Valentin Serov was outstanding Russian painter, and one of the leading portrait artists of his era. His early inspiration was sparked by the realistic art of Repin and Chistyakov. Further influences on Serov were the old master paintings he viewed in the museums of Russia and Western Europe, friendships with Mikhail Vrubel and later Konstantin Korovin. The greatest works of Serov's early period were “The Girl with Peaches” and “The Girl Covered by the Sun”. In these paintings Serov concentrated on spontaneity of perception of the model and nature. In the development of light and color and the fresh picturesque perception of the world, there appeared the features of early Russian impressionism. Serov's favorite models were actors, artists, and writers. At the same time, Serov developed a contrasting direction: he frequently produced intimate, heartfelt, chamber portraits, mainly of children and women.
