Adolf Konstantinopolsky

Adolf Markovich Konstantinopolsky (Адольф Маркович Константинопольский; 20 April 1923, Kharkiv — 1 December 1993, Kharkiv) was a Soviet and Ukrainian artist of battle scenes. He fought in the World War II and wa awarded the Order of the Red Star (1945). He earned the title of Merited Artist of Ukraine (1974), and People's Artist of Ukraine (1991). He was Full Professor.

Education
Adolf Konstantonopolsky was born in Kharkiv in the family of a white-collar worker.

He studied at the Kharkiv State School of Art (1940–1941) and at the Kharkiv State Academy of Arts (1948–1954); among his professors were Yury V. Balanovsky, G. A. Tomenko, O. P. Lezina. He painted "Days of Mourning" and "People's Mourning" as his graduation assignment under the guidance of S. F. Besedin.

Art exhibitions
Adolf Konstantinopolsky took part in art exhibitions since 1954.

One of the first artist's paintings, "Native Soil" was exhibited at a Ukrainian art exhibition in 1957. The painting at once won the recognition of viewers and critics, rightfully becoming one of the best battle painting works of the Ukrainian SSR dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. This epic, multi-faceted canvas looks natural and nonchallant. It attracts with its truthfulness and deep meaning. The gaze gradually moves from group to group, from face to face, thus creating the impression that the soldiers are diverse and, at the same time, united in their mood.

The artist's works were exhibited at art exhibitions in Canada (1962) and Italy (1975).

As "The Artists of Kharkiv" guide published in 1967 states, "the best of [his] works have become an asset of the Ukrainian Soviet fine arts."

Adolf Konstantinopolsky many times was a participant in various provincial, Ukrainian, All-Union, and foreign (outside of the Soviet Union) art exhibitions.

Solo exhibitions

 * Kharkiv — 1974, 1983, 1992 and 1998 (retrospective)
 * Kyiv — 1975

Teaching arts
Adolf Konstantinopolsky taught arts at Kharkiv State School of Art (1954–1956), and at Kharkiv Art and Industrial School (later renamed into Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts) from 1960.

Achievements
Adolf Konstantinopolsky was a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine since 1958.

He participated in the creation of:


 * the panel picture "October Revolution" for the main pavilion of the Expocenter of Ukraine in Kyiv (1958, with O. A. Khmelnitsky, O. P. Atsmanchuk, and M. I. Krivenko as co-authors);


 * the diorama "Crossing the Dnieper and Creating a Bridgehead near the Village of Lyutizh on the Approaches to Kyiv."

He painted the following paintings:


 * "Native Soil" (1957);
 * "The Soviet Power has been proclaimed! Kharkiv. 1917" (1959-60, with O. A. Khmelnitsky as a co-author);
 * "Soldiers" (1960);
 * "At Dawn" (1961);
 * "Katerina" (after Taras Shevchenko, 1961);
 * "Varangian" (1954—1965);
 * "Returning from Reconnaissance";
 * "The First Spring";

etc.

His works are located in:


 * the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War,
 * the Kharkiv Art Museum,
 * Ternopil museum,
 * Kryvyi Rih museum, and
 * private collections.

Awards

 * Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (09.05.1945)
 * Order of the Red Star (02.06.1945)
 * Order of the Badge of Honour (24.11.1960)
 * Order of the Patiotic War, First Class (06.04.1985)

Memory
A memorial plaque was unveiled to Adolf Konstantinopolsky in Kharkiv, at Kultury Street, 20b, where the artist lived.