Ilya Efimovich Repin, 1844-1930

Vasily Filippovich Levy (1878-1953) was first introduced to Ilya Repin in 1918 by Isaak Brodsky. Levy became one of Repin's closest friends and was even commissioned to execute the preparatory portrait of the Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela for Repin's series 'Celebrities of Finland'. By 1930 - the year this portrait is believed to have been painted - Levy had contributed to over 50 european exhibitions.