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Beautiful Portrait Paintings of Beautiful Women - Distinguished Corporate & Private Art Collections, by Portrait Master Artist Igor Babailov, Nashville - New York - Washington - Naples Women UP Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA PORTRAITS of WOMEN (selected portraits) Chief Justice Annette Ziegler - Supreme Court of Wisconsin Portrait study from life (graphite) Portraits in Oil "Portraits of women occupy a special place in my portfolio. They are mothers, daughters, wives, entrepreneurs and distinguished professionals. I am always honored and humbled to paint their portraits, as I am grateful for their devotion and enormous gift of strength and inspiration they share with the world." ~ Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA CLICK on portraits below to see them CLOSER Theresa Menefee Ann Lemire The Baroness Mother's Love Martha-Ann Alito Lady in a pink hat Dr. Julie Hudson First Lady Hillary Clinton Hon. Lisa Wood Amy Debbie Trudeau Senator Marsha Blackburn Julia Bianchi Terrie Isabel Owen Elizabeth Dinkel Maria Bartiromo Dori Sawatzky Dr. Rebecca Stafford Ruth Gjessing-Newman MAMA Mary Kirby Irish Woman Hannah Barker Young woman from Nashville Mary Anderson Rachel Gibbs with her dogs Izzi Eberstadt Mary Eberstadt Kate Eberstadt Zandi Eberstadt Dusan Desmarais Joannie Calia Porth Kaye The Graham family Jill Lindene Kaufmann Dorothy Geen Awarded "Outstanding Achievement in Portrait Painting" - International Portrait Competition, Atlanta, GA (1993) Woman with her dog What You Need To Know When Commissioning A Portrait Painting PORTRAIT PROCEDURE The Master Approach

Official portrait of a Nashville Judge Seth W. Norman, Drug Court pioneer in the U.S. Portrait by Igor Babailov. Judge (1990-2018), 20th Judicial District Criminal Court (Division IV), Collection: Justice A.A. Birch Building,  Nashville, TN. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits The Hon. Seth W. Norman Judge (1990-2018), Drug Court 'pioneer' in the U.S. Portrait of Judge Seth W. Norman (50"x 40", oil on canvas), by Igor Babailov. Collection: 20th Judicial District Criminal Court (Division IV), Justice A.A. Birch Building, Nashville, TN. Photo credit: Michael Gomez and Kenzie Wood OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait artist Igor Babailov is featured in the article "Reviving the Renaissance; A President With Leadership," by Elizabeth Lev, American art historian in Rome. ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome Reviving the Renaissance; A President With Leadership Russian Portrait Painter Spearheads Artistic Revolution by Elizabeth Lev ROME, SEPT. 11, 2008 ( ZENIT.org ) - Contemporary art often presents a dismal picture. Either excessively subjective or simply an exercise in bad taste, modern efforts have offered many reasons for critics to be concerned about the state of art today. But amid galleries cluttered with embalmed sheep and/or glazed garbage, art still gives signs of life. Several artists today still try to combine craftsmanship, vision and respect for the viewer in their works. Painter Igor Babailov spearheads the recent revolution to a return to an art that values centuries of meaning and tradition. Born in 1965 in the town of Glazov, Russia, Babailov began his formal training at the age of nine, the same age as Raphael. Precociously accomplished like his Renaissance forerunner, Babailov entered the elite Surikov College of Fine Arts at the age of 13 after winning a nationwide competition. He ultimately received his master's of fine arts from this world-famous school. Babailov came to North America almost 20 years ago where his talents did not go unnoticed. Today he is renowned as one of America's foremost portrait painters, in demand among world leaders, entertainment celebrities and CEOs. Some of Babailov's finest works, however, draw their inspiration from Rome. In 2004, Babailov produced a portrait of Pope John Paul II, titled "BELIEVE ," and this year he unveiled his portrait of Benedict XVI during the papal visit to Washington. In return, the appreciative Pope received Babailov and his wife at Castel Gandolfo last month. Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to Igor Babailov about his work, his inspiration and his portrayal of world leaders. Babailov began by discussing his image of John Paul II, today in the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. The portrait shows the young, strong Pope of 1978 instead of the ailing John Paul II of 2004. Babailov explained that "a portrait immortalizes a person for future generations. In Rome, around the Vatican, most of the gift shops showed postcards of the first years of his pontificate, because that's how people want to remember him." So in the years to come, when John Paul II is declared a saint, Babailov's image will project the energy and vibrancy of John Paul II from his first day in the papal throne. Babailov commemorates one of the pontiff's greatest achievements, World Youth Day, which the Holy Father founded in 1986. "He was a people's Pope, so I wanted to make a composition where the Pope would not be alone but surrounded by youth," the artist explained. Babailov's John Paul II is certainly placed in a universal setting. Over the Pope's left shoulder, a young couple represents future generations of Catholics. "Under the couple" explained the painter, "there is an African girl praying for a better future, while on the bottom left, I put a Philippine child -- since the Pope drew the largest crowd in history when he went to the Philippines." The artist chose to paint her in red, "as the symbol of heart and love and holding a candle for light and joy of faith." Rounding out the composition, Babailov added a young priest to represent the generation of new vocations, and a Pakistani girl hugging an image of the Blessed Mother, the Pope's lifelong devotion. On the lower right, he painted a Missionary of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa, tending to a disabled person. Babailov, gave the wheelchair-bound figure particular prominence noting that "they are an inspiring example of strength through suffering, like John Paul II himself at the end of his life." Babailov says he painted the Pope as "really a Holy Father, a father to all these people from all over the world, who guides with love." The source of the Pope's strength is visible in the background with the youth day cross, the 12-foot cross that John Paul II entrusted to the world's youth in 1984 with the words "I entrust to you the sign of this Jubilee Year: the cross of Christ! Carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ's love for humanity, and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption." The Russian artist painted the sky above the cross a deep and menacing red, to represent Christ's suffering and crucifixion, but above the Pope, he opened up to bright light. Babailov packs his painting with symbols, explaining that "painting should not just be a representation of a likeness, it should also have a message, more than what you see, it should be readable." He sees his work as "a kind of evangelizing." * * * The portrait of Pope Benedict with Christ seems to have been engineered by Divine Providence. Igor Babailov met Benedict XVI for the first time in 2006, and had started to work on a portrait of the newly elected Pope. The Russian artist says he was immediately drawn to Benedict, referring to him as "one of my heroes. He is very truthful and faithful to his mission as Christ's Vicar on earth and never allows his concern for public opinion to cloud his dedication to the truth." After painting many world leaders, Babailov has several ideas of what makes a great leader. "Leaders are very straight and true in a world where many people live in a kind of gray zone where they are always compromised in their attempts to retain popularity," he observed. Babailov was delighted when he discovered he would unveil his portrait during the Pope's trip to Washington on the day of Benedict's birthday. The artist recounted his pleasure at being part of the visit, as "there is a huge population of Catholics in the United States and the visit turned out to be such a success. Everybody loved him." Unlike the populous image of John Paul II, the portrait of Benedict focuses on the Pope's scholarly qualities, recognizing his Christocentric focus by putting a luminous statue of the Risen Christ before him. "The theme that came to me was the Way of Truth and Life," explained Babailov, "and the composition follows that theme. The Pope's hands folded in prayer lead to the figure of Christ, which then redirects the gaze toward the dome of St. Peter's and to candles and an open Bible. It is a continuous circle that invites the eye to move comfortably around it." Babailov describes the portrait as "a psychological study, a work that tries to capture the inner man as well as the outer appearance." After having studied the Pope through photographs, Babailov was able to compare his likeness with the living image of the Pontiff when he met the Holy Father last August. He relates that "it was a real blessing to meet with the Pope, an honor, but also a responsibility to represent what one has experienced." "Comparing the work with the subject" Babailov said, "it is a satisfaction to see that you have captured the truth." The painter explained that in good art, however, "You don't just do it for yourself but to transmit information to the next generations." Discussing contemporary art, Babailov noted, "Most modernists talk a lot. They have complicated explanations of their philosophy and ideas; they paint their thoughts for themselves." "Painting should educate and enrich," continued the Russian artist. "Modern painting merely offers a split-second emotion: You see it, you have an instant reaction and move on. Instead, real painting can be looked at over and over again and each time it has something new." When Babailov discusses art, he uses terms like composition, tonal contrasts and chiaroscuro, the language of Raphael, Giotto and Fra Angelico, which sadly for many artists today, has gone the way of ancient Greek. Babailov anchors his artistic vision in technical skills he has been honing since the age of four. When he packs his murals with figures, he is as attentive to their arrangement as any 15th-century Florentine. His craftsmanship was so admired as to earn him a stint teaching at the Florence Academy of Art in 1999. "Painting requires skill," Babailov emphasizes. "Photography is created by the camera, and one cannot fully control what the camera sees. So people take many photographs because several must always be discarded." Echoing the "Treatise on Painting" by Leonardo da Vinci, Babailov firmly states that "his first principle is painting from life, to look beyond the photographic image to what the subject can convey on a deeper level." * * * A new project has fired the imagination of Igor Babailov. He is preparing a portrait of the first president of the United States, George Washington . "I live in this beautiful country and I have learned its history," the painter explained. "It is a part of me. I wanted to portray this great leader." The artist says he was inspired by Michael and Jana Novak's recent book, "Washington's God: Religion, Liberty, and the Father of Our Country." "A lot of scientific studies using modern equipment have tried to figure out what George Washington actually looked like," noted Babailov, "but Michael Novak inspired me to look at the deeper aspects of the first president. In this work I am not only trying to capture the likeness, but a new Washington as a spiritual leader, as well as military general" "Many contemporary authors try to claim that George Washington didn't believe in God, saying that he had little more than a vague spirituality," explained Babailov. "But Washington himself wrote that morality and religion were necessary for the country." The painter is working on a life size portrait stating that "George cannot be squeezed into commercial gallery size. He was more than a military and political figure but also a spiritual leader, and gifted with the extraordinary humility common to the greatest of leaders." To model his likeness, Babailov went to Mt. Vernon to see Washington's oldest portrait, the clay bust by Jean Antoine Houdon made in 1786 as a sketch for his grand marble statue of 1791. This clay study is kept at Mt. Vernon and it is the first thing to greet visitors when they cross the threshold. "Meet the General himself," reads the sign. It is spaced at Washington's exact height so one can see how tall he was. Babailov pointed out, "It seems like he is standing right in front of you." "Most agree that Houdon's is the closest resemblance," said the painter, "Even George himself said he was only second in likeness to the Houdon portrait, and General Lafayette, who had served under Washington in the continental army, declared, 'That is the man himself.'" It is interesting that during this, the year of a historic election, we have one artist asking questions and presenting models of leadership, humility and spiritual authority. Babailov noted that "even though these are different times, right now we are particularly thinking about what is leadership, and Washington's qualities are as needed today as they were at the founding of this great nation." * * * Elizabeth Lev is an American art historian, living in Rome. She can be reached at www.elizabeth-lev.com

Official portrait of Patriarch Kirill of Russia, by portrait artist Igor Babailov, Портрет Патриарха Кирилла, Патриарха Москвы и всея Руси, художник Игорь Бабайлов Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Official Portrait of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Russia Collection: Moscow Patriarchia Official Portrait of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia (oil on canvas, 60" x 48") by Igor Babailov ABOUT THE PORTRAIT The portrait was completed under the patronage of the Russian Federation Council, Russian Nobility Association in America and Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. It was officially unveiled on May 19, 2012 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia, by Metropolitan Hilarion, the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), on the occasion of the 5th Jubilee of the reconciliation and the Act of Canonical Communion of the ROCOR with the Moscow Patriarchate. SYMBOLS IN THE PORTRAIT (the Artist's original creation) In accordance with the best traditions of Portrait Painting (and as I often do in my official portraits and portrait works), I have included a number of appropriate SYMBOLS in the portrait of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The portrait symbols are: Image of The Trinity , an icon, painted by Andrey Rublev (c.1360-c.1430), which represents Christianity and the Russian Orthodox Faith ; People, walking towards a church (in the bottom left) represent the idiom that 'All the roads lead to the Church '; Birch trees, national trees of Russia (in the bottom right) give the sense of place and represent Russia ; River is a symbol of Eternity ; The Sun (bottom left, above the church) symbolizes Life and Future . ~ Igor V. Babailov Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow Metropolitan Hilarion, the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia - officially unveils the p ortrait to Patriarch Kirill at the Cathedral of Christ The Saviour Moscow, Russia, May 19, 2012 Official collection: Moscow Patriarchate OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

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

Gustom Giclee Prints of the Original Sacred Artworks by Igor Babailov - Signed by the Artist & come with Certificate of Authenticity Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA SACRED ARTWORKS " The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection." ~ Michelangelo The Igor Babailov Sacred artworks are available as custom-made museum quality Fine Art Giclee Prints. They are signed by the Artist and come with Certificate of Authenticity. For more information, please CONTACT US Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Pope St. John Paul II To Believe and Hope ... now! Vita Patriarch Kirill Journey of Hope Credo St. Mother Teresa Pope Benedict XVI, Sketch from Life Mother of Mercy Pope Leo XIV Sketch from life Cardinal Mario Grech portrait from life George Washington The Sacred Heart Resurrection of Realism Blessed Stanley Rother Pope Francis, sketch from life Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard St. Padre Pio Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. Metropolitan Hilarion Kapral The 13th Disciple Prayer. Portrait of Mary. Fr. Arne Panula Margaret Leo of McLean Michael Novak The Romanov Family - Royal Martyrs St. Alexandra St. Anastasia St. Olga St. Nicholas II St. Tatiana St. Maria St. Alexei Portrait of an Italian Girl Museum Master-Copy Mary in the Sistine Chapel Saint Christopher - the Patron of Travelers St. Bernadette Amare Donskoy Monastery The Three Lights First McDonald's in Russia St. Joseph Cathedral, Montreal Fontana del Nettuno, Florence Father Andrey Church Entrance Christening St. Paul - Vativan Apostolic Palace - Vatican, Castel Gandolfo Porta di Santa Anna - Vatican To ORDER a Giclee Print of a Sacred artwork by Igor Babailov and for more information, please CONTACT US

Portrait of Margaret Leo of McLean, by portrait artist Igor Babailov, Collection: Catholic Information Center, Washington, DC Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Margaret Leo of McLean Margaret Leo of McLean (oil on canvas, 30" x 24") Collection: Catholic Information Center, Washington, DC Portrait Unveiling with the Leo family at the Catholic Information Center, Washington, DC

Chevalier Igor V. Babailov, Hon RAA, KStA - Portrait Artist, Knighthood and Nobility Coat of Arms Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Chevalier of the Order of St. Anne About The Order of St. Anne The Order of Saint Anne, bestows the honor of Knighthood, as well as personal nobility. Throughout the centuries, it has been awarded to individuals for their outstanding achievements and exemplary service in their professional fields. The “Order of St. Anne," the Dynastic Order of Chivalry, was founded on February 14th, 1735, by the Duke Karl Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp and was in memory of his wife, Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great. The Order’s motto is "Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem" (To Those Who Love Justice, Piety, and Fidelity.) Other distinguished recipients of the Order of St. Anne included: U.S. Navy Commander, John Paul Jones (1747-1792) , Rear Admiral, Revolutionary War hero and known as the Father of the American Na vy , who received the Order of St. Anne personally from Catherine the Great; Karl Br yu llov (1799 -18 52) , F a mo u s artist, known in the History of Art as Karl The Great; Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910) , World-famous R ussian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all times; Kons tan tin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) , one of the founding fathers of modern rocketry and astronautics, and many others. Malta, 12 June, 2017. Knighted by Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, the Head of the Imperial House of Romanov and direct descendant of the Russian, European and British royalty, including Alexander II and Queen Victoria. HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and HIH Grand Duke George Mikhailovich HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and Queen Elizabeth II With HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca On the Billboard at Times Square, New York City ~ Official Coat of Arms ~ of Igor V. Babailov and his Family (Hereditary Nobility) Granted, Signed and Sealed by Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Imperial House of Romanov 4 November, 2020

Vatican Splendors - portrait of Pope Benedict XVI by portrait artist Igor Babailov exhibited alongside the works of Michelangelo, Giotto, Bernini, and other Great Masters of the Renaissance. Vatican museum tour. The only Living Master artist, Vatican exhibition. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA VATICAN SPLENDORS Exhibition of Masterpieces from the Vatican In 2010, Igor Babailov's Vatican portrait of Pope Benedict XVI was selected by the Pope to represent his Papacy in the Vatican Splendors international museum tours. The Vatican Curator acknowledged Babailov as Maestro, as his portrait hung alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto , and other Masters of the Renaissance. Artist Igor Babailov and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI by Igor Babailov Collection: Vatican Museum " he power of the precious objects in this exhibition brings us all into direct contact with the history and splendor of the Vatican. Our collective appreciation of the beauty we experience encourages and promotes a sense of unity between us. The history we share as we reflect on these objects and the stories they tell is the history of our common humanity." T ~ Msgr. Roberto Zagnoli, Vatican Curator The Vatican Splendors Exhibition From left to right: Exhibit organizer Mark Greenberg, artist Igor Babailov, Vatican Curator Msgr. Roberto Zagnoli Excerpts from the Exhibition Catalogue "The Vatican Splendors exhibition includes almost 200 works of art. It brings together some of the Vatican's most precious artistic masterpieces, historical documents, and sacred objects from the world's cultural and religious heritage." (from the Exhibition Catalogue) Michelangelo Giotto Guerchino Michelangelo Babailov Ribera Camuccini Vasari Tempesta Bernini Sassoferrato Fontana Guidi Zoboli Manfrini Vatican Splendors - A Journey Through Faith and Art ~ International Exhibitions ~ Related LINKS to Igor Babailov's Vatican & other Sacred Artworks Official Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI Official Portrait of Pope Francis Official Portrait of Pope St. John Paul II Official Portrait of the Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard Igor Babailov's Sacred Artworks Resurrection of Realism - Beauty will save the world - article www.Babailov.com

New York Daily News writes an article about portrait artist Igor Babailov and his offiicial portrait of Pope Benedict XVI. BY DAVE GOLDINER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Tuesday, April 15th 2008, 4:00 AM New York, NY Pontiff's aura colors artist's image Pope Benedict 's official portrait will be unveiled on Tuesday night - and the artist hopes it provides a unique window into the pontiff's soul. Painter Igor Babailov says he labored to create a realistic image of the holy father, but also to convey the inner power that lets him inspire billions of people worldwide. "There is this special aura about him," Babailov, 43, said Monday. "When he touches you, something special happens in the room." Benedict, who sat for several preliminary sketches with Babailov, will see the finished portrait for the first time tonight at the Vatican ambassador's residence in Washington . The life-size work of art depicts the pontiff, hands clasped in front of him, standing next to Jesus - images meant to show the power of faith and prayer. "We're all God's children," Babailov said. "We are all special people, and the Pope is no different." The painting is like an early birthday present for the Pope, who turns 81 tomorrow. It drew rave reviews from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's ambassador to the U.S. "It is much more than an image but rather a painting of a presence," Sambi said. Babailov grew up in Russia in a family of artists. He is no stranger to painting famous people: He has done portraits of President Bush , Nelson Mandela , Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani . Perhaps Babailov's most important assignment was a portrait of Pope John Paul II in 2003. The late pontiff loved the work so much that he had it moved to his Vatican apartment as he lay on his deathbed. Babailov journeyed to Rome 18 months ago to start working on a half-dozen sketches of the regal-looking Pope Benedict. "It's a luxury to have so much time, especially with someone so important and busy," he said. "You have to get a feel for the person." dgoldiner@nydailynews.com With Bill Gallo

Portrait artist Igor Babailov - Videos, Interviews, TV news, portrait unveilings, portraits in life sittings. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA VIDEOS "The Dancing Pencil of Igor Babailov" A time lapse of a live portrait demonstration by Igor Babailov at Vanderbilt University. Official Portrait of Pope Francis - interview with Igor Babailov Regis Philbin unveils his portrait, painted by Igor Babailov, to millions of his viewers on the national TV. Igor Babailov interviewed by New York Daily News Local Artist in charge of Pope Francis Portrait Igor Babailov - Vatican portrait sitting with the Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Portrait sitting with Mikhail Kalashnikov - Inventor of AK-47 Igor Babailov draws portrait from life - time lapse

Group Portrait Paintings - Official, Corporate, Distinguished Family and Historic Portraits by Portrait Master artist Igor Babailov, Nashville - Naples - New York - Washington Group UP Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA GROUP PORTRAITS (More than one portrait on the same canvas) Distinguished Family, Corporate, Historical A great portrait painting stands far beyond photography! ~ Igor V. Babailov Preserving Legacy on Canvas. (selected works) ( Oil on canvas, 9 feet x 6 feet ) "CREDO." (oil on canvas, 8 feet x 6 feet) Privately Commissioned by multiple families, to immortalize their children and grandchildren in the company of two Saints, John Paul II and Mother Teresa. Original Concept & Composition Copyright © Igor V. Babailov Collection: Pope St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, DC What You Need To Know When Commissioning A Portrait Painting PORTRAIT PROCEDURE The Portrait Master Approach