23.07.1889 – 12.07.1974

Yuri Annenkov, painter and writer was born July 23, 1889 in Petropavlovsk in the family narodovoltsa.

The artist’s talent was manifested early in Annenkov. One of the first works for the general public was political cartoons for an illegal gymnasium magazine. In 1907, Annenkov became acquainted with Ilya Repin. In 1908, Annenkov entered the law faculty of St. Petersburg University. In 1909 he tried to enter the Academy of Arts, but the exam failed. Then Annenkov enters the workshop of Ya. F. Tsionglinsky. It is Tsionglinsky who will then advise him to go to Paris.

In 1911 the artist goes to Paris, takes lessons from Maurice Denis and Felix Vallotton. At that moment he is fond of fashionable then direction – cubism. In 1913 after the debut in the Salon of Independent Annenkov returned to St. Petersburg, where he made his debut as a theater artist. In addition, Annenkov is engaged in book illustration.

Since 1924 the artist lives in Paris, cooperates with theatrical companies. In total, Annenkov designed about 60 productions in France. In the thirties, the artist seriously took a great interest in cinematography. As a result, about 50 films, for which Annenkov created scenery and costumes. For the costumes for the film “Madame de …” the artist was nominated for an Oscar.

Also, the artist is known for creating a graphic and pictorial gallery of portraits of Russian culture figures, among them Anna Akhmatova, Boris Pasternak, Fedor Sologub, Yevgeny Zamyatin and others.

In the literary world, Yuri Annenkov is known under the pseudonym Boris Temiriazev. Yuri Annenkov published a collection of poems, and is also the author of critical articles about the theater.