Sebestyén Shakirov (Russian/Hungarian, 1893-1966)

Tropical landscape with figures and huts. Oil on canvas, signed lower right, in a gilt frame with molded leaves, overall 18" x 20 ½".

Shakirov Sebestyén (1893–1966); painter; Nagybánya (Baia Mare) school for painters; plein-air. Shakirov was a WW I soldier and prisoner from Kazany (Kazan), Russia who decided not to turn back home. Between 1920 and 1926, he attended the free painting school from Nagybánya (Baia Mare), at that time led by the famous painter János Thorma (1870–1937). In the upcoming years, he travelled and moved several times, discovering and depicting the landscapes of the Zsil (Jiu) valley and the now wiped off Danubian island, Ada Kaleh.In 1929, he married Mária Labina, and they settled in Nagybánya, populated by the well-known colony of painters. His wife introduced him to the Unitarian religion, and being interested in the origins of this religion, Shakirov started his field days to Déva (Deva). As a result, he created several artworks depicting the ruins of Déva fortress, the place of martyrdom of the first Unitarian bishop, Dávid Ferenc’s (Francis David) life.

Condition: Good, sporadic inpainting seen under UV light.