Vsevolod Petrov-Maslakov was born into the family of the renowned medical doctor Mikhail Petrov-Maslakov, in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia. He received a well-rounded private education and enjoyed exposure to intellectuals of his father’s circle.
During the Second World War he survived the 900-day battle known as the Siege of Leningrad. At that time at the age of eleven Petrov-Maslakov joined the night watch defending the besieged city from fires caused by incendiary bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe almost every night. For many nights in 1941, 1942 and 1943 he was helping adult citizens during massive aerial attacks. He neutralized many incendiary bombs and prevented fires. For his feat young Petrov-Maslakov was decorated, becoming one of the youngest decorated defenders of besieged Leningrad in WWII. He also made drawings and sketches of besieged Leningrad. One of his drawings, depicting a street in besieged Leningrad, was published in 1943. That was the first publication for the young artist.
After the war Petrov-Maslakov studied painting under V. Oreshnikov at the Academy of Arts – Repin Institute in Leningrad, graduating in 1956 as painter. Then he continued post graduate studies specializing in the painting techniques and color schemes of the old masters and impressionists. During his studies Petrov-Maslakov researched art collections in Europe visiting museums in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium and Britain.
During the 1960s, 70s and 80s Petrov-Maslakov traveled extensively across Russia. He focused on painting wild nature in remote locations, such as Karelia, the Ural mountains, Taimyr tundra, Altai mountains, Siberian taiga, Chukotka, Kamchatka and the Far East. Petrov-Maslakov chose to stay away from the trappings of civilization and big cities, thus he remained free from pressures of Soviet propaganda.
In 1991 Petrov-Maslakov visited Alaska for three months and created a series of paintings depicting historic events in the 18th century Russian settlement of Novo-Archangel in Sitka. White Nights and serene landscapes of northern lands in four seasons are among the favorite themes of Petrov-Maslakov’s art. His paintings, always authentic in details, are also symbolic in meaning.
Today Petrov-Maslakov is a recognized Russian realist-impressionist artist whose works are found in The State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg), The Museum of History (St. Petersburg), The Russian Academy of Arts (Moscow), The Museum of Russian Art (Minnesota, USA) and in private collections in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Vsevolod Petrov-Maslakov is living in St. Petersburg, Russia. His son, Mikhail, is also a successful artist.
