Over the centuries, Russia has given the world many artistic masterpieces, from Andrei Rublev's medieval church icons to Marc Chagall's modernist flights of fancy. In 2009, however, a new name is set to rock the Russian art world - Vladimir Putin.
A painting by the Russian Prime Minister
has gone on display in St Petersburg as part of a charity auction to raise funds for children's hospitals. The painting depicts a window with patterned white curtains that looks out on to a raging blizzard.
"As far as I know this is just the second time Putin has picked up a paintbrush," said Igor Gavryushkin, the organiser of the auction. "He painted it in 20 minutes."
It is one of a series based on the theme of The Night Before Christmas, a short story by Russian writer Nikolai Gogol.
Well-known Russians were asked to create canvases based on a letter
from the Cyrillic alphabet. Putin's is U and the Russian word Uzor, which means "pattern".
Mr Putin is often heralded on state television as a man of many talents. Two years ago he was photographed bare-chested on a carefully choreographed Siberian fishing trip. Last year he rushed to the rescue of a television crew to coolly shoot a ferocious tiger with a tranquiliser dart, and he also released an instructional judo DVD.
This year we are being treated to Putin the Artist in a new, softer incarnation, even if it does come as he is uttering his usual uncompromising rhetoric about Ukraine's responsibility for the dispute currently paralysing gas flows to Europe.
It is unclear just how much of the final artwork can be put down to Mr Putin's talents. It was given to a professional artist after he had finished it to be "touched up". However, the work is signed "V. Putin" in large letters at the top of the canvas. The painting is expected to generate the highest price.
- INDEPENDENT
