Triumph of the Name of Jesus
Giovanni Battista Gaulli
This dramatic fresco (1676–79) fills the nave ceiling with a celestial eruption of light and figures. At its center, divine radiance emanates from the monogram IHS, the symbol of Jesus. Saved souls rise toward the light, while sinners tumble into shadow. Blending paint and stucco, the work fuses heaven and church in Baroque theatricality.
Altar of Saint John Bono
Elia Vincenzo Buzzi
This monumental altar (c. 1763) in the Milan Cathedral honors Saint John Bono, a 13th-c. bishop known for his piety and service. The central figure is framed by angels and crowned by the inscription Ego sum pastor bonus (I am the Good Shepherd), evoking Christ-like compassion and episcopal authority.
The Holy Family with Sts. Francis, Anthony, Magdalene, John and Elizabeth
Bonifazio Veronese
This oil on canvas (1525–27) shows the Holy Family seated outdoors, with Mary offering fruit to the Christ Child held by Joseph. At their side stand the young Saint John the Baptist and the Archangel Raphael guiding Tobias, who carries a fish. The combination of figures from different episodes may connect to Renaissance interest in linking domestic piety with protective intercession.
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
Tintoretto
Tintoretto’s work (1550–1553) depicts the biblical moment of temptation in the Garden of Eden. Eve, holding the forbidden fruit, entices Adam, who hesitates, capturing the tension between desire and conscience. The background suggests their impending expulsion, a consequence of their choice. Dramatic lighting highlights the figures, emphasizing their forms and the scene’s gravity.
Hercules and the Hydra
Baldassarre Peruzzi
This ceiling fresco (c. 1510) in the Hall of the Perspectives shows Hercules battling the multi-headed Hydra. The creature symbolizes the zodiac sign Cancer, aligning with the room’s astrological theme. Peruzzi demonstrates heroic virtue triumphing over chaos and earthly temptation, reflecting Renaissance ideals of order and moral strength.
Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Caravaggio
This early Baroque painting (c. 1593) merges portraiture with still life, showing Mario Minniti holding a basket of overripe fruit. Caravaggio renders blemishes and textures with unflinching realism. The sensual posture and decaying abundance evoke themes of youthful beauty, ephemerality, and temptation.
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.
The Capture of the Cretan Bull
Lycungus Painter
Heracles grapples with the Cretan bull, locking its horns as the animal lunges, while Athena and a youthful attendant stand calmly among stylized trees. The scene represents his seventh labour, subduing the bull sent by Poseidon after King Minos withheld a promised sacrifice. This Apulian red-figure volute krater (mixing bowl) (360–345 BC) reflects South Italian interest in myth as a drama of human strength under divine supervision.
The Entombment
Raphael
Commissioned in 1507 by Atalanta Baglioni to honor her slain son, this painting unites the Deposition, Lamentation, and Entombment in one scene. Raphael’s dynamic figures, especially Christ’s, show Michelangelo’s influence. Stolen in 1608 by agents of Cardinal Borghese, it now hangs in the Galleria Borghese. A 2020 restoration revealed vivid colors, delicate sfumato (soft tonal blending), and adjustments in Raphael’s evolving design.
The Devil Showing Christ the Delights of the World
Álvaro Barrios
In this pop-infused lithograph (1996), Barrios reimagines Christ’s temptation with dazzling surrealism. A winged devil offers worldly pleasures—luxury, sex, and consumer goods—while Christ holds a lifebuoy, a symbol of spiritual rescue. Blending biblical narrative with pop culture, the work critiques material excess and invites reflection on salvation in an age of spectacle.
Venus and Capricorn
Baldassarre Peruzzi
The painting (c.1511) in the Loggia of Galatea depicts Venus, the goddess of love, on a shell surrounded by doves, symbols of love. Beside her, Capricorn, a hybrid creature, represents astrological wisdom. This artwork merges mythological beauty with cosmic symbolism, reflecting the Renaissance fascination with harmony between earthly and celestial realms. The inclusion of Capricorn underscores the era's belief in astrology's influence on human affairs.
Woman with Umbrella
Fernando Botero
A solitary figure walks through a forest, her reflection mirrored below as if suspended between worlds. Her voluminous dress and umbrella contrast with the vertical rhythm of the trees. With surreal calm and poetic symmetry, Botero (1989) transforms a simple stroll into a meditation on solitude, identity, and the quiet theatricality of everyday life.
Male Portrait
Hans Muelich
This portrait (c. 1550) reflects the refined realism of the German Renaissance. The sitter’s composed gaze, luxurious attire, and elegant glass signify affluence and cultured leisure. The distant path and village in the background may allude to the subject’s journey, social standing, or inner world.
Prehistoric Hunt
Luis Alberto Acuña
This dynamic mural depicts a prehistoric hunting scene, with a male figure aiming his bow at deer while a woman, carrying a child and bundled goods, follows closely. Painted in Acuña’s signature neo-primitivist style (late 1960s-early 1970s), it reflects his interest in the mythic foundations of civilization and the daily heroism of early human life. The textured brushwork echoes rock art while grounding the composition in a modern, expressive idiom rooted in Colombian identity.
The Lagoon of Peace
Jorge Alberto Smith Ellas
This 2021 oil and acrylic painting evokes serenity and ancestral rhythm. A golden twilight bathes the rural scene, where everyday life unfolds by a calm lagoon. The composition speaks to Colombia’s Pacific and Caribbean heritage, honoring peace through stillness, memory, and connection to the land.
“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!