Ludolfs Liberts (1895-1959)

Painter, scenic designer, very important personality in Latvian culture.
Ludolfs Liberts attended J. Madernieks studio, learned in the sculpture section of Strogonov’s art school (1911.-1912.). 1915 he graduated from the School of Art in Kazan (taught by the artist Nikolay Fesin) and in that time worked as a decorator at the Opera in Kazan.
He took part at the 1st World War as an artillerist and received awards about his merits at the battleground. In 1921, he returns to Latvia and restarts painting.
The artist was teaching at the Latvian Art Academy (1923 – 32), he was in charge of the Figurative painting studio (1942 – 44).
1924. – 1937. – he worked as a decorator and director at the National Opera and National Theatre and also as a guest director and decorator in Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.
L. Liberts was a member of Riga artists’ group and artists’ society “Sadarbs” (1924 – 39).
He took part in exhibitions since 1914. His works were exhibited also abroad. Solo exhibitions were organized in Riga (1923, together with K. Ubāns, 1934, 1938), Paris (1927), Brussels (1929), Berlin (1934, 1938) and Stockholm (1938).
In the thirties, the artist made sketches to porcelain and faience paintings. Some plates were bought for the collection of National Manufactory Museum in Sevr.
1935. – 1940. and 1941. – 1944. he was the director of State Printing House and Mint.
1938. – the artist executes the order of the State President representation interior at Riga Castle.
In 1944, Liberts emigrated first to Austria, after the war to Germany, and was a teacher at Latvian art school. In this period, he painted with tempera and published the album “European symphony” with tempera paintings (by J. E. Shuler, 1947. in the German and English languages, Stuttgart).
Liberts was awarded at international exhibitions in Paris (1931) and Barcelona (1939, Gold medal). He got scholarships and prizes of Latvia Culture foundation (1923, 1924, 1927). Artist also was awarded with Culture foundation of American Latvian association honour prize (1952).
The artist painted European cities – Venice, Paris (also at night time), and landscapes of Latvia. He also worked in figurative genre, made portraits and sometimes decorative paintings.