Incredible tretchikoff

Vladimir Tretchikoff lived a life as colourful as his instantly recognizable paintings. Born to a deeply religious Siberian family, he fought poverty, tragedy, captivity and near death to become one of the most celebrated artists of his time. Loathed by the critics yet loved by the public, he defied misfortune and a dismissive art establishment to enjoy phenomenal success in Britain, South Africa, Canada and the United States. At the height of his fame, over 200,000 people flocked to see his exhibition in London, and reproductions of his work were hanging in millions of homes across the world. Though he subsequently went out of favour, derided as 'naff' by commentators, in recent years his pictures have been rediscovered by young, kitsch-hungry, retro-loving fans. Today, exactly one hundred years after his birth in 1913, his images inspire artists, musicians, film-makers and designers, and his original paintings sell for vast sums at auction. Coinciding with his centenary, Incredible Tretchikoff tells the enthralling story of this flamboyant artist from his humble beginnings to the spectacular highs and lows of his later career. With the pace and suspense of a novel, Incredible Tretchikoff matches the drama of its subject's extraordinary life. It reveals the adventures that lie behind his most famous pictures, while presenting recently uncovered information and previously unseen photographs. This fascinating and gripping book is a fitting record of one of the most popular and controversial painters of the 20th century.