Boris Anrep

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Boris Anrep was a Russian-born artist who spent most of his life in Britain and became famous for making large mosaics. He lived from 1883 to 1969 and worked as a mosaicist from 1908 until his death.

Early life and education
- Born in Saint Petersburg to a noble family. His father was a professor and government official.
- He studied law in St. Petersburg but switched to art after meeting artists in Paris.
- In Paris, he studied at the Académie Julian and other art schools, and then spent time at the Edinburgh College of Art.
- During his years in France and England, he befriended many artists and writers, including members of the Bloomsbury Group.

Life in Britain and poetry
- Anrep became part of London’s social and intellectual circles from around 1912. He also wrote poetry in Russian and English and was influenced by English romantics like Shelley and Blake.
- His friendship with the poet Anna Akhmatova is well known. Akhmatova wrote many poems inspired by their acquaintance, and Anrep helped foster the Acmeism poetry movement in Russia around 1913.
- He served as a Russian army officer in World War I and later returned to London, taking a government position related to Russia in 1917.

Mosaic work
- Anrep decided to focus on mosaics after being inspired by Byzantine art he saw in Ravenna.
- His first mosaics appeared in private spaces, such as the artist Ethel Sands’ Chelsea house (1917–1920), and then in public commissions.
- Notable early works include mosaics for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (1921) and a set for the Tate Gallery (1923) inspired by William Blake.
- A major commission was the mosaic program for Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Bayswater (begun 1926; expanded 1932–1956), including depictions of biblical scenes and prophets.
- He created four large mosaic cycles for the National Gallery, London, on the staircase: The Labours of Life (1928), The Pleasures of Life (1929), The Awakening of the Muses (1933), and Modern Virtues (1952). These works depict human activity, creativity, and intellect, often featuring portraits of people from Anrep’s era.
- He also produced mosaics for Christ the King Cathedral in Mullingar, Ireland (Saint Anne and Saint Patrick) and continued work in Bayswater and other sites.

Legacy
- Anrep was a prominent figure in London’s artistic and social life for decades, connected with writers, artists, and intellectuals of the era.
- He died in London in 1969 at the age of 85. His mosaics remain among the most distinctive and accessible examples of 20th-century mosaic art in public spaces.