Friends!

Exactly 150 years ago, was born a remarkable Ukrainian painter Eugene Bukovetsky. If you have not heard about him, you have lost a lot!

Eugene was born in Odessa in the family of the noble man. His father was a true businessman, earned European marble baths, "Slavonic hotel", typography and lithography.

He studied well, he attended high school, art school, entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. But he could not live in the wind and cold, because his health was getting worse, Eugene entered a real battle with a constant headache. But decided to retreat and leave.

Where? Of course, to Paris! There he studied from Western masters. And after training he went back to Odessa, became a member of the Society of Artists.

Eugene himself was an interesting man. He was silent, but had a sharp tongue when it was needed. He loved men's gatherings, organized regular meals at home. First, on Thursday, then on Sunday the most talented artists and scientists came to his house! They were Alexander Kuprin, Alexei Tolstoy, Vladimir Filatov, Corney Chukovsky, Ivan Bunin and others. The people called artist’s house the "cultural nest." He trusted his friends, all personal affairs of Bukovetsky were led by the painter Peter Nilus.

But with love Eugene had no luck. His first wife, with whom they had a daughter, Irina, one day decided to change everything. She left the artist and married her nephew! Later, she and her daughter emigrated to France. Eugene was single up to 57 years, when he married with Alexandra Alekseeva.

He worked as an artist in the social genre, painted portraits of famous people, his loved ones. At that time, he was called the chief portraitist of Odessa. But Eugene liked to paint landscapes too. His main purpose was bright picture of reality that is happening now, right here.

Eugene Bukovetsky drew till the last day of his life. He was 81, when he died. The artist left us hundreds of works that influenced the development of the genre in Ukraine. And yet - the pleasant memories and wonderful art collection.

I am sure that such talented Ukrainians are the good model to follow, so we always have to remember their stories.