Vasily
Alekseevich Vatagin

(1883, Moscow – 1969)

Russian Soviet artist, sculptor, best animal painter in Russian art of the XX century. People's artist of the RSFSR (1964), member of the Academy of arts of the USSR (1957), laureate of the State prize of the USSR (1952).

In 1902 and 1907 he studied at the natural branch of physical-mathematical faculty of Moscow University, he was attended the Studio of N..Martynov and Konstantin Yuon. Youthful enthusiasm determined the entire future path Vatagin: devoting your life to a mostly scientific illustration, he never ceased to be a Renaissance man.

In addition to numerous domestic and foreign illustrated papers on Zoology,

including the German edition of "the lives of animals" Brema.

Upon graduation traveled across Western Europe, travelled to India and Ceylon. In the famous ataginsky illustrations for "Mowgli" and "Riki-Tiki-Tavi" Kipling (the most beloved books of the artist) teamed up a deep knowledge and understanding of the animal world and the shock of what he saw during his travels.

Vatagin and illustrated also other famous works of art

on animals, created by A. Chekhov, L. Tolstoy, V. Bianchi, Jack London, Seton-Thompson.

In the 1930 – 1950s, the artist-scientist working for the Anthropological, Darwinian

and Zoological museums in Moscow, having created numerous murals in the art Nouveau style. In the early 1930s he designed the entrances to the Moscow zoo (dismantled during the restructuring of the 1980-ies).

Teaching career began in 1919 at the Higher art and technical studios (VKhUTEMAS), until the end of his life he taught at various institutions. Wrote educational sketch book, "the image of the animal. Scrapbook animal painter" (1957).

Numerous works by Vatagin is stored in various scientific and artistic museums and archives of Russia, including the Tretyakov gallery and the Russian Museum, collection, RGALI насчитывает1153 drawings and lithographs. In 2006 in the village of Lazarevskoye,

where the artist spent 41 years old, held the opening ceremony of the new memorial Board, established on the initiative of the local creative community.

Born in Moscow on 20 December 1883 (January 1, 1884) in the family of a high school teacher. Studied at the natural branch of Moscow University (1902-1907), simultaneously attending the Studio of N.. Martynov (since 1899) and KF Juon (1904-1906). He also worked in the Studio of K. F. Capstan in Berlin (1910). The sculpture was done independently (1909).As a student he began working with M. A. Marmot, and later prepared a table for his zoogeographic Atlas. Vatagin visited zoos and museums in Holland, France, England, Italy and Greece. He worked in India and the little Earth, Vladivostok and Paris, in Central Asia and in the far North, the Caucasus, the Crimea, the Amur and the Volga, on the lakes of Lapland, in the Askania-Nova reserve. Many worked for the Darwin Museum, Collaborated with si Fire and illustrated many scientific Zoological publications. Performed work for well-known publishers of the first half of the XX century - I. N. Knebel, I. D. Sytina and others. He illustrated books and atlases, German edition by A. Brehm "animal Life"., guide to the Moscow Zoological garden in 1915, children's books L. N. Tolstoy, I. S. Turgenev, V. Bianchi, D. N. Mamin-Sibiryak, D. London, R. Kipling, V. Inber and E. Seton-Thompson. The artist continued to illustrate children's books and scientific publications, and after the October revolution. One of the most significant works Vatagin - creation of illustrations to his favorite book "Mowgli" by R. Kipling, for which they were executed two hundred sketches in pencil, ink and in the technique autolithographies. Vatagin and illustrated his own book - "the image of the animal. Scrapbook animal painter," which was first published in 1957, was a staff member of the Zoological Museum of Moscow state University from 1931 to 1958, Working in the Museum, executed for the decoration of the exhibition and interiors of about 30 monumental mural, murals, more than 100 paintings and several sculptures. For the hall of comparative anatomy the artist wrote ten monumental panels on the topic of the origin and development of the animal world of the Earth. It works fine and still adorn the lobby of the Museum. Vatagin was a great teacher, he taught in Moscow in the 1st GShM (1919), in the higher art (1921), MVHPU (1963-69, 1965 Professor). Vatagin - member of the Academy of arts USSR, laureate of the state prize of the USSR and the RSFSR, a recognized"Patriarch" of domestic animals. Works of the artist are in the Tretyakov gallery, the State Russian Museum, other museums of Russia and abroad.