Ivan G. Olinsky
- Ivan Gregorewitch Olinsky was born in 1878 in Elizabethgrad, Southern Russia and moved to New York in 1890 with his parents. As a young man in New York, Olinsky studied at the National Academy of Design and also at Art Students League, eventually teaching at both schools. After his studies in New York, Olinsky moved to Europe for a few years (1908-1911) where he worked on his art in both Italy and France. Following his stint in Europe, Olinsky returned to the New York, this time with a family of his own, and quickly established a studio in Greenwich Village.
Olinsky received much acclaim during his lifetime for his painting. He was the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Carnegie Prize from the National Academy of Design in 1929. Ivan Olinsky is best known for his portraits of beautiful women and interior scenes. Typical of Olinsky's style are his strong palette use of vivid colors and the soft approach and detailed modeling of his figures, wherein he uses soft Impressionistic brush strokes to render the details of his works. Olinsky was greatly influenced by the French Impressionist artists during his time in Europe, and as a result, he is now recognized as a master American Impressionist.
"The Value of Portraits"
By: Robin Lynn Biel
Published in: Arts and Antiques, A Supplement to Montgomery Newspapers & Main Line Life (Philadelphia)
April 4, 2001, pg. 16-17
As appraisers we examine a multitude of artwork, however, certain pieces deserve special attention. Recently our firm was asked to examine a complete collection of fine arts and antiques located in West Chester, PA, to estimate the replacement value for insurance.
While we examined the collection we discovered a pair of exquisitely done
portraits of prominent figures by Ivan Gregorevitch Olinsky that date from the 1920s. The paintings are family heirlooms received as gifts from our clients' grandparents. They were completed during his mid-career. The works depict a gentleman holding a cigarette seated at his desk; the other is a woman wearing a gown seated in front of a table with floral decor in the background. His portraits are realistic as he portrays his sitters in vivid colors and enhances their forms with modeling techniques.
He gives character to his sitters and depicts slight gestures, thoughtful looks and tranquility.
His works are influenced by the impressionistic attention to light and application of paint. They are signed in the upper corners and are in gold gilt frames. The dimensions of the images are 29 _ x 36 and 39 _ x 31 _ respectfully.
Research confirmed to us the significance of the artist and the impressive
prices his works bring at auction. We must be aware that auction records are fair market valuewhich is the price an article would bring on the open market with a willing buyer and a seller neither, and both having reasonable knowledge. Our assignment was to evaluate the painting for replacement value which is based on a higher value needed to replace the item in the retail market if that item was destroyed, stolen or sustained a damage.
Ivan G. Olinsky (American/Russian, 1878 to 1962) is well known for portraits and murals. He was born in Elizabethgrad in southern Russia and moved with his parents to New York circa 1890. He was an American artist by training. He studied at the National Academy of Design (1894-1898) and Art Students League (1901-1902), eventually teaching at both.
From 1900-1908 he worked with John LaFarge by assisting him on stained-glass windows and murals. From 1908-1911, Olinsky worked on his own in Italy and France. He moved to New York to establish a studio in Greenwich Village. He won the Carnegie Prize, National Academy of Design in 1929 and numerous awards during his career.
Some museums that have exhibited his works in their collections are the Smithsonian American Art, Museum, Washington, DC, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, and the Detroit Museum of Art, Detroit, MI.
