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Portrait of American actor and producer, James Gandolfini, best known for his role as Tony Soprano, the Italian-American crime boss in HBO's television series The Sopranos, Celebrity portraits by Igor Babailov. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Celebrity Portraits Actor James Gandolfini American actor and producer, best known for his role as Tony Soprano, the Italian-American crime boss in HBO's television series The Sopranos, for which he won three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Golden Globe Award. Actor James Gandolfini (oil on canvas, 36" x 36") by Igor Babailov Collection: Estate of the Gandolfini family Actor James Gandolfini Official unveiling of the portrait New York City OTHER CELEBRITY PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Official Portrait of Nelson Mandela (official graphite drawing from Life sitting), by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Drawn from life in Ottawa, Canada. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Nelson Mandela President of South Africa (1994-1999) Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela Official Portrait Sketch from Life (Graphite) Presidential Collection: South Africa Drawn fast from Life sitting by Igor Babailov at an official ceremony honoring Nelson Mandela with the Honorary Canadian citizenship in Ottawa, Canada. As a historic commemoration of the occasion, a copy of this life portrait was presented by Canadian Prime Minister to Nelson Mandela on behalf of the People of Canada. Ottawa, Canada, November 19, 2001 OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Mid-South Studio of Igor Babailov, Hon.RAA, American portrait artist to Presidents, Prime Ministers, Royalty and the Popes. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Mid-South Studio Nashville, TN Family portraits Official Government portraits sittings Official Vatican portraits Celebrity visits Private studio tours Mural-size studio works Historic portrait works for museums Interviews and filming Portrait studies Portrait studies in preparation for oil paintings THE BABAILOV STUDIO The National Arts Club New York City

Portrait studies

An educational article by portrait artist Igor Babailov, featured in PRIMO Magazine, Italian-American magazine, U.S.A. The Latest News…from an Italian-American Perspective PRIMO magazine Italian Influence on Realistic Portraiture by Igor Babailov Portrait Artist Igor Babailov, the only Living Artist in the Vatican Splendors Exhibition, tells PRIMO why Artists Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Pietro Annigoni are his Key Influences. Igor Babailov's painting "For Gold, God and Glory" on the cover of PRIMO magazine. The great Italian contributions in the history of art are immeasurable. On my website www.Babailov.com , there are a number of artists, whose works I recommend to study, and among them are Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696 - 1770) and Pietro Annigoni (1910–1988). These are only two great names out of many fine visual artists of Italy. They represent two different centuries, yet both come from the same educational background in the classical tradition of one of the oldest art schools in the world: the Italian Academy of Art. “La Strega” by Pietro Annigoni “Head of a Young Man in Three-Quarter View Facing Left, Looking Upward,” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Given that they lived in different eras, both Tiepolo and Annigoni faced unique challenges. Tiepolo’s challenge at his time was to explore the knowledge of the Masters before him and around him and to apply it to his own beautiful figurative works, which were celebrated by his contemporaries, as the sophisticated appreciation of the skill in art was taught and very much present at the time. Pietro Annigoni, the utmost admirer of the Old Masters, had a very different challenge at the peak of his career in 1950s-70s, being constantly attacked by the “art critics” for painting beauty and emphasizing the importance of the masters’ methods and techniques as prerequisite of skill for any artist. The celebration of Beauty and God’s Creation is the main focus of the traditional school of painting, which requires more than talent, but the skill to produce, and consequently cannot be achieved without the proper education. It has always been at the core of the academic curriculums and the Italian academy has given the world some of the best known names in the history of art, until about the mid 20 th century, when the rich inheritance of the Renaissance Masters suddenly became “debatable” by “art critics who couldn’t draw.” I became familiar with the name Annigoni when I was invited to teach at the Florence Academy of Art, in Italy in 1999. When I discovered more about his life and works, I immediately felt the closeness to this artist, fully relating to his values and ideals. I myself being a contemporary realist artist, like Annigoni, was asked on numerous occasions “if there was enough of Renaissance in the period of Renaissance…” This question was well answered by Pietro Annigoni, who I quote: “Only those who know nothing about art may think that a Style is repeatable in every age. It is the destiny of every artist to strive to say something NEW with an OLD language.” In 2008, my life size portrait of Pope Benedict XVI was officially presented to the Pope upon His Holiness’s arrival in the United States. Two years later, I received a call from the Papal Nuncio in Washington, D.C. with the news that my papal portrait arrived in America to exhibit in Vatican Splendors, the North American museum tour from the Vatican Collection. The Vatican Splendors exhibition consists of almost 200 objects representing 2,000 years of the Vatican’s history. They include historic works of art, important period documents, even the relics of St. Peter. The significant part of the exhibition are paintings, sculptures and other works of art; as well as the Papal portraits, with my portrait representing the Papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. At the opening of Vatican Splendors I approached the Vatican Curator Roberto Zagnoli to thank him for selecting my work for such an important exhibition and he replied: “No, no, no, Maestro, the Pope chose it!” That was, of course, a huge honor. Some of the artists’ works on the exhibition include the works of Michelangelo, Giotto, Bernini, Guerchino, Vasari and many other Masters of the Renaissance, and I was humbled to be the only living artist there. The 2000-year impact of the Vatican in art history is unquestionably immense and impressive, with the majority of its artists being Italians, and I’m proud to be among such a distinguished group and company of Masters in the history of art. The Vatican Splendors exhibition moved to the John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, and then the Fine Arts Museum in Ft. Lauderdale until May 2011, when it returned back to the Vatican. Igor Babailov at work on the portrait of Pope Benedict XVI On another note, some of my famous Italian American portrait subjects included: Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York, actor James Gandolfini and the most recent portrait of Iraq veteran of war and American Hero, Brendan Marrocco. They all are on my website www.Babailov.com Editor’s Note: PRIMO had the honor of featuring the work of Igor V. Babailov on the cover of our September/October 2001 edition on Christopher Columbus. The painting, oil on canvas, was titled “For Gold, God and Glory.” Artist Babailov is praised by many for his sensitive and detailed portraits of contemporary luminaries in politics and entertainment, as well as a number of spectacular landscape paintings. Please review his latest works at www.Babailov.com Igor Babailov and Pope Benedict XVI Apostolic Palace, Vatican

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

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 it 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 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 HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca On the Billboard at Times Square, New York City The Igor V. Baba ilov and his Family Heredit ary Nobility ~ Official Co at of Arms ~ Granted, Signed and Sealed by Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Imperial House of Romanov 4 November, 2020

Family Portraits of WOMEN by Igor Babailov. Full-length portrait of Theresa Menefee, oil on canvas. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Family Portrait Paintings Theresa Menefee Oil on Canvas, 64" x 48" To commission a custom portrait by Mr. Babailov and/or for any questions feel free to CONTACT us. PORTRA ITS of WOMEN by Igor Babailov

Official portrait of Isadore Sharp, world-famous Four Seasons Hotels, Founder & CEO, by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Corporate Business Portraits in Oil. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Isadore Sharp Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Founder & CEO Isadore Sharp, Founder & CEO, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts (oil on canvas, 96"x 72") by Igor Babailov Collection: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Headquarters ABOUT THE PORTRAIT The official full-length portrait painting of Isadore Sharp, Founder and Chairman of the world-renowned luxury chain, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, was commissioned to Igor Babailov for the lobby of Four Seasons Headquarters. At the request of Mr. Sharp, the painting incorporates a number of symbols related personally to him, as well as the image of Norman Rockwell's painting "The Golden Rule" in the background, which represents his company's principle "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Isadore Sharp's painted likeness has now been greeting everyone who enters the building of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Headquarters. The portrait's closeup "Igor Babailov's talent and ability to capture the likeness of his subjects so precisely, is truly inspirational to us all." Isadore Sharp Founder and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts On the cover of Forbes Magazine Isadore Sharp with his full-length portrait in the far background. Photo credit: Brian Willer OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait of legendary Byron Janis, American classical pianist, by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Officialy unveiled in New York City. Steinway Hall, attendees included Maria Cooper Janis, Dr. James Watson and many other distinguished guests. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Celebrity Portraits Byron Janis American Classical Pianist Byron Janis (oil on canvas, 36" x 36") by Igor V. Babailov Sketching Byron Janis in preparation for his portrait painting in oil. Sketching Byron Janis in preparation for his portrait painting in oil. Byron Janis, playing for the guests at Steinway Hall Igor Babailov, unveiling the portrait Byron Janis's portrait was unveiled by the Artist and George Borey, Chopin's great-great-grandnephew Byron Janis's portrait was unveiled by Igor Babailov and George Borey, Chopin's great-great-grandnephew, at Steinway Hall in New York City Unveiling of Byron Janis's portrait at Steinway Hall Unveiling of Byron Janis's portrait at Steinway Hall George Borey, great-great-grandnephew of Frederic Chopin Byron Janis and Maria Cooper Janis Official portrait unveiling by Igor Babailov at Steinway Hall, New York City Portrait of pianist Byron Janis - Official portrait unveiling by Igor Babailov at Steinway Hall, New York City At Steinway Hall Maria Cooper Janis, daughter of movie star Gary Cooper, and American actress Patricia Neal Maria Cooper Janis, daughter of the American film star Gary Cooper, and American actress Patricia Neal With the Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. James Watson, discoverer of the DNA Molecule With the Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. James Watson, discoverer of the DNA Molecule Byron Janis with his legacy portrait, by Igor Babailov OTHER CELEBRITY PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Artist Alexander T. Danilichev, preeminent artist of Russia and Professor of Painting and Drawing, was one of Igor Babailov's teachers at the Surikov academy. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Teacher~Student Lineage Alexander Timofeevich Danilichev (1921 - 1994) Alexander Timofeevich Danilichev was born in Zhdanovo, Tula region in 1921. Danilichev graduated from the Artistic Institute of Moscow in 1937. He studied at the Surikov Institute from 1939 to 1945 in the studio of renowned artist Sergey Gerasimov (the student of Abram Arkhipov , Konstantin Korovin , and Valentin Serov ). In 1941, while attending the Surikov, Danilichev and 11 other academically accomplished and exceptional artists were evacuated to Samarkand, Uzbekistan for the duration of the war. It looked like Moscow might fall to the Germans so the Soviet government decided to evacuate their most promising artists who they saw as cultural assets. He returned and received his doctorate at the Surikov Institute in 1947. From the beginning of his studies in fine arts, Alexander stood out as an advanced student with the state permitting his participation in graduate exhibitions, which was simply unheard of. Alexander was very active in Moscow from 1948 when he first began exhibiting. In Spain , during Franco's regime (1939 - 1975), the intelligencia was eliminated. When it was realized that this purge ended Spain's tradition of great art, they asked their Russian neighbor to loan them a master artist to reestablish a great art tradition in their country. Danilichev was the artist sent and is today revered in Spain as Russia's greatest Soviet Era Artist. In 1950, Danilichev was awarded the State title "Pintor del Pueblo" ("The People's Painter of Spain") and again later was named the 32nd "Pintor del Pueblo". He also held the position of dean of the "Pintores del Pueblo" until his death. Alexander taught at the Surikov Institute as the head of his own studio beginning in 1960. Danilichev was one of the most famous and popular painters of the Soviet Union. Alexander Danilichev died in 1994. With appreciation to Gallery Lazare Igor V. Babailov Direct Teacher~Student Lineage CLICK www.Babailov.com