A SHORT BIOGRAPHY ON ARSENY JOSEPH MARTIN (SAVITSKY) ARTIST AND ICON PAINTER
Arseny Joseph Martin (Savitsky) son of Colonel Joseph Martin Savitsky of 24th Siberian Infantry Regiment, was born on the 25th of October 1903 in Hobarovsk (Siberia). Following their father's footsteps both sons (Arseny and George) chose military careers and in 1913 Arseny Savitsky was enrolled in the Hobarovsk Count Muraveoff - Amursky Naval Cadet Academy, finishing the Academy as a Midshipman. His first assignment was to the destroyer "Tvordiu" under the command of Admiral Stark. Due to the political situation in Russia in 1922, an order was issued to all naval commanders not to return to the Russian mainland. The brothers Savitsky were among those who sailed from the island of Kamchatka via Japan and Korea to Shanghai, where Arseny married Elena Alexandrovna Starchenko. George and his family went to Germany after Word War 2 and then on to America. In 1932 Arseny (who by then was working for an English advertising agency), his wife Elena, sons Cyril and Nikita was transferred to Hong Kong, to be later joined by Elena's mother, Elizabeth Starchenko.
In Hong Kong Elena and Arseny who became parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church. For their work in the church they received a certificate of gratitude from the Archbishop Victor of the Peking Mission in China. Just prior to the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong Elena, Cyril and Nikita were evacuated from Hong Kong to Brisbane, and Arseny with many others was a prisoner of war in Hong Kong for the duration of the war, even under these circumstances the Japanese authorities acknowledge his talents as an artist by commissioning portraits.
In 1945, after the war he joined his family in Brisbane, and after recuperating, started work as a commercial artist. He was also in demand as Icon painter and painted Icons for Orthodox Churches in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Due to his exceptional talent he received many commissions in particular those of Father Valentine Antoniev and Dr. Udovikoff.
During his lifetime he reminisced about his life as a naval cadet and told of his recollections to his children and grand children, Ross, Gay, Michael and Nicholas. His models of destroyers "Tvordiu" and "Braviu" on which he served remain in his son's Cyril's residence. His interesting stories about Russia and his naval experience left a lasting impression on his grand children Michael and Nicholas. Michael after finishing High school joined the Army Reserve and successfully finished his training.
In 1987 his wife of sixty years Elena passed away. In 1989
after a serious illness his youngest son Nikita passed away. These events had a profound effect on him and he slowly lost interest in life, to the point where he sometimes could not finish his paintings, consequently the portrait of his grandson Michael in a military uniform was left unfinished.
He was a caring father and family man, proud of his background and ethnic origin and a very talented artist. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 88 years. He will always be remembered by all his family, friends and those who knew him.
PS: In 1950 he changed his name by deed poll to Martin.
© Australian Orthodox Fraternity of St. Michael