Institutional biography of the Soviet painter: experience of comparative study

This article is first to conduct a comparative analysis of the biographies two prominent Soviet painters – A. M. Gerasimov and S. V. Gerasimov. Emphasis placed on vectors stages institutional biography artists, rather than their creative personal life. People same generation, education, virtually life length, they were inscribed into single system cultural institutions, sought achieve career success as painters. At time, Aleksandr became personification Stalinist era in art, having received all highest posts awards country, while Sergei throughout 1930s 1950s, although was officially recognized talented master, caused suspicions among country’s leadership due "proclivity for formalism". Thus, being fairly successful artist, pedagogue administrator, he significantly inferior his namesake hierarchical ranking. A long (both masters lived about 80 years) allows considering variations fate “elite” at turn eras. The “Thaw” time “overthrow” one artist “rise” other. Previous tremendous achievements interpreted reflection unscrupulousness painter, less grandiose successes perceived sign behavioral reservedness. fates outstanding demonstrate invariants artist. Different proportions talent, conformism, ambitions, strive material wealth key components that led different formulas perception such by contemporaries.