The Council of the Gods (detail)
Giovanni Lanfranco
In this celestial scene from The Council of the Gods (1624–25), Jupiter presides over Olympus, crowned with stars and flanked by his eagle. Surrounding him are Juno, Venus, Mars, and Pluto, their divine forms emerging from clouds. Painted for the Sala della Loggia in Villa Borghese, the fresco evokes the grandeur and illusionistic power of Baroque heaven.
Head of a Youth
Michelangelo
This charcoal head of a youth (1511–12) fills a shallow lunette, the face turned sharply upward and modeled with dense, sculptural shading. Created while Michelangelo worked at Villa Farnesina, it is understood as a visual homage to Raphael’s work in the same setting. The fusion of muscular anatomy with a calm, idealized profile demonstrates how Michelangelo engaged directly with Raphael’s Renaissance style.
Earth (Mother Earth)
Einar Jónsson
Einar Jónsson’s sculpture (1904–1908) portrays a monumental figure cradling a smaller, draped form symbolizing Earth. Blending allegory and myth, it reflects Icelandic spirituality and cultural narratives. The work embodies humanity’s protective yet dependent bond with nature, inviting reflection on cosmic order and the fragility of existence.
Saint Anthony the Hermit
Jan Brueghel
This tranquil painting (early 17th c.) shows Saint Anthony seated at the mouth of a cave, gazing contemplatively toward the city and sea. The vivid flora and distant harbor contrast with his solitude, symbolizing the tension between worldly life and spiritual retreat. A vision of a sacred altar within the cave suggests divine presence in the midst of earthly temptation.
Perseus and Medusa
Baldassarre Peruzzi
In this fresco (c. 1511), Peruzzi depicts Perseus about to behead Medusa. Medusa’s petrifying gaze has already turned victims to stone, visible as pale figures below. Pegasus, born from Medusa’s blood, emerges nearby, symbolizing rebirth. The scene reflects triumph over monstrous chaos.
The Council of the Gods (detail)
Raphael
In this scene (1518), Raphael depicts Cupid pleading with Jupiter to grant Psyche immortality and approve their union. Jupiter, seated with his eagle, listens thoughtfully. Beside him are Juno (with peacock), Diana (with crescent moon), and Minerva (in armor). Venus stands bare-breasted beside her son, while Neptune (with trident) and Pluto (with bident and dog Cerberus) and Mars (in armor) observe from behind.
Hercules Defeating the Nemean Lion
Baldassare Peruzzi
This fresco (c. 1511) in the Loggia of Galatea shows Hercules wrestling the invulnerable Nemean Lion, one of his Twelve Labors. The hero’s twisting nude body and the lion’s straining muscles emphasize physical struggle and controlled force. As part of a zodiac cycle, the scene represents the sign of Leo and links mythological heroism to Renaissance interests in astrology and humanist virtue.
Planting of the First Cross
Vicente Manansala
The painting depicts the 1521 event in Cebu where Ferdinand Magellan and Spanish soldiers, with tattooed natives called pintados, planted a cross. Commissioned for the 400th anniversary of Philippine Christianization in 1965, it captures a pivotal historical moment. Manansala’s transparent cubism blends traditional and modern styles, highlighting cultural convergence. The original cross is a historical artifact in Cebu City.
Detail from Retablo de la Independencia
Juan O'Gorman
This mural detail (1960–61) dramatizes colonial brutality during Mexico’s struggle for independence (1810–1821). A near-nude man is tortured before Spanish troops and clergy, symbolizing oppression. At left appear insurgent leaders Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos, while nobles and clerics in bright dress embody privilege. The peasants and child at right embody the pueblo whose suffering and resilience fueled the revolt for freedom.
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
Antonio Canova
This statue (1805–08) presents Pauline Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon, as Venus, reclining semi-nude and holding the golden apple of victory. Commissioned by her husband Camillo Borghese, the statue blends neoclassical elegance with sensual myth. Its rotating base once allowed viewers to admire it from every angle.
The Wedding Banquet of Cupid and Psyche
Raphael
In this grand fresco (1518), Raphael depicts the divine banquet celebrating the marriage of Cupid and Psyche. At the center, Jupiter and Juno preside; beside them sit Pluto, Persephone, Neptune, and Venus. Ganymede offers wine to Jupiter, while Bacchus (Dionysus), assisted by putti, pours wine at the right. The scene embodies divine harmony, joy, and the union of soul and love.
The Fall of Phaeton
Sebastiano del Piombo
This fragment (c. 1511) shows Phaeton falling from the sky after failing to control the sun chariot of his father Helios. To save the world, Zeus strikes him down. Part of Sebastiano del Piombo’s mythological cycle at Villa Farnesina, it complements Raphael’s Triumph of Galatea with a dramatic warning against hubris.
Holy Family with Saints John, Tobias, and Raphael
Bonifazio Veronese
This Venetian Renaissance oil-on-canvas work (1525–27) expands the traditional Holy Family to include St John, Tobias, and the Archangel Raphael. Rich in color and detail, it blends divine iconography with human warmth, echoing the era’s interest in sacred storytelling through vivid, earthly scenes.
Apollo
Phidias
This ivory mask (5th c. BC) represents Apollo-Greek god of light, music, and prophecy-and once belonged to a chryselephantine statue (a prestigious cult image of ivory and gold). Attributed to Phidias, the master sculptor of classical Greece, it is an exceptionally rare survival of this luxury art form. Looted in 1995 and recovered in 2003, it now serves as both a rare survival of luxury cult sculpture and a reminder of ongoing threats to archaeological heritage.
Silenced by Pain
Ángel Haché
This mixed-media work (2014) uses corrugated cardboard to depict three anguished nude figures pierced through the head by jagged red waves, symbols of auditory torture or psychological trauma. Their tense bodies and gestures of covering their ears suggest helplessness before systemic violence. The scene recalls the enforced silence and invisible suffering experienced under Trujillo’s dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
For as long as I can remember, my path has been one of discovery—seeking beauty, timelessness, and connection in every corner of the world. It has also been a journey of deep learning and understanding. I’ve been an avid traveler (or perhaps a travel addict?) for most of my life. My love for travel began long before I ever left home: as a child, I drew a fantasy map of my grandparents’ apartment and “traveled” through it with my cousin Sonya, imagining adventures in every corner. Nearly 90 countries and countless moments of awe later, I’m excited to share this journey with you.
Thanks to the tireless and ingenious programming of Diagilev, we’re now able to present about fifteen percent of the images I’ve accumulated over the years. More will be released in small batches depending on your interest. While the first release leans toward museum photography, later ones will include more nature, architecture, culture, and general travel experiences. If you’d like to receive email notifications about new releases, feel free to reach out—no commercial use, ever.
Throughout my travels, I’ve been drawn to two intertwined kinds of discovery. One is intellectual: learning why the world is the way it is. History became my guide, shaping my perspective and filling my camera roll with museums and old buildings. To me, history is not the past—it is the key to understanding the present and how the world became what it is. The other is emotional: seeking moments of elevation—spirituality, beauty, harmony—often found in nature, monasteries, and ancient sacred spaces. Together, these impulses shape my photography. It invites you to learn, admire, and soar—to rise above the mundane and see the world through a lens of curiosity and wonder.
Much of my later travel became possible thanks to my job with Delta Air Lines, but the wanderlust began years earlier. By the time I joined the industry, I had already visited over 35 countries and lived in several—largely thanks to a backpacking journey around the world with Luis León, whose face appears in many early photos. I grew up in Ufa in the USSR, and since leaving it I have lived, studied, and worked in Latvia, the United States, France, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Colombia.
A life of near-constant movement may seem a little crazy, but it has deepened my understanding of the world and produced the photography you are about to see. Over the years, my style has evolved—more intentional, more refined—yet its core remains the same: a search for understanding, timeless beauty, and a connection to those who walked this earth long before us.
I hope these photos stir something in your soul, just as they did in mine. I’d love to hear from you—whether reactions, suggestions, corrections, or a request to be added to the email list for new releases (no commercial use, I promise). You can learn more about my travels here, and my academic life here.
Enjoy our shared journey!