Nikolay Dmitrievich Prokofiev was born on the 16th of November 1866 in the port city of Nikolaev by the Black Sea. He was a descendant of naval mariners. His father was a Captain II rank, his uncle was distinguished for the defense of Sevastopol at the Malakoff redoubt during the Crimean war of 1853-1856, and his grandfather, a navigator, stood out at the defense of Sevastopol and the battle at the “Mercury” brig during the Russo-Turkish war of 1828 - 1829.
From 1899 to 1904 Nikolay Dmitrievich Prokofiev served as a painter and architect at the Baltic Shipyard where he was responsible for the decoration of ships. He designed the decorations for such ships as the battleship “Emperor Alexander III”, the cruiser “Almaz”, the Imperial yacht “Alexandria”.
Visual art comprises a significant part of the artistic legacy left by Prokofiev. He was an active member of the Russian Watercolorists Society (since 1891), took part in the Society’s exhibitions and painted maritime landscapes, portrayals of ships and animals. The CNM collection holds 41 of his works.
The paintings by N. D. Prokofiev are recognizable due to the very detailed portrayal of ships and the precise drawing of their rigging. This was the result of his work experience at the Baltic Shipyard. Sea landscapes were another thing he excelled at. In 1904 the artist made a few drawings of the combative episodes of the Russian-Japanese war based on the stories told by Rear Admiral K. P. Iessen (such works as the “Submerged ‘Varyag’ and ‘Korietz’” or “On the third day”). Both works are presented at the exhibition.
