Gleb W. Derujinsky
Encyclopedia
Gleb W. Derujinsky was a Russian-American sculptor.
Born in Smolensk
, Russia
, he was related to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
on his father's side and the painter Mikhail Vrubel
on his mother's. He completed his law degree at the University of Petrograd
to meet his father's expectations, but devoted his entire life to sculpture.
His artistic studies began in the years 1896–1901 at the Drawing School at the Society for Encouragement of Arts in St.Petersburg, his teacher being sculptor I.I. Andreoletti, the talented pedagogue and professor at the Academy of Arts. Having finally decided in favour of art as his life-work, Derujinsky moved to Paris
in 1912, where he continued his studies at the Académie Colarossi
and at the Académie Julian
, where he was befriended by Rodin
.
He returned to Saint Petersburg
in 1903 and continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts
, Sculpture department, where he received seven first prizes, the first to receive this distinction and was nominated for the Prix de Rome
. He participated in the Academy exhibitions and those organized by the Society for the traveling art exhibitions (Peredvizhniki
), and others. In 1918 he graduated from the Academy and emigrated to the United States
in 1909.
His original sculptures in plaster done from life include Sergei Rachmaninoff
, Sergei Prokofiev
, Lillian Gish
, Lady Diana Cooper, Rabindranath Tagore
, Franklin D. Roosevelt
, Adlai Stevenson, John F. Kennedy
, José R. Capablanca and many others.
Derujinsky's works are in the permanent collections of major museums in the United States
and Europe
as well as many churches and public buildings.
In 1926, he designed and patented the "Rearing Lion" hood ornament for the Franklin automobile
.
He died on March 9th,1975 at thr age of 96 in his home.
Born in Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, he was related to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
on his father's side and the painter Mikhail Vrubel
Mikhail Vrubel
Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel is usually regarded amongst the Russian painters of the Symbolist movement. In reality, he deliberately stood aloof from contemporary art trends, so that the origin of his unusual manner should be sought in Late Byzantine and Early Renaissance painting.-Early...
on his mother's. He completed his law degree at the University of Petrograd
Saint Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg State University is a Russian federal state-owned higher education institution based in Saint Petersburg and one of the oldest and largest universities in Russia....
to meet his father's expectations, but devoted his entire life to sculpture.
His artistic studies began in the years 1896–1901 at the Drawing School at the Society for Encouragement of Arts in St.Petersburg, his teacher being sculptor I.I. Andreoletti, the talented pedagogue and professor at the Academy of Arts. Having finally decided in favour of art as his life-work, Derujinsky moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1912, where he continued his studies at the Académie Colarossi
Académie Colarossi
The Académie Colarossi is an art school founded by the Italian sculptor Filippo Colarossi. First located on the Île de la Cité, it moved in the 1870s to 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumière in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, France....
and at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
, where he was befriended by Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
.
He returned to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
in 1903 and continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts
Imperial Academy of Arts
The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, was founded in 1757 by Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts. Catherine the Great renamed it the Imperial Academy of Arts and commissioned a new building, completed 25 years later in 1789...
, Sculpture department, where he received seven first prizes, the first to receive this distinction and was nominated for the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
. He participated in the Academy exhibitions and those organized by the Society for the traveling art exhibitions (Peredvizhniki
Peredvizhniki
Peredvizhniki , often called The Wanderers or The Itinerants in English, were a group of Russian realist artists who in protest at academic restrictions formed an artists' cooperative; it evolved into the Society for Travelling Art Exhibitions in 1870.- History :In 1863 a group of fourteen students...
), and others. In 1918 he graduated from the Academy and emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1909.
His original sculptures in plaster done from life include Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
, Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
, Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish
Lillian Diana Gish was an American stage, screen and television actress whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987....
, Lady Diana Cooper, Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
, Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, Adlai Stevenson, John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, José R. Capablanca and many others.
Derujinsky's works are in the permanent collections of major museums in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as well as many churches and public buildings.
In 1926, he designed and patented the "Rearing Lion" hood ornament for the Franklin automobile
Franklin (automobile)
The Franklin Automobile Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in the United States between 1902 and 1934 in Syracuse, New York. Herbert H. Franklin, the founder, began his career in the metal die casting business before establishing his automobile enterprise.Franklin founded the H. H. Franklin...
.
He died on March 9th,1975 at thr age of 96 in his home.