Tanais Gallery

Throughout the life Nesterov was familiar and is close with many visible creators of Russian culture - writers, actors, scientists and artists.

Many of with whom Nesterov was close, became models for its portraits. As a creation force majeure he has seen work of the sculptress Vera Mukhina. All she - its strong figure, its strict, almost the accusatory glance, its strong and careful hands are filled by passionate energy of overcoming. Vigilance of the master has transformed a portrait into a fascinating image of almost furious creative burning.

Her most celebrated work is the giant monument “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” which was the centerpiece of the Soviet pavilion at the 1937 International Exhibition in Paris. It was the world's first welded sculpture. The 24-meter-tall, 75-ton monument was made of sheets of stainless steel connected together with an innovative method of spot welding. One hand of each figure holds respectively a hammer and a sickle, the two implements joining to form the hammer and sickle symbol of the Soviet Union. In 1947 the sculpture, now installed at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre, became the symbol of the Russian “Mosfilm studio”.