increased focus on herself. The artists painted three portraits, two of which were acquired by the British collector Roy Miles. In the third portrait, the Tikhomirovs captured Ulanova sitting on her favourite sofa covered with a wall carpet with lilies that had once been in her parents’ apartment. The portrait has been provided for this exhibition dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the ballet dancer’s artistic career, and the 50th anniversary of the creation of the painting itself, by the artists’ daughter Maria Tikhomirova, a member of the Russian Academy of Arts.”

Author - Oksana Karnovich.