Search Results

Multi-figure mural size painting - Group Portrait of Christopher Columbus, "For Gold, God and Glory", by portrait artist Igor Babailov, historic portrait paintings Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Group Portraits and Multifigure Murals For Gold, God and Glory Portrait of Christopher Columbus Included in Peruvian Encyclopedia on discoveries of the Americas For Gold, God and Glory - Portrait of Christopher Columbus (Oil on Canvas, 70"x79"), Copyright © by Igor Babailov At work on "For Gold, God and Glory" in 1992. THE STORY "For Gold, God and Glory" (Oil on Canvas, 70"x79") is the artist’s own rendition of the arrival of Christopher Columbus and his crew in the Americas. There were only several portraits of Columbus painted in the History of Art and they all looked like portraits of different people, because nobody knew exactly what Columbus looked like. Igor Babailov created “his own” Columbus and based his careful depiction of features and likeness on the biographical description written about Christopher Columbus by Columbus's son. Mr. Babailov used no models, but set up a mirror with one source of light and used his own image in the mirror to create facial expressions, body and hand positions for the subjects in the painting. Preparation for the painting also involved historical research including investigation into the clothing and the fashion of that period. Igor Babailov portrayed Christopher Columbus to honor all those before him that came to make this continent their home. Painting's CLOSEUPS Every face is created entirely from the Artist's Imagination. Mr. Babailov used no models, but set up a mirror with one source of light and used his own image in the mirror to create expressions and hand positions for subjects in the painting. Featured in: Peruvian Encyclopedia Empresa Editora Il Comercio, S.A. (2004) PRIMO - Italian-American Magazine (2001) and many other publications ...

Official U.S. Supreme Court portrait of Justice Clarence Thomas (oil on canvas), by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Official collection: Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Justice Clarence Thomas Official Portrait Supreme Court of the United States Washington, DC TO BE UNVEILED ”When I see this portrait, I see me — not someone else’s conception of me. What a remarkable gift to have had Igor capture me as I see myself.” Clarence Thomas Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court A SNEAK PEEK At work on the official portrait in Oil Life Portrait Study in preparation for the official U.S. Supreme Court portrait in Oil In preparation for the official portrait in oil Graphite Portrait Study from Life OTHER OFFICIAL, CORPORATE & FAMILY PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait Artist Igor Babailov, Master Artist - Commissioned Portraits in Oil on Canvas - Government, Corporate, Judicial, Medical, Celebrity and Family - Nashville. Men UP Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA PORTRAITS of MEN Government, Corporate, Celebrity & Distinguished Private Commissions (selected portraits) "We chose you to paint the portrait, because there is no "formula" in your works, as they each capture individuality." ~ Joan E. Stein-Streilein, Ph.D., Harvard University Pope Francis U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Babailov Corporate Portrait Unveilings Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Nikita - Private Collections CLICK on portraits below for more information and to see them CLOSER Pope Benedict XVI Justice Joseph. P. Sullivan George Washington President George W. Bush Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. General David Petraeus Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Justice Clarence Thomas President Vladimir Putin Pope St. John Paul II Pope Francis Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich Mayor Rudy Giuliani Patriarch Kirill of Russia Amb. Michael Novak Prime Minister Mark Carney Governor Yves Fortier Prince Andrew Prime MinisterJean Chretien Isadore Sharp, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Byron Janis Reggie Jackson Bergthor Endresen Commander of the Papal Swiss Guard James Gandolfini Michel Perron Bob Costas Cardinal Christophe Pierre Thomas Monaghan Dr. Wright Pinson Judge Seth W. Norman Dr. Robert Kimura Paul Dinkel Mikhail Kalashnikov Stan Danford Tony Lo Bianco Nelson Mandela Christopher Columbus - group portrait Ted Lazenby Senator Michael Pitfield Tiki Barber Lawrence Glaubinger Claude-Andre Piquette Regis Philbin Slavko Acimovic Jack Reitman Andre Berard Akira Kurosawa Frank Military Hon. Michael Meighen Billy G. Hudson, Ph.D David C. Hill Pete Quaife Dr. Frank Harrell Jr. Synergistics Industies Ltd. Michael Novak David Gibbs Col. Derek Frost Hubert Powell Andrew C. Maracle, Sr. My friend, Valery Bobby Hull Curtis Simic, Indiana University Dr. Robert Carver Bone Dr. Luke Gregory Lanny Martin, Northwestern University Dr. J. Wayne Streilein Grant Gibbs John Ross Frederick Hart Dr. Cyril Geacintov Boomer Esiason Brendan Marrocco Peter Johnson Bucky Dent Albert Lowenthal James Robertson - explorer John Bello Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC - New York City Allan Sniderman Gerald B. Cramer Edward J. Rosenthal Ronald H. McGlynn Mayor Neil Ellis Mayor of Picton Nicholas Eberstadt Mayor Al Piroth Stanley Bey Jules Plangiere Ben Tankard Paul Doherty Other Portrait Galleries WOMEN GROUP PORTRAITS CHILDREN What You Need To Know When Commissioning A Portrait Painting PORTRAIT PROCEDURE The Master Approach

Through his formal art education, Igor Babailov belongs to the direct Teacher-Student Lineage of world-famous artists, Repin and Serov. IGOR V. BABAILOV Hon.RAA, KStA, MFA (Ph.D), D.Litt (Honoris Causa) Famous Teachers DIRECT 'Teacher~Student' ACADEMIC LINEAGE I gor Babailov painted his very first portrait at the age of four (4) and received his first lessons in art from his father, Valery Babailov , who was the student of renowned artist Aleksey Kholmogorov . Child prodigy, I gor Babailov began his FORMAL art training at the age of nine ( 9) and, in the span of sixteen years (1974-1990), he attained the highest levels of the academic art education, receiving his Master of Fine Arts degree, MFA (official equivalent to Ph.D. in the U.S.) under the acclaimed Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757) that gave the world many outstanding artists, including American artist James McNeill Whistler. Through a chain of professors in his academic ancestry, Igor Babailov belongs to the Academic Lineage of the world-famous Masters of Portraiture, and he is a third generation direct descendant student of Ilya Re pin and Valentin S erov. CLICK on photos below for info on this Teacher~Student Academic Geneology Serov Yuon Levitan Repin Chistyakov Arkhipov Kulikov Kramskoi Babailov Kholmogorov Tsyplakov Danilichev Zabelin Chirkov Kibrik Pavlov Korin Korovin Gerasimov Deineka Shatsky Babailov International Students of Igor V. Babailov Nota bene: The academic lineage herein stands far beyond inspirational moments of occasional interactions with master-artists (i.e. attending their public portrait demonstrations) and/or inspirational stories of such, told by art-mentors, friends, or acquaintances. This lineage represents the unbroken chain of art professors who served as mentors of each other within the system of ongoing academic curriculum and consecutive lessons, passed on DIRECTLY from Teacher to Student during a sustained period of time of formal academic art education that resulted in earning a terminal Fine Art degree. Igor V. Babailov, Hon. RAA, ellected Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757) shares his expertise of the highest fine art education and academic credentials with his fellow professional artists and art students in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Russia and around the globe. Share

Official Portrait of Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. - by portrait artist Igor Babailov, Oil on Canvas, Collection: Supreme Court of the United States Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Supreme Court of the United States Portrait of Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. (Oil on Canvas, 50" x 42") Official collection: Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC Official collection: Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC Everyone who has seen my portrait has been very impressed, and my response has always been: “Igor is an artistic genius! And a really good person to boot.” Thanks for this wonderful work! Samuel A. Alito, Jr Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court Life Portrait Study (graphite) in preparation for the grand portrait painting in oil, at the artist's National Arts Club in New York City CLARENCE THOMAS Official Portrait by Igor Babailov Supreme Court of the United States OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

New portrait of George Washington, created by portrait artist Igor Babailov, based on Washington's recognized most accurate likeness, Collection: Mount Vernon Museum Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits George Washington First President of the United States of America New Portrait Collection: George Washington's Mount Vernon Museum Inducted on the Independence Day, July 4th, 2009 "My Beloved Country!" ~ George Washington (28" x 22", Oil on Canvas) Original Portrait Concept & Composition by Igor V. Babailov "We will take great pride in displaying your work for generations to come!" ~ James C. Rees Executive Director, George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Museum, Mount Vernon, Virginia Igor Babailov used his mastery and professional expertise to transform this sculpted and most accurate likeness of George Washington into a realistic portrait painting. This NEW Portrait of George Washington was created by Igor Babailov, following his extensive historical research on the true likeness of George Washington. Consequently, this portrait painting was inspired by and based on Washington's likeness captured by the great French sculptor, Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828) in George Washington's official statue, located at the State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia. Babailov's research also included Houdon's preliminary sculpture studies, such as Washington's bust and life mask which the sculptor did from life at Mount Vernon in 1785. When George Washington saw the sculpture, he said, "It is right that people in later generations could see my exact likeness," his friend Gen. Lafayette exclaimed, "That is the man himself!" and even Washington's portrait painter, Gilbert Stuart , agreed, "Houdon's bust comes first, and my head of him [Athenaeum portrait] next." Today, Houdon's sculpture is recognized by historians, as the most accurate likeness ever created of the First President. At work on the portrait of George Washington George Washington's Mount Vernon Museum Official induction of the Portrait into George Washington's Mount Vernon Museum July 4, 2009 Mount Vernon Lunch and Fellowship with Igor V. Babailov George Washington's Mount Vernon Presidential Award Coin Portrait of George Washington by Igor Babailov. Collection: Mount Vernon. Presented on behalf of George Washington by Douglas Bradburn, the President of Mount Vernon. The Sons of the American Revolution Official Collection: George Washington's Mount Vernon Museum OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Official Portrait of President Putin, the President of Russia - by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Oil on Canvas, Collection: Kremlin Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits President Vladimir Putin President of Russia Commissioned and presented by the Government of Canada in 2002 Portrait of H.E. Vladimir Putin, The President of Russia Oil on Canvas, 20" x 16" ( 51сm x 41сm) Collection: Kremlin, Moscow With Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien Official State Portrait Painting Presentation 2002 Collection: Kremlin OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Official Portrait of Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of Canada, by Igor V. Babailov. Collection: House of Commons, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Prime Minister Brian Mulroney 18th Prime Minister of Canada Official Portrait of The Rt. Honourable Brian Mulroney 18th Prime Minister of Canada (Oil on Canvas, 48" x 40") Official Collection: House of Commons, Parliament Hill, Ottawa CLICK Official portrait painting sitting at the Artist's Studio On the occasion of the portrait unveiling, the official photograph with two Prime Ministers of Canada, the Right Honorable Brian Mulroney and the Right Honorable Jean Chretien, was taken in the very room where Winston Churchill posed for his iconic photograph in 1941. Winston Churchill official photograph by Yousuf Karsh (1941). Collection: House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada. Graphite portrait studies from Life, in preparation for the official oil portrait painting Photo credit: Canadian press (nationalobserver.com) Official collection: House of Commons, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait artist Igor Babailov - Press and News, Official VIP Portrait Unveilings of Presidents, Popes, Prime Ministers, Supreme Court Justices, Royalty, Celebrities Press News Up Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Share PRESS and NEWS For Media Inquiries Testimonials Igor Babailov on the Billboard at Times Square, New York City In his life-time professional portrait career, Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA, MFA(Ph.D), D.Litt.(Hon.Causa), has painted over 2,000 portraits. More than half of these are in official public, distinguished private, corporate and museum collections around the world. He is the only portrait artist to have received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2022) which ranks as one of the highest awards in America with his name read into the Congressional Record. Babailov was selected to paint legacy portraits of three living Presidents of three countries, two living Prime Ministers, members of the noble families and British Royalty, and three living Popes for the Vatican, to name a few. Igor Babailov has been featured in art publications and news media nationally and internationally, such as: The New York Daily News, Washington Post, The Times of Malta, National Review, The Moscow Times, CBC News, the Vatican's ZENIT, Live with Regis and Kelly Show, The Artist's Magazine, Art World News, International Artist, Classical Realism Journal, AskMen, MercatorNet, The Encyclopedia Tematica del Peru, Italian American magazine Primo, and many others. PRESS GALLERY SCROLL DOWN and CLICK on photos below for more information Ellis Island Medal of Honor 2022 Distinguished Fellow, Ciocca Center of the Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America, 2019 Pope Francis Honorary Doctorate, Cumberland University, 2019 Prince Andrew The Duke of York 18th Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney Pope Benedict XVI Prime Minister Mark Carney - former Governor of The Bank of England, and The Bank of Canada Justice Samuel Alito, U.S. Supreme Court - official portrait unveiling Life sitting with Nelson Mandela Col. Christoph Graf, Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, Vatican Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, awarding Igor Babailov with the dynastic Order of St. Anne ( est.1735) General David H. Petraeus U.S. Military Commander, CIA Director G8 Summit Members Portrait of President George W. Bush Portrait of President George W. Bush, officially commissioned to Igor Babailov on the occasion and on behalf of the G8 Summit members. Collection: George W. Bush Presidential Library. Justice Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court - portrait sitting in preparation for the official oil portrait Pope St. John Paul II Portrait of George Washington, Mount Vernon Museum President Vladimir Putin of Russia Commissioned by Canadian Government and presented by Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada Babailov's Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, selected by the Pope to represent his papacy at the Vatican Splendors Exhibition and d isplayed alongside the works of Michelangelo, Giotto, Bernini and other Great Masters of the Renaissance. Hon. American Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757) American Pianist Byron Janis and Dr. James Watson, discoverer of DNA Rudy Giuliani Mayor of New York City U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon, Vatican Amb. Michael Novak Official photography - Igor Babailov and two Prime Ministers of Canada, photographed in the very room where Winston Churchill posed for his 1941 iconic photograph. Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta Justice Joseph P. Sullivan Supreme Court of New York Isadore Sharp, Founder & CEO, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, with his life-size portrait in the far background. Tony Lo Bianco American Actor Reggie Jackson, American Baseball Legend Prime Minister Jean Chretien . Mikhail Kalashnikov, Inventor of AK-47 His Holiness Patriarch of Russia, Kirill Governor Yves Fortier The Hudson's Bay Company (incorporated in 1670). Tiki Barber American Football Star Regis Philbin, American Entertainer James Gandolfini American Actor ("The Sopranos", etc.) Bill Gallo American Sports Illustrator, New York Daily News Portrait of C.Wright Pinson, MD, MBA, CEO Vanderbilt Health System From left to right: Dr. Billy Hudson, Dr. Julie Hudson, Igor Babailov, Hon.RAA, Dr. C.Wright Pinson Portrait of Judge Seth Norman, Official portrait unveiling - Nashville, TN. Bobby Hull, Hockey Legend Boomer Esiason American Football Star Bucky Dent American Baseball Legend, Presented at Yankee Stadium in New York City Igor Babailov was invited to unveil his portrait of the legendary film director Akira Kurosawa at Steven Spielberg's World Celebrities Art Fair, in Tokyo, Japan

Official oil portrait of Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Collection: Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy), Washington, DC Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA H.E. Cardinal Christophe Pierre Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America (Appointed by Pope Francis in 2016) Oil on Canvas Collection: Apostolic Nunciature to the United States of America Washington, DC Life Portrait Study (Graphite) OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Official portrait of Michael Novak, theologian, author, Templeton Prize (1994), the White House adviser, by portrair artist Igor Babailov. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Michael Novak Frederick Jewett Scholar - the American Enterprise Institute, Author, Theologian, The Templeton Prize recipient 1994, Diplomat, Adviser to the Office of Ethnic Affairs, The White House. Michael Novak (oil on canvas) by Igor Babailov Michael Novak and Margaret Thatcher (left) - The Templeton Prize ceremony, Westminster Abbey, London, 1994 Michael Novak portrait unveiling. Collection: Ave Maria University, Florida VIDEO of the official portrait unveiling Life Study Oil on Canvas Collection: C iocca Center of the Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America Washington, DC Life Sitting With Andreas Widmer, Director of the Art C iocca Center at the Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Igor Babailov's published article about Beauty verses Ugliness, Relativism verses Traditional Values, and Good Art verses Bad Art. The Resurrection of Realism – Beauty will Save the World By Igor V. Babailov, Hon. RAA, KStA Published in the Faith an d Culture online publication and The Epo ch Times It is not a coincidence that the very last thing we ever expect to see in church, is Modern art or an abstract painting, such as a blank page, a single brick or splashes of paint, as some sort of “intellectual” revelation to message one’s ego. Why? Many of us would immediately answer that it just does not belong there, and they are right, it doesn’t. Since the Renaissance, realistic art has played a leading role in education and particularly Christian education. Whether it is in the Bible, churches, or Catholic publications, an illustrated history of Christianity has been presented by realistic and life-like images, those that the viewer can relate to and understand. A strong realistic work of art can clearly convey a theological message, materialize the word of God, and serve as a powerful vehicle of communication to the masses. Hence, artist theologians such as Rafael, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and other Renaissance masters, painted religious works to educate, uplift and strengthen the faith. A definition of an ‘Artist’ was very clear in the past. Applied only to visual artists, it was also synonymous with ‘Skill,’ as the artist was someone who could do something that nobody else could do. Today, in times of Relativism, anyone can be labeled an “artist,” such as a cook, karate expert, dentist, butcher, or anyone. The term Artist has lost its sacred meaning. We often hear from the defenders of Modernism that ‘art can be anything and anything can be art.’ However, this just does not go well with our Christian heritage and culture, and portraying the Blessed Mother as a chaotic splash of paint or a deformed piece of sculpture, would stand against our visual perception of the Mother of Christ and, in general, our Christian teachings about the sacredness of life and the Beauty of Creation. A story comes to mind about a family of four children, driving on a road, along the fields with tree groves and rivers passing by. They were playing a game where each child were to name the ‘best,’ in their opinion, artist in the world. One child said it was ‘Picasso,’ another child mentioned ‘Van Gogh,’ then the third child named ‘Monet’ and the fourth child sat quietly looking out of the car window and admiring the nature flying by. Then he said, “Look at the sun and the birds and clouds in the blue sky, and the shapes and colors of the leaves and all the different trees. I think that the best artist in the world is God, who created it all.” Indeed, no one ever can create anything better than the masterpiece that He created. As an artist myself, I often think of that story, realizing that we artists realists are trying to reproduce the Beauty of God’s Creation on our canvases and, as artist theologians, we explore the nature of the divine. We know that we will never be as good as God in His skill, but at least we try to get as close as possible to that Master perfection. In other words, we treasure and glorify the Creation of Life and its Beauty. We go to schools and embark in traditional training of direct communication with nature to study all the “sciences in art,” as described by Michelangelo, Raphael and many other great masters after them. We strive to enhance our skills in drawing, because Realistic art is the only kind of art that requires skill, especially when it comes to exploring and capturing life in all its beauty and complexity, in the way it is and without exaggeration. I was fortunate to have received the core of such a traditional training and, unlike many debaters out there who are experts at expressing their opinion about art, I rely on my credentials which give me the artistic license, if you will, to support my remarks. A child prodigy, I painted my first portrait at four. I began my formal sixteen-year (1974-1990) fine art education at the age of nine and continued it at the specialized art lyceum for gifted children, followed by the Ph.D. levels of study at the renowned Surikov Art institute, all under the Russian Academy of Arts (founded by Catherine the Great in 1757), which recently also elected me as the Honorary foreign life-time academician. The curriculum of all my studies, besides such mandatory subjects as Human Anatomy, Perspective and others, also included History of Art from Prehistoric to Renaissance to Modern Art. So, we students were well aware of all the ‘art movements,’ styles and techniques, involved in every period of art. In our broad art education, we acquired the power of knowledge and the more we learned, the clearer was realization that masterfully executed realistic works of art can not be put on the same page with meaningless and helpless dribbles of paint, as we unfortunately often see today in schoolbooks. This is where the damage to the mind begins, resulting in total confusion of one’s thinking such as: If this one is a ‘masterpiece’ and this one is also a ‘masterpiece,’ what example should I follow? But in reality, it is not that complicated, as long as we remember that we live in a world of contrasts: plus verses minus, light verses dark, beauty verses ugliness. The concepts of Relativism are based on questioning what is already known, but what if it questions the moral values that helped humanity survive throughout its existence? Modern art goes hand in hand with Relativism, where common moral sense is demonized and instead ‘choice enlightened’ and socially acceptable often tasteless, unethical and even criminal behaviors such as abortion and euthanasia are championed as rights, choices, privileges and freedoms of expression. So, here is the question. Is Moral Relativism the tool of the devil and therefore the fundamental element in the art of Modernism, where God’s perfect form in human anatomy and nature is broken and defamed, and death and ugliness are celebrated over life and beauty? The answer is obvious. I would like to expand further and use Genesis Chapter 1, as the basis for the moral value of realistic painting and its vital role in following God’s commandments and in promoting and preserving life as He created it. In Genesis Chapter 1, it says that God created heaven and earth when the earth was without form or shape and in darkness. He separated light from darkness, and at the end of each day, “God saw it was good,” hence, God SAW goodness. Modern critics of the school of the Renaissance and Realism in general, claim that there is no creativity in depicting man or nature in its true form, yet that is exactly what God did in his creation of heaven and earth, nature and all beings. God created the template, the blueprint of Realism in art, where light and dark are separated in tonal values, and those who are familiar with the traditional school of art know that study of ‘tonal values’ in nature is the fundamental principle of Realism. After the viewer sees the realistic painter’s work, they become enlightened and SEE goodness, like God did after each stage of His creation. They see goodness also in the most tragic and sad paintings such as Christ on the cross and where a painting depicting pain and suffering, will move us to compassion and love. Realism is prayer, gratitude, honoring God’s creation. This is not the case in the inherent pessimism of Modern art, the art of ugliness and death, where future does not exist. Artistic talent is often referred to as a ‘gift from God’ and should be treasured as one and not taken for granted. For an artist, it also comes with sacred responsibilities, as the mission of Visual Art is not to celebrate selfish expression of one’s depressive feelings by primitive means. It must propagate goodness and beauty and not evil’s ugliness. And yes, even the horrors of war and devastation can be portrayed with signs of Hope, which helps us get through difficult times, so goodness will eventually prevail. Art must educate in a positive way and the artists have this very moral obligation before their viewers and God Himself, who gave them talent. “The works of art speak of their authors,” - said Pope John Paul II. In his letter to the Artists in 1999, His Holiness wrote, “To all who are passionately dedicated to the search for new ‘epiphanies’ of beauty so that through their creative work as artists they may offer these as gifts to the world,” and then His Holiness quotes from Genesis 1:31, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” A very Holy man, John Paul II was outspoken about the “culture of death,” warned about its consequences, and liked to quote the famous words of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, “Beauty will save the world!” Resurrection of Realism by Igor V. Babailov In the cataclysm of today’s debates and what is happening in the arts, I decided to create this work and my original composition depicted in this article. The angelic young child in the center represents the beauty, innocence and purity of Realistic art. Since the mid 1950s, it has been oppressed by shallow and weak art education and self-appointed art critics, kept for decades under the darkness of Modernism. In my painting, Modernism is represented by the ugly creatures from Picasso’s ‘iconic’ painting called “Guernica.” It portrays the moment when the film of darkness begins to heat up from beneath, like a volcano it bubbles and melts, and the divine light of Realism breaks through this captivity of cold darkness to breath the long awaited air and new life. I entitled this work “Resurrection of Realism.” In my lifetime professional career, I have created thousands of drawings and paintings and have painted more than 2000 portraits, which also included the official portraits of Presidents, Prime Ministers, British Royalty and three Popes for the Vatican. I particularly enjoy the Portrait genre because it celebrates the beauty of the most perfect of God’s creation, humanity. Perhaps this is why the worst assault on Beauty of Creation by Modernism is actually directed to breaking and mutilating the human form. I never give preference to which I prefer to paint more, adults or children. I just love people from all walks of life and love to find and accurately capture the unique characteristics of their outer and inner world. After all, it is our uniqueness that makes each of us beautiful, as we are all God’s children. I wish to leave my readers with a warning for the future. The more we surrender our God-given talents, skills and ability to re-create the Beauty of creation, the more we break the human form and distance ourselves from nature and the further away we go from God. We become disobedient to His laws and expectations and reverse, if you will, his original creation, reverting into the darkness and emptiness, to which He brought light, form and life. Modernism takes us in the opposite direction, into nothingness and reverses the process of Creation ‘from darkness to light’ and instead it takes us ‘from light to darkness.' Educating our youth and teaching them to recognize Beauty, promoting the classical art school of master skills and drawing from life, are the safeguards for common moral sense to prevail to keep the traditional values alive, so that the Beauty will indeed, save the world. About the Author: Igor V. Babailov, Hon. RAA, KStA, MFA (PhD), D.Litt (Hon. Causa), is the world-renowned American artist, Honorary American Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757), invited speaker, and scholar of the sacred arts. His recent articles and interviews have been published in the National Catholic Register (USA), Zenit (Italy), Nasz Dziennik (Poland), The Times of Malta, to name a few. He is the author of the book Greatest Portrait Moments with an Introduction by Michael Novak, which accompanies his distinguished clients’ portraits in public, museum, corporate and private collections and libraries around the globe. For more information, visit: www.Babailov.com