Album: Boris Riab

From http://www.airdechasse.com/bibliographies.php (Translated from the original French) - Boris Riabouchinsky, known as RIAB (1898-1975) Boris Stéfanovitch Riabouchinsky was born in Moscow November 1, 1898. His father Etienne Riabouchinsky, former senior officer of the army of the Tsar, was a wealthy Muscovite industrialist. On the 4000 hectares owned by the family north of Moscow young Boris was initiated by his father and uncle around 1910 to the hunting of wolf, bear, and hunting small game with pointers. Boris learned French, English, German and Italian, languages which would be useful to him during his later travels. He very early showed the gift for drawing sketches from his hunts. He took courses in drawing and painting at the Academy of Arts of Moscow where his professors are Mr Visotsky then Mr Stepanoff. In 1916, he entered military service in the cavalry of the Tsar where he became a lieutenant. In 1917, the first riots burst in Russia and the Tsar abdicates. July 17, 1918, the imperial family is assassinated in Ekaterinbourg and the war against the "White Russians" starts. From 1918 to 1920 the industrial companies were nationalized and the Riabouchinsky family eventually lost their property to the Communists and were forced to leave Russia. His sister and part of the family went to Milan, Italy. Boris remained in Russia until 1920 then left for Turkey where he was assisted in Constantinople by the Consulate of the Netherlands. On December 16, 1920, the consulate enabled Riabouchinsky to travel to Milan carrying with him two Russian Orthodox icons and little else. He remained in Italy until 1923 when he decided to become an animal painter. On March 30, 1923, he obtained a visa for Great Britain where he remained a few months, then went to Canada and remained there two years living in the area of Montreal. He traveled to the United States then returned to the United Kingdom where his drawings and paintings sold well, signed "B. Riabouchinsky." In 1925 and 1926, he lived in Scotland and painted landscapes. In 1927 Riabouchinsky arrives in France where he remained until the end of his life, initially in Paris in the 15th district near the Hotel Savoy, 16 rue Desnouettes. In 1932, he takes an apartment at 36 Saint Lambert street. At that time, he is married to a Russian compatriot of the name of Nadine Prokopovitch. Riab becomes increasingly known in the medium of the animal artists and joins the "Trade Union of the Professional Painters." He speaks French well which facilitates his entry in the hunting and horse sports. He follows and draws the races and the contests. He is introduced into the coterie of Fields-Trials of pointers and is asked to paint the dogs. Riab attends the Museum of Natural History and works there with Merite and Reboussin, Masters of animal drawing. In 1935, he decided to shorten his signature fearing his true name would be taken as Jewish, and takes the name 'Riab.' From 1947 to 1950, he worked for Americans, especially Mr Alan Rutherford Stuyvesant, President of the American Club of the Breton Spaniel. His activity is reduced during the war, but, after 1945, the name of Riab is well known. He illustrates many reviews: "The Saint Hubert", "The Wildfowl", "Drives out, dogs and hunting", "The Stockbreeder" and "Pleasures of Hunting." Riab takes part in the Parisian meetings with hunting enthusiasts and especially of the Breton spaniel. At that time, Riab lives within two steps of the edges of the Marne, in Joinville, in a small house with a workshop, a small garden and his dog. He displays permanently in Paris in the Daucher Gallery with 34 avenue de l'Opéra. Mr Daucher plays a great part in the promotion of the work of Riab by producing engravings from his watercolours. He also works for business firms and illustrates calendars. In the 1950s, he takes part in the Salon of the Animal Artists where he meets Oberthür, Poret, Reille, Brulard, Penot, Marcuez and the sculptors Fath, Lesage and Benoist-Gironnière. He observed and sketched the huntings of his friends in Beauce, the Seine and Marne or the Sologne. As a member of the National Association of the Waterfowl Hunters, he meets Jean Deneuville who has a large protected wetlands and they become good friends. Riab produced for him many sketches of the Bay of Somme and its game. In 1960, his mother dies at the age of 86, and his wife two years later. This period is very difficult for the artist who falls ill with influenza then pneumonia leading to his hospitalization in Creteil where he receives Jean Deneuville and other friends. On December 19, 1963, he marries Louise Viriotand and he begins to paint again. In 1964, Riab buys a house in Saint Vincent of Lorouer in the place known as of Mortonnières in edge of the forest of Rocked. It is there that he spends his last twelve years. In 1967, Riab's last Russian friend in France dies. They met while in college in Moscow and thus knew each other since long years. This death revives in the artist the deep wound of having to leave his country without being able to return. This feeling of nostalgia never left him and was found in his work through the recurring representation of the birch, a tree typical of the Russian forests. From 1964 to 1972 Riab became friends with Robert Clavel, manager of the forest of Rocked. In 1973, the financial position of Riab becomes difficult because the successor of Mr Daucher paid little for his watercolours and failed to demand royalties for the reproductions of his work. His health worsens and in 1973 he paints his last watercolour. In March 1974 he had a stroke and died August 18, 1975.