Pope Francis meets with the artist Moscow Nikas Safronov, one of Putin’s portraitists

There are hundreds of portraits of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. However, the first to paint it was Nikas Safronov, who began to portray him even before the resignation president Borís Yeltsin pointed out in 1999 as his favorite for succession in the Kremlin.

Among his most famous works are two iconic portraits: one that shows Putin on the back of a steed, resembling Napoleon in full battle, and another in which he appears represented as the French monarch of the 16th century Francisco I, known for his support for The arts.

This morning, the Russian artist was received by Pope Francis in the Santa Marta house. He was accompanied by his son Luka Safronov, a Russian pianist and professor at the Swiss Conservatory.

During the meeting, the artist gave the Pontiff a painting of the Basilica of San José de Flores de Buenos Aires, inaugurated on February 18, 1883, as confirmed to ACI Prensa the surroundings of Safronov.

It is a very special church for the Holy Father. There at age 17, the young Jorge Mario Bergoglio decided to consecrate his life to God and enter the seminar.

So far, the Vatican press office has not provided more details about the meeting, which occurs a few days before the artists’ jubilee, scheduled from Sunday 16 to Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

In addition to portraying Russian political figures such as Dmitri Medvedev or Mijaíl Gorbachev, Safronov has immortalized international celebrities such as actors Sophia Loren and Robert de Niro, singers Tina Turner and Elton John, as well as boxer Mike Tyson. His works are found both in prestigious museums and in private collections.

Born in 1956 in the Russian city of Uliánovsk, on the shores of the Volga River already 705 kilometers east of Moscow, Safronov grew within a humble family. At 16 he dreamed with the sea and ships, so he decided to move to Odessa, an important Puerto del Mar Negro, to enroll in the Naval School of Russia.

However, after a year he discovered that it was not his true vocation, so he moved to Rostov del Don to study art at the Grekov School of Art. Subsequently, he continued his training at the Vilna Art Institute, in the capital of Lithuania.

Throughout his career, he has been awarded numerous awards and titles in his country, but has also achieved recognition in the international scene. Since 2006 he has been a member of the Royal International Academy of Culture, Education and Arts of the United Nations.

In addition, he has received the Gold Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences, as well as decorations such as the International Order of San Constantino El Grande, the Order of San Estanislao and the Order of Santa Ana of Grade II. He even has a star in the Andromeda constellation that bears his name.