Viiralti E. (Eduard Viiralt [Wiiralt], 1898-1954)

One of Estonia’s more outstanding artists, born in St Petersburg province. A “sympathetic, balanced and humble man” (Toivo Miljan: Historical Dictionary of Estonia), Viiralt spent most of his life in Paris (and, buried in Père-Lachaise, death too), traveling widely, leaving a significant collection of drawings and prints. It has been suggested that absinthe was not a million miles away from his copperplate of Põrgu, Hell. Has a tree in Viljandi named after him for a drawing he did in 1943, Viljandi maastik (Viljandi landscape), a copy of which recently sold at auction for just over €11,000. Previously known as Janseni, Jannseni, etc, (1924-59), see Jannseni J.V.