Martin Lawrence Galleries

About the Work

Liudmila Kondakova’s first childhood memories were all bright color: reds, blues, greens, yellows, and whites. She recalls that her first persistent question to the adults around her was “What color is this”? Painting absorbs Kondakova’s whole being. If she is not painting, she is thinking about her current or future projects. Days when she does not work, she considers lost. Liudmila Kondakova painted with egg tempera for many years. It is an unforgiving technique. If you make a mistake, you have to start over. Through this process, she learned planning and discipline, and uses those skills to create highly detailed paintings of her favorite cities, places, and spaces. She starts painting from the farthest background area, and she works forward. From the darkest parts of the painting to the lightest, as if she is bringing her composition from darkness to light. Paris is a city that Kondakova has portrayed time and again in her work, and its architecture has inspired many of her works.

“Hotel Rialto” is a beautiful scene from Venice, Italy. Venice’s scenery is a departure from Kondakova’s Parisian depiction. It shows Kondakova’s commitment to architecture and her passion for detailed artwork. The artwork is full of colors, and deep blue predominates in the skies and in the canals. The Venetian building in different colors and the gondolas in the canals give the artwork the desired romantic effect. In the back, we see the cathedral of St. Mark which is illuminated by the street lights. The artwork is so detailed that the viewer is able to differentiate the street light against the lights shining behind the windows. It is typical for Kondakova to depict the moon through the night sky, in all of her paintings, and it is impossible to miss it in this depiction of Venice. This painting would be a great addition to any collection. The theme and color of the artwork make this piece timeless. “Hotel Rialto” is a 27 x 36 – inch hand-signed serigraph on paper.