George Aleef
George Aleef (1887–1970) was a Russian orientalist painter who served in the Tsarist Army. He later lived in Palestine until the 1948 Palestinian exodus, his paintings depicted major historical moments during that era in Palestine.
Biography
Born in Russia, he served as a bodyguard for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia until the October Revolution broke out. In 1920, he became a professional painter and left Russia to Istanbul, Turkey. He later moved to Palestine and in 1948 during the Palestinian exodus, he moved to Jordan, where he lived till 1968 before leaving to Lebanon.
Art
His style is rather neo-classical and has naive traits which are apparent in practically all his works. He used both oils and water color.
During his time in Palestine, he painted Jerusalem with an Arabic identity also portraying a time where mosques, churches and synagogues coexisted peacefully.
He had many exhibitions in Jerusalem, Amman and Beirut and many of his paintings are hanging at the Jordanian Royal Court and in private Jordanian collections.