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Among today's practitioners of bravura brushwork, there seems to be a consensus as to which artists from the twentieth century were most influential on their, the contemporary artists', "painterly" style. Of the four painters who appear to be most often cited as inspirations, there are three with whom nearly everyone is familiar: America's John Singer Sargent, Sweden's Anders Zorn, and Spain's Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida. The fourth artist, however, Russian-born Nicolai Fechin, remains a bit of a mystery, though he is obviously an important figure to all those already acquainted with his work.

Fechin began training at The St. Petersburg Academy at age nineteen under Master Ivan Kramskoy, Ilya Repin the great ideological artist and historical painter of Russia and influenced by fellow student Filipp Malavin. He was a product of the Academy.

Formally trained in the classic Russian manner, Fechin had within him a deeply instilled sense of discipline and a belief in the vital importance of the people. His early life and art training spanned the tumultuous years of the Russo-Japanese and ultimately the October Revolution. Following a successful career in Russia he emigrated to the United States.

The risks Nicloai Fechin took and the insight and warmth he transferred from life to canvas are in this book, a glorious tribute to an artist and his vision.