Johnny Stuart (author)
John Spencer Innes Stuart | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Died | July 12, 2003 (aged 63) |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, art collector, Russian art specialist |
| Known for | Establishing the Russian department at Sotheby's; expertise in Russian icons and art |
John Spencer Innes Stuart, commonly referred to as Johnny Stuart (20 May 1940 – 12 July 2003), was a distinguished Scottish writer, collector of art, and specialist in Russian icons and Russian art. In 1976, he established the Russian department at Sotheby's in London, transforming it into a leading force within the market and gaining recognition as a preeminent expert on Russian art beyond Russia's borders.
Born in Aberdeen in 1940, Stuart received his education at Eton College before pursuing Slavonic Studies at St John's College, Cambridge. At the age of 18, he embraced Russian Orthodoxy. During the late 1960s, he visited the Soviet Union where he was introduced to Russian artistic communities by author Camilla Gray. While there, he trained in icon restoration under Adolphe Ovtchinikov at the Grabar Art Conservation Centre.
In 1990, Stuart played a key role in co-curating the Gates of Mystery exhibition featuring Russian icons at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. He also contributed to their 1994 "British Street Style" exhibition by lending pieces from his personal collection.
His 1987 publication, Rockers!, offered a significant exploration of the British rocker subculture. Stuart's knowledge made him a sought-after advisor for renowned musicians and actors including the Rolling Stones, George Michael, and Billy Idol. The book gained considerable popularity among youth culture groups.
Although details about Stuart’s private art dealership are scarce, the 15th-century icon The Miracle of St George and the Dragon, currently housed in the British Museum, was procured via the AXIA dealership, which acknowledges Stuart’s participation. Yanni Petsopoulos, AXIA’s proprietor, highlighted Stuart’s profound passion for Byzantine and Russian religious art, noting his pilgrimages to Mount Athos to further immerse himself in Orthodox spirituality. Stuart left a manuscript draft of his work Icons, The Triumph of Orthodoxy to AXIA; its publication remains uncertain.
Bibliography
- Ikons, Faber & Faber (1975)
- Russian & Greek Icons: From the Charles Pankow Collection of Russian & Greek Icons, Thirteenth Through the Nineteenth Century, Van Doren Gallery (1982)
- "Byzantine exhibition at the British Museum provides new insights but falls flat due to missed opportunities", Art Newspaper (1 February 1995)
- Rockers!, Plexus (1987)
- St. Petersburg: Portrait of an Imperial City, Vendome (1990)
External links
- "John Innes Stuart 1940-2003", Russian Art Consultancy
- Джон Стюарт, предводитель русского искусства, The Art Newspaper Russia, N39, 2015-2016
- Топ-5 западных коллекционеров советского неофициального искусства, Артгид 28.11.2016
- Русские торги с английским акцентом, Коммерсант "Деньги" 11.09.1996
- Oxford Dictionary National Biography "Stuart, John Spencer Innes 1940-2003"