Vuchetich, Evgenii Viktorovich

Bora Dec. 15 (28), 1908, in Ekaterinoslav, now Dnepropetrovsk. Soviet sculptor; People’s Artist of the USSR (1959); member of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1953); Hero of Socialist Labor (1967). Member of the CPSU since 1943. Studied at the Rostov Art School (1926-30) and in the Leningrad Academy of Arts (1931-33).

Vuchetich’s work re-creates with forceful realistic universalization the most important events in the history of the Soviet state and embodies progressive contemporary ideas. His images often take on the significance of heroic symbols. With romantic enthusiasm, dramatic vigor, and optimistic vitality, Vuchetich depicts the theme of the Soviet people’s heroism during the Great Patriotic War (1941-45) in which he participated.

His major works are the monuments of Lieutenant General M. G. Efremov in Viaz’ma (bronze and granite; unveiled in 1946: State Prize of the USSR, 1947) and of Army General N. F. Vatutin in Kiev (granite; unveiled in 1948); the monument to the soldiers of the Soviet Army who fell in the struggle against fascism, erected in Treptow Park in Berlin (bronze and granite, 1946-49, with the architect la. B. Belopol’skii and others; State Prize of the USSR, 1950), which personifies the nobility of the liberation mission of the Soviet people; the high relief We Swear to You, Comrade Lenin (cathodic copper and silver; 1949, with coworkers, Tret’iakov Gallery; State Prize of the USSR, 1950); the monument to F. E. Dzerzhinskii in Moscow (bronze and granite; unveiled in 1958); and the majestic monument to the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, glorifying the selfless courage of the Soviet people, which stands on Mamai Hill in Volgograd (reinforced concrete; 1963-67, with la. B Belopol’skii and others; Lenin Prize, 1970). His numerous portraits in the Tret’iakov Gallery include the ones of twice Heroes of the Soviet Union I. D. Cherniakhovskii (bronze and granite, 1945; State Prize of the USSR, 1946) and V. I. Chuikov (marble, 1947; State Prize of the USSR, 1948); of T. T. Khriukin (marble) and of Hero of Socialist Labor N. Niiazov (bronze, both 1948; State Prize of the USSR, 1949); of the sculptor Zh. Kishfaludi-Strobl’ (bronze, 1955); and of V. I. Lenin (granite, 1956). The allegorical statue We Shall Beat Our Swords into Plowshares (bronze, 1957; at the UN building in New York and in the Tret’iakov Gallery) and the portraits of Kishfaludi-Strobl’ and Lenin won the Grand Prix at the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels. Vuchetich received the Nehru Prize for portraits of Indian political leaders (1968). He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the Great Patriotic War Second Class, and medals.