the black sea - Vjaceslav Fedorovic KORENEV-NOVOROSSIJSKIJ (1868-1928)

Vjaceslav Fedorovic Korenev-Novorossijsky was a Russian painter and graphic artist primarily known for his seascapes.

Born in 1868 in Novossiisk, Russia, Korenev-Novorossijsky began his artistic training at the Odessa School of Drawing, where he studied from 1886 to 1889. He then continued his training at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg from 1889 to 1894. During his studies, he distinguished himself by receiving a small silver medal in 1890. In 1894, he completed his academic studies with the title of unclassified (free) artist, which granted him a degree of artistic autonomy.

His talent quickly became evident, as in 1892, while still a student, he exhibited his works at the 20th exhibition of the prestigious Society of Traveling Art Exhibitions, demonstrating his early recognition in Russian artistic circles.

In the 1890s, Korenev-Novorossijsky became an active member of the Society of Artists of South Russia, with which he exhibited regularly until 1919. This affiliation allowed him to integrate into the regional artistic landscape and develop his style.

His career took an adventurous turn when he enlisted as a sailor between 1894 and 1896, traveling to the Far East and Japan. This maritime experience likely influenced his work, as he specialized as a marine painter, a genre in which he excelled throughout his career.

In 1896, he moved to Vinnytsia, where he taught technical drawing at a real school (a practical secondary school). During this period, he also demonstrated his architectural talents by designing and building a mansion in the Art Nouveau style, illustrating the versatility of his artistic skills.

In the early 20th century, in the 1900s, he taught at the Odessa Art School, contributing to the training of the new generation of Russian artists.

Like many Russian intellectuals and artists, Korenev-Novorossijsky left his native country in 1919, following the upheavals of the Russian Revolution. His emigration took him first to Romania, then to Bulgaria, where he settled in Varna and became the principal of a high school.

Sources differ as to the place of his death: some indicate that he died on July 5, 1928, in France, while others state the date as December 5, 1928, in Shumen, Bulgaria. This uncertainty reflects the often difficult-to-trace fate of Russian émigré artists of this period.