Born 1866 in Munich, Russian artist of German origin Richard Karlovich Zommer studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts from 1884 and had considerable success, receiving several awards for his work. His most prolific period relates to the last decade of the nineteenth century, which he spent in Asia, where he was sent in an archaeological expedition and worked as an ethnologist. During this period he produced a series of portraits, landscapes and works on paper, twenty of which can be found in the Museum of Uzbekistan.
At the beginning of the twentieth century Zommer went to Georgia, where he led an active life, traveling extensively. He walked almost the entirety of the Caucasus Mountains and produced a number of works during this period that provide a fascinating insight into the Caucasus from an ethnographic point of view, as well as glimpses of everyday occurrences and situations. His charming works characteristically display his love for truth and simplicity, and are executed using deep strong colors. Each of his works is particular in its composition, and each tells a story.
Zommer was a member of many art groups, and exhibited at various exhibitions in St. Petersburg between 1916 and 1920. He was one of the founders of the Society for Encouraging the Caucasian Decorative Arts in Tbilisi, and took part in various exhibitions organized by the Caucasian painters society, between 1916 and 1920 in Tbilissi, in Baku in 1907 and in Taschkent in 1915.
Zommer died in 1939 at the age of 73. Here below is a set of beautiful paintings by Richard Karlovich Zommer in the early 20th century.
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