Луг

1896–1902

In Odesa: from architecture to painting

He studies at the Odesa art school under L. D. Iorini, K. K. Kostandi and G. A. Ladyzhensky. He first trains as an architect, spends half a year on sculpture, and then devotes himself to painting for good.

1902

Moves to St Petersburg and enters the Academy of Arts

As a medallist of the Odesa school, he is admitted without exams, on probation, to the painting and sculpture department of the Higher Art School at the Academy of Arts.

1902–1908

Five years as Repin’s pupil

For five years he studies under I. E. Repin. He later said that he took from his teacher not the manner of painting but an attitude to art as a life’s work.

after October 1917

Becomes a portraitist of the new order

Accepting the Bolsheviks’ rise to power, he quickly emerges as a portraitist of the nascent new order. After the revolution he takes part in exhibitions of the Peredvizhniki, the Community of Artists, the Kuindzhi Society, the Sixteen group, the “First Free Exhibition” and the “Exhibition of Artists of All Trends”.

1934

Becomes director of the All-Russian Academy of Arts

He becomes director of the All-Russian Academy of Arts and rector of LIZhSA (until 1935); the same year he is the first artist to receive the Order of Lenin. He works on reorganizing art education in the USSR, drawing a large circle of artist-teachers into the institute.

14. August 1939

Died