Historian Identifies True Authors of Sochi Winter Theater Sculptures
Two statues are by one sculptor, the third by another.
For decades, tour guides, journalists, and various local historians have debated the authorship of the sculptures on the pediment of Sochi«s Winter Theater. Some articles name Vera Mukhina as the author. Others cautiously state that the sculptures were made »in Vera Mukhina«s workshop,» without naming the sculptors of these statues.
Nadezhda Ventzel was friends with another famous sculptor, Lyudmila Shulik.
Sochi local historian Vladimir Kostinikov managed to identify the authors of the sculptures from newspapers of the years when the Winter Theater was being built. The newspaper «Vechernyaya Moskva» (Evening Moscow) regularly published their photographs and indicated their authors. Here is part of the historian«s investigation.
Nadezhda Ventzel, 1990.
«The Mason» and «The Carpenter»
N. Ventzel. Sculptural work «The Mason» for the House of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR under construction in Sochi for the Sochi-Matsesta resort development, designed by architect I. V. Zholtovsky. 1935.
The authorship of early works by sculptor Nadezhda Ventzel was returned thanks to these photographs taken by Nikolai Popov—the sculptor«s husband—by contemporary researcher Igor Yuryevich Zlizin.
The «Khimik» stadium.
I, however, managed to encounter the name Nadezhda Ventzel in the Sochi «Kurortnaya Gazeta» (Resort Newspaper) from 11 January 1937, which described the installation of the sculptures «The Mason» and «The Carpenter» on the House of the Plenipotentiary of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the USSR (now the Art Museum).
N. Ventzel. Figure «Sculpture» on the pediment of the Winter Theater in Sochi.
Nadezhda Konstantinovna Ventzel came from a noble family. Among her ancestors was the famous writer of sea stories Konstantin Mikhailovich Stanyukovich. She was the great-granddaughter of sculptor Pyotr Karlovich Klodt.
«The Mountaineers» did not survive to the present day.
She studied at Moscow University, and from 1924–1925 Nadezhda Ventzel attended K. Yuon«s studio in Moscow. From 1926–1930, she studied at the Odessa Art Institute. There she became friends with sculptor Lyudmila Shulik, with whom she often worked together.
In 1934, Nadezhda Ventzel worked in a studio for advanced training of young sculptors under the guidance of Vera Mukhina.
From an interview with Nadezhda Ventzel:
«I met Vera Ignatievna [Mukhina] in 1934. An acquaintance of mine, a young sculptor named Olga Kvinikhidze, had her own small studio. There she, I, and also Nina Zelenskaya sculpted from life. Models were provided by MOSKH (the Moscow Union of Artists). These were essentially advanced training courses for young sculptors. The three of us were supervised by Vera Ignatievna Mukhina. Once or twice a week she would come here to assess the results of our work. When Vera Ignatievna made comments, no one took offense because it was done very delicately. Her name was renowned everywhere at that time, but she was a very tactful and modest person. I know that Vera Ignatievna was often asked to give various reports in artistic circles because she spoke exceptionally interestingly. However, it was not easy to persuade her—she did not like being the center of attention.»
In 1935, at the Moscow Autumn Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Nadezhda Ventzel presented the monumental sculpture «The Mason.» A photograph of the work was published in «Vechernyaya Moskva,» also indicating Sochi as the intended location for the sculpture.
By the way, besides Sochi, the figures «The Mason» and «The Carpenter» also adorned a hotel in Smolensk in 1939. And in Moscow, at the «Khimik» stadium, «The Mason» stands for some reason in proud solitude. Without «The Carpenter»!
«Architecture» and «Sculpture»
In March 1937, Nadezhda Ventzel executed the allegorical figures «Architecture» and «Sculpture» for the pediment of the Winter Theater in Sochi.
In Sochi, there was another sculptural composition by N. K. Ventzel—«Mountaineers.» This sculptural group was placed in 1940 on the grounds of Kurupr Sanatorium No. 4 (Salve Sanatorium) near the Riviera.
As for the third figure on the pediment of the Winter Theater—«Painting»—it was created by Nadezhda Ventzel«s friend, Lyudmila Ivanovna Shulik.
