Nicolai Fechin (26 November 1881 - 5 October 1955) was a Russian-American known for his portraits. By the time he and his family immigrated to the United States in 1923, Fechin was already an internationally known artist.
Note: The photos of original paintings shown above and below in this post should not be reproduced without permission of the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House.
Fechin self-portrait.
Eya
Fechin's portrait of his daughter.
Fechin's Russian House
Fechin supported himself and his family initially by portrait commissions and teaching art in New York and Pittsburgh, but the climates in those cities were ill suited for he suffered most of his life with lung disease. A fellow artist told him of the art colony and drier climate of Taos. Mabel Dodge Luhan, an art patron, invited Fechin and his family to visit Taos in the summer of 1926.
Taos Art Museum at Fechin House
In 1927, they moved to Taos and Fechin bought an adobe house which he began renovating, redesigning and making additions. The house contains Russian, Spanish, and Pueblo architectural styles. Included in the purchase were seven acres of land and a detached studio building.
Fechin learned carving from his father and his remarkable skill in this discipline is evident throughout the Fechin House. Shown above is a cabinet which Fechin built to house his carving tools which he employed in building each individual door of his home.
A closer look at his extraordinary talent at carving and design.
Fechin also designed the unique light fixtures and door hardware in the home. Part of his training at the Imperial Art Academy in St. Petersburg included architecture and theatre design.
Fechin did not use woodworking power tools.
The Taos Art Museum at Fechin House not only features Fechin's hand-carved furnishings and art, it also exhibits the works of over 50 Taos artists including many paintings by the original members of the Taos Society of Artists. Above and below are just a few of my favorites.
Study In Sunlight, Taos Indian
Joseph H. Sharp
From left to right:
War Bonnet Shadows
Bert G. Phillips
Indian Fireside
Eanger Irving Couse
Portrait of John Reyna
William H. Dunton
The Entrance
Joseph H. Sharp
Fechin's studio which now serves also as the Museum Gift Shop.
The Taos Art Museum at Fechin House also has beautiful gardens as shown above and below.
Since we began full-time RVing in 2011 Evin and I have traveled to almost every state in the Continental United States. Few places that we have visited have had the impact that the Fechin House had on me. And it was not the art of the Taos Masters. I don't know whether to call my experience spiritual or magical; but, for me it was beyond special. It is remarkable what Nicolai Fechin was able to accomplish with Fechin House in just a few short years in Taos.
For a too brief moment in time the Fechin House was a home to Alexandra, Eya and Nicolai. The Fechin's marriage ended in 1933 and Nicolai and Eya left Taos. During my visit I could sense Nicolai Fechin working many long hours a day, painting when the light was right, then working on the house late into the night driven by the same creative passion that is easily seen in his paintings.
Taos Art Museum at Fechin House
227 Paseo del Pueblo Norte
Taos, New Mexico 87571
museum@taosartmuseum.org
(575) 758-2690
Call for Summer & Winter Hours
Closed on Mondays
No visit to Taos should be complete without time spent at the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House.
