By Wu Ziru

A catalogue of paintings by Soviet painter Konstantin Mefodyevich Maximov (1913-93) was published Saturday, commemorating the art educator who made remarkable contributions to the development of Chinese oil painting while teaching in China more than 50 years ago.

Many of the students at Maximov's oil painting class are now renowned painters in China and attended the launch held at the Zhuzhong Art Museum in Beijing, where they shared cherished memories of their beloved teacher.

Jin Shangyi, president of the China Artists Association and one of Maximov's achieved students, spoke highly of his contributions to Chinese oil painting, saying that Maximov's teaching theories largely broadened the eyes of Chinese painters.

During his two-year teaching stint in China, Maximov proposed for the first time the notion of "construction" in sketching, which changed the way Chinese painters observed the world and was his greatest contribution to their development.

Maximov came to China in 1955 and began an oil painting class at the Central Institute of Fine Arts (CIFA) in Beijing.

Altogether 21 young artists were selected from across the country to be included, as Maximov helped CIFA draw up teaching guidelines based on Soviet methods.

An exhibition is also being held at the Zhuzhong Art Museum in Beijing, showing all 80 pieces of oil painting by Maximov included in the catalogue. It is scheduled to run until March 10.