Vladimir Putin and Ilya Glazunov (Photo from kremlin.ru)
Crossing swords with Putin
Published 10 June, 2009, 18:20
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has given the founder of the Russian realism movement Ilya Glazunov a lesson in painting.
Putin called in on the head of the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture at his gallery in downtown Moscow, where the 79-year-old guru of realism was celebrating his birthday.
 I. Glazunov “Prince Oleg and Igor” |
Looking around, the Russian Prime Minister noticed Glazunov’s historical painting “Prince Oleg and Igor”. Despite the festive mood of the event, Putin couldn’t help making a sharp comment about the sword that Oleg is holding in his arm.
“The sword is a bit short, it looks like a penknife. As if it’s used to cut sausage.”
Glazunov faced up Putin’s criticism smoothly and promised to redo the painting, praising Putin’s vision.
Putin admitted “he has an eye for detail.” In fact, in early 2009 Putin tried his hand at painting. His work was sold for over one million dollars at a yearly charity auction in St. Petersburg.
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