Vasily Ivanovich Surikov: biography, career and personal life. See what “Surikov, Vasily Ivanovich” is in other dictionaries Surikov’s biography, briefly, the most important thing

- (1848 1916), Russian painter. He studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (1869 75) with P. P. Chistyakov. Member of the TPHV (since 1881; see Peredvizhniki), the Union of Russian Artists. Already during the years of study, turning to historical painting, Surikov sought to overcome... ... Art encyclopedia

- (1848 1916), Russian. artist. Having received an invitation to participate in illustrating the Collection. op. L. (1891, Kushnerev), S. chose “Song about... the merchant Kalashnikov” and completed the illustration. “Executioner” (Italian pencil, charcoal; State Russian Museum); the artist departed from tradition. images... ... Lermontov Encyclopedia

Russian historical painter. Born into a Cossack family. He studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (1869 75) with P. P. Chistyakov. Full member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (1893). Already during the years of study, turning to... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (1848 1916) Russian painter. Wanderer. In monumental paintings dedicated to turning points and intense conflicts of Russian history, the main character showed the masses, rich in bright personalities, full of strong... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Surikov (Vasily Ivanovich) historical painter and genre painter, born in 1848, from 1858 to 1861 he studied at the Krasnoyarsk district school, and then served as a clerical worker in one of the government institutions, amateurishly practicing drawing and painting... Biographical Dictionary

- (1848 1916), painter. Member of the Association of Itinerants. In monumental canvases dedicated to turning points and intense conflicts of Russian history, the main character showed the masses, rich in bright personalities, filled with... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

Surikov, Vasily Ivanovich- V.I. Surikov. Boyarina Morozova. 1887. Tretyakov Gallery. SURIKOV Vasily Ivanovich (1848 1916), Russian painter. Wanderer. In monumental canvases dedicated to turning points, intense conflicts of Russian history, the main... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

V. I. Surikov. Boyarina Morozova. Surikov Vasily Ivanovich (1848, Krasnoyarsk 1916, Moscow), painter. He studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (186975) with P.P. Chistyakova; full member of the Academy of Arts (1893). Since 1877 in... ... Moscow (encyclopedia)

Historical painter and genre painter; genus. in 1848; from 1858 to 1861 he studied at the Krasnoyarsk district school, and then served as a clerical worker in one of the government institutions, amateurishly practicing drawing and painting. In 1870 he became an apprentice... ... Large biographical encyclopedia

Historical painter and genre painter, b. in 1848, from 1858 to 1861 he studied in the Krasnoyarsk district. school, and then served as a clerical clerk in one of the government institutions, amateurishly practicing drawing and painting. In 1870 he became an apprentice... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Books

• Surikov, T.V. Postnikova. Vasily Ivanovich Surikov is one of the greatest painters in the world, an artist-thinker endowed with powerful talent. In his creations he showed the history of Russia in its turning points and tragic...
• Russian masters of painting. Vasily Ivanovich Surikov, . Richly illustrated edition! Moscow, 1955. State publishing house of fine arts. Original cover. The condition is good. The publication is…

The future great painter was born on January 12 (24), 1848 in Krasnoyarsk, in a family that belonged to the Cossack class.

After the early death of his father, the family had a hard time, and Vasily’s mother was forced to rent out the second floor of their house. There was barely enough money for the basic necessities, but a wise woman, noticing her son’s passion for drawing, managed to pay for painting lessons. Vasily’s first teacher was N.V. Grebnev, who taught drawing at the Krasnoyarsk district school.

Surikov’s earliest work, which has survived intact to this day, was the watercolor “Rafts on the Yenisei,” painted by him at the age of 14.

After graduating from college, his mother was unable to pay for Vasily’s further education, and he was forced to take a job as a scribe in the provincial government. However, fate was merciful to the talented young man. Having accidentally seen the work of a subordinate, Governor P. Zamyatin found a philanthropist who was able to pay for Surikov’s education at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

At the educational institution, Vasily learned the intricacies of painting under the guidance of P. Chistyakov. Very quickly he became one of his best students, regularly receiving cash prizes and medals for his work.

Creation

The first painting with which young Surikov declared himself as a master of large-scale compositions was “View of the monument to Peter I on Senate Square in St. Petersburg.” He sold it to his patron, P. Kuznetsov, a large gold miner. A few years later, while visiting his patron, the young artist painted the painting “The Good Samaritan” as a gift to him.

From Surikov’s short biography it is known that he was extremely reluctant to agree to paint portraits to order. However, I was forced to do this in order to be financially free.

The source of inspiration for the talented painter was music, especially opera. In addition, he himself enjoyed learning to play the guitar.

Surikov spent about three years writing one of his most famous paintings, “The Morning of the Streltsy Execution.” But it was this work that opened the doors to the world of great art for the artist. His talent was unconditionally recognized, and he became a member of the Association of Mobile art exhibitions.

Vasily Ivanovich had long dreamed of traveling around Europe to see with his own eyes the paintings of outstanding painters. Having profitably sold one of his works, he fulfilled a long-time dream and visited famous European galleries and art museums.

In 1881, Surikov began work on his famous painting “Boyarina Morozova”. He was so reverent about this work that in his search perfect composition I could spend more than one month on endless sketches and sketches.

The most important paintings by Surikov also include “The Capture of the Snowy Town,” “Suvorov’s Crossing of the Alps,” and “Stepan Razin.” For children, acquaintance with the artist’s work can begin as early as 3rd grade - all the master’s paintings are distinguished by high artistic value and variety of images.

Personal life

The painter's first and only love was his wife, Elizaveta Augustovna Share. The young people got married in 1878, and after a while they had two daughters - Olga and Elena.

However, family happiness was short-lived - 10 years later, his beloved wife died, leaving the artist in the deepest depression. He was able to return to life only thanks to creativity.

Death

IN recent years Throughout his life, Vasily Ivanovich’s health deteriorated significantly. He went to Crimea for treatment, but it did not help. March 6(19), 1916 great artist died from coronary heart disease.

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Vasily Surikov is a Russian artist, author of the paintings “Boyaryna Morozova”, “”, “Morning of the Streltsy Execution”. Russian artist Vasily Surikov was born in Krasnoyarsk. The man's relatives belonged to the Cossack class. One of them was listed as the ataman of the Yenisei Cossack regiment. Ivan Vasilyevich Surikov, the artist’s father, worked as a collegiate registrar. Praskovya Fedorovna Torgoshina, the mother, was known as a housewife.

When Surikov was 8 years old, the family moved to Sukhoi Buzim, Krasnoyarsk Territory. The guy was sent to the parish school at All Saints Church. Later, Vasily enters the district school, leaving his parents in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. A year later, my father died due to tuberculosis. The mother had no choice, so the woman collected the children and returned to Krasnoyarsk.

In those years the family owned a two-story house. Due to a lack of money, Praskovya Fedorovna decided to rent out the second floor to generate income. Surikov’s love for drawing manifested itself in early childhood. While still at the Krasnoyarsk district school, Vasily Ivanovich began taking lessons. Nikolai Vasilyevich Grebnev was invited as the first teacher.

Surikov painted his first conscious painting in 1862. It was a work created in watercolor. The teenager called the masterpiece “Rafts on the Yenisei.” Now the canvas is in the museum-estate of V.I. Surikov in Krasnoyarsk. After completing his training, the guy will serve in the provincial government. Vasily Ivanovich got the job of a scribe. Unfortunately, further studies turned out to be beyond the means of the Surikov family, who lived modestly after the death of their father.

Once the artist’s drawings were seen by the Yenisei governor P.N. Zamyatnin. Thanks to the efforts of the official, the talented author acquired a patron of the arts who paid for Surikov’s education at the Academy of Arts. First attempt at admission educational institution failed, but Vasily Ivanovich did not despair. He took a drawing course at the St. Petersburg school of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists.

In the fall, having passed the exams again at the Academy of Arts, he became a volunteer student. It took another year for the talented guy to be transferred to the main group. Surikov became a diligent student of P.P. Chistyakova. For 6 years of study, the young man was awarded medals and cash prizes. Vasily Ivanovich worked a lot on the composition. Because of this, students nicknamed Surikov the Composer.

Painting

The artist’s creative biography began with the work “View of the monument on Senate Square in St. Petersburg.” Surikov painted the painting in 1870, and then sold it to P.I. Kuznetsov. Interestingly, the first version of the canvas is now located in the Krasnoyarsk State art museum, which was named after Vasily Ivanovich.

After 4 years, Surikov goes to visit Kuznetsov, to the gold mines located in Khakassia. Thanks to the change of scenery, the painting “The Good Samaritan” was born. The work was a gift to the hospitable owner, but experts also noted the painting. Vasily Ivanovich was awarded the Small Gold Medal.

Portraits to order did not inspire the artist, so Surikov refused such work. But he regularly took such pictures as a basis. Among the works of Vasily Ivanovich are graphic portraits of the Moscow guitarist F.F. Peletsky.

One of the drawings is on public display in the Tretyakov Gallery. Surikov admitted that his passion for music, in particular opera, helped in his creativity. Moreover, the artist learned to play the guitar from Peletsky.

The time of famous paintings is coming. “The Morning of the Streltsy Execution” Vasily Ivanovich wrote over the course of 3 years. This painting became a passport to the world of great painting. The result of many years of work was the inclusion of traveling art exhibitions in the Partnership.

For the sake of further development Surikov is going to go on a trip abroad. But the lack of money did not allow the artist to immediately hit the road. To solve financial problems, Vasily Ivanovich sold P.M. Tretyakov’s painting “Menshikov in Berezovo”. Thanks to this, the author of the painting visited Italy, Germany, France and Austria, and personally examined the paintings of recognized masters located in the Louvre and the Dresden Gallery.

In 1881, Surikov began working on the painting “Boyarina Morozova”. The love for composition led to the fact that each work began with a sketch. Sometimes it took Vasily Ivanovich several years to create the perfect sketch. Only after this the master transferred it to the canvas.

The personality of the noblewoman captured Surikov after the story of his aunt Olga Matveevna Durandina. But the work did not go well for a long time due to the lack of the required type. And now another aunt appears before Vasily Ivanovich - Avdotya Vasilievna Torgoshina.

The first to see “Boyaryna Morozova” were the visitors of the XV Traveling Exhibition, which took place in 1887. Immediately after this, Surikov moved to Krasnoyarsk for the summer. The artist finds inspiration in the solar eclipse that occurred on August 8th. Now you can look at the sketch in the Tver Art Gallery.

Portraits did not captivate Surikov, but in 1887 a revolution occurred in the mind of the creator. The man captured his mother on the canvas, and later “My Brother” appeared. After the death of his wife, in 1888, Vasily Ivanovich and his children moved for several months to his native Krasnoyarsk, where he began to create the painting “The Capture of the Snowy Town.” The author completed the work two years later.

Surikov transferred incidents from life to canvases. That's what happened with this work. The picture shows the game of the same name. The idea of ​​creation belongs to the younger brother, whom Vasily Ivanovich depicted standing in the koshev. Later, experts appreciated Surikov’s work and awarded the painting a personalized medal. This event took place at an international exhibition in Paris.

Vasily Ivanovich went to Siberia, where he became acquainted with the life of the Voguls, Khakassians, and Ostyaks. The study of the life of peoples led to the creation of the painting “The Conquest of Siberia by Ermak Timofeevich.” The work was painstaking and completed in 1895. Thus, Surikov worked on the canvas in Siberia, on the Ob River, on the Don.

Upon returning to Krasnoyarsk, the artist came up with the idea of ​​writing “Crossing the Alps.” Vasily Ivanovich based the image of the military leader on retired Cossack officer F.F. Spiridonova. The man was working on the pedigree of the Surikov family. Three years later, the sketch was born, but many saw in it not Spiridonov, but the gymnasium teacher Grigory Nikolaevich Smirnov. Later, Surikov goes to Switzerland to write sketches.

For the centennial anniversary of Suvorov’s Italian campaign, Vasily Ivanovich presents a completed picture. The canvas was shown in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and then it went to the imperial collection.

Surikov’s painting “Winter in Moscow” was created over three years. The work was officially completed in 1887, shortly before Vasily Ivanovich had the idea of ​​​​creating the canvas “Stepan Razin”. For almost 3 years the artist wrote sketches in Siberia and the Don, looking for a prototype.

At this time, Surikov had several more paintings in his work. In 1901, the master became acquainted with the Krasnoyarsk riot, in which Vasily Ivanovich’s ancestors took part. Inspired by this period, the artist created the painting “Krasnoyarsk Riot of 1865”. In 1907, Surikov was included in the Union of Russian Artists, but at the same time Vasily Ivanovich left the Association of Itinerants.

A man listens to opera and reads books. After getting acquainted with the “Home Life of Russian Queens of the 16th-17th Centuries” by Zabelin, Surikov got the idea of ​​​​creating the painting “A Princess’s Visit to a Convent.” Vasily Ivanovich was inspired for this by the images of his granddaughters.

A trip to Lake Shira prompted Surikov to paint the painting “Princess Olga meets the body of Prince Igor, killed by the Drevlyans.” Unfortunately, this work remained only the author's idea.

In academic circles, the work of Vasily Ivanovich caused harsh criticism. The masters did not understand the “crowding” of the composition, the smeared faces on the canvases. But among the experts there were people who appreciated Surikov’s artistic ideas. Modern creators can study Vasily Ivanovich’s paintings from photos and originals.

Personal life

For a long time, Vasily Surikov looked closely at the granddaughter of the Decembrist Svistunov. The beautiful girl with big dark eyes was called Elizaveta Augustovna Share. The artist could not resist the beauty of the lady, so on January 25, 1878, the young people got married. In the same year, the couple had a daughter, Olga, and two years later, Elena. A talented artist and his muse lived in a small apartment located on Zubovsky Boulevard.

The happiness was short-lived. Ten years later, Elizaveta Augustovna died suddenly. The grief-stricken husband constantly visited his wife at the cemetery and abandoned creativity. Surikov lost his desire to work. But at some point the paintings brought Vasily Ivanovich back to life.

Daughter Olga gave her father a granddaughter. In turn, the girl gave birth to two famous people in modern Russia - a film director and a screenwriter and director.

Death

The health of Vasily Ivanovich Surikov at the end life path left much to be desired. Despite this, the artist goes with P.P. Konchalovsky to Spain to seek creative inspiration. At the same time, a drawing school opened its doors in Krasnoyarsk. Surikov's condition remained poor, but the artist left for his homeland to create landscapes.

A year later, due to deterioration, Vasily Ivanovich was forced to go to Crimea for treatment. In March 1916, terrible news spread through artistic circles - coronary heart disease killed the talented Surikov. The grave of the Russian artist is located next to the burial place of his wife, on Vagankovskoe cemetery. In memory of Vasily Surikov, a historical and biographical film was made in 1959.

Works

• 1876 ​​– “View of the Kremlin”
• 1881 – “Morning of the Streltsy Execution”
• 1884 – “Venice. St. Mark's Cathedral"
• 1887 – “Boyarina Morozova”
• 1891 – “Taking the Snowy Town”
• 1895 – “Conquest of Siberia by Ermak”
• 1899 – “Suvorov’s Crossing of the Alps”
• 1900 – “Stepan Razin”
• 1908 – “Crimea. Ai-Petri"
• 1910 – “Girl with Braids”
• 1910 – “Seville. Alcazar"

On January 24, 1848, Russian painter Vasily Ivanovich Surikov was born. The artist’s historical paintings are difficult to understand without knowledge of the specific events of Russian history depicted on them. Find out what Surikov's paintings tell us about

Painting "Morning of the Streltsy Execution" tells about the massacre of the archers after the unsuccessful rebellion of 1698.

In March 1698, the sister of Peter I, Princess Sophia, imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent during her brother's two-year departure to Europe, stated that her Peter had been replaced. 2,200 archers, camped in Azov, rebelled and arrived in Moscow without permission to place Princess Sofya Alekseevna on the throne. The boyars loyal to Peter I sent four regiments and noble cavalry against the archers. The rebels were captured. Peter I, who urgently returned from abroad, himself led the “great manhunt.” On October 10, 1698, torture and execution of rebel archers began in Moscow. Peter cut off the heads of five with his own hands. Dozens were hanged, hundreds were exiled. In total, about 2,000 archers were executed. The bodies of those executed were ordered to be left at the places of execution until the end of winter 1699. By a special decree of Peter, stone tetrahedral “pillars” were erected on Red Square and near the graves of those executed, on which all the crimes of the rebels were inscribed. The relatives of the Streltsy were doomed to exile - their Moscow houses were sold or distributed. The repressions also affected the Streltsy regiments that did not participate in the uprising. They were disbanded, and the archers and their families were expelled from Moscow to other cities and registered as posads.

The main character of the picture "Boyaryna Morozova" - historical figure. Feodosia Prokopyevna Morozova, who is revered by the Old Believers as a saint, was a representative of a noble and wealthy boyar family close to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.

Boyarina Morozova was a staunch opponent of the church reforms of Patriarch Nikon, together with the persecuted archpriest Avvakum she defended old faith. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich more than once punished the rebellious noblewoman, taking away and returning her estates. Feodosia Prokopyevna was saved from more severe punishments by the friendship and intercession of Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna. At the end of 1670, after secretly being tonsured as a nun under the name of Theodora, Morozova began to retire from the royal court. When in January 1671 she refused to participate in the wedding of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and Natalya Naryshkina, the sovereign’s anger fell upon her. By order of the tsar, after interrogation, Theodosia was first shackled, left under arrest in the basement of her house, and then tortured on the rack, trying to force her to renounce schismaticism. The fire was already ready to burn the rebellious noblewoman, but Theodosia was saved by the murmur of the boyars, outraged by the possibility of executing one of the noble women of the Moscow kingdom, and the intercession of the king’s sister, Princess Irina. After several years of exile, in 1675, Morozova, deprived of honors and property, was sent to a distant monastery and imprisoned in an earthen prison, ordered to starve. 43-year-old Feodosia Morozova died of exhaustion in November 1675. Her young son died in Moscow, left without a mother, her brothers were sent into exile, and fourteen servants who remained faithful to her were burned in a log house. A legend speaks about the character of the noblewoman: feeling her death was imminent, she asked the jailer before her death for permission to wash her shirt in the river, so that, according to the old Russian custom, she would die in a clean shirt.

"Boyaryna Morozova" is one of the most dramatic paintings by Surikov

Painting by Vasily Surikov "Stepan Razin"- another historical excursion into the distant past. The painting depicts a fragment from the legend telling about Razin and the Persian princess. A plow with an ataman and his free squad is sailing across the Volga expanses. The robbers are having fun, and only Razin is immersed in deep thought. The painting on the left shows an inconspicuous water funnel that has swallowed up a beautiful captive. It is no coincidence that a young rower in a red shirt looks intently at this whirlpool with such regret.

How did the young Persian princess end up among the Russian Cossacks?

In the spring of 1668, Cossack detachments led by Razin set off on a campaign to the Caspian Sea, in Persia. Concerned Shah Suleiman sent the Russian Tsar a letter informing about the attack of the thieves' Cossacks. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich gave the Persians the go-ahead to kill the Russian Cossacks “without mercy.” In response, the Razins took the city of Farabat, but were attacked by the Shah's large fleet. A battle took place that went down in history as the Battle of Pig Island. To surround the Cossack fleet, the Persians linked their ships with chains. The Cossacks took advantage of this mistake and sank the enemy's flagship, and the entire Persian fleet sank. It was in this battle that the son and daughter of the commander of the Persian fleet were captured by robbers. The daughter was the Persian princess whom Stepan Razin later, as the famous song says, drowned in the Volga.

"Suvorov's Crossing of the Alps" glorifies the feat of Suvorov soldiers in the Russian-French war of 1798-1800. On September 21, 1799, the troops of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov set out on the Swiss campaign, in which Russian troops had to cross the Alps from Northern Italy to Austria. Suvorov planned his route to strike at the flank and rear of the French, using his traditional technique of speed and pressure. In order to unexpectedly attack the enemy, Suvorov chose the shortest, but most difficult path through the Saint Gotthard mountain pass. The transition took place in the most difficult conditions with heavy losses: daily skirmishes with the enemy, snow-capped mountains on the way of the troops, betrayal of the Austrians. But in the words of Suvorov himself: “The Russian bayonet broke through the Alps,” dealing a significant blow to the French. The Swiss campaign went down in history as one of the greatest military campaigns of Alexander Suvorov. In 1799, it was for crossing the Alps that Suvorov received from Emperor Paul I the title of Generalissimo of all Russian troops. And at the scene of the events, in the Alps, a 12-meter granite cross was carved in honor of the feat of the Russian troops.

The tragic fate of the family of His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov served as the subject for Surikov’s painting "Menshikov in Berezovo."

The fall of Peter I's favorite Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, like his rise to fame and wealth, was rapid. After the death of the Tsar, who elevated a simple pie merchant to his Serene Highness, and the death of Catherine I, under whom Menshikov was the de facto ruler of Russia, the power of the “semi-sovereign ruler” began to lose power. In a last attempt to retain power, Menshikov betrothed the heir to the Russian throne, Peter Alekseevich (later Peter II), to his daughter Maria. At that time, the heir was 12 years old, and the country was to be governed by the Supreme Privy Council under the leadership of His Serene Highness. Noble Russian families did not want to submit to the upstart. Menshikov's opponents hatched a conspiracy to undermine the influence of the temporary worker on the young tsar. Peter II signed a decree on the exile of Menshikov with his family, depriving him of all ranks and orders, the entire enormous fortune of the favorite of Peter I was confiscated. Menshikov was accused of using threats to force the tsar to agree to an engagement with his daughter, taking bribes, and appropriating private estates. In the final protocol, the Siberian city of Berezov was designated as the place of exile for the entire Menshikov family. Before departure, all personal property was taken from the exiles, including spare stockings, combs and mirrors. During the mournful journey, Menshikov's wife died. In Berezovo, other exiles rejoiced to see their favorite Peter in chains, and showered him with abuse. To which His Serene Highness replied: “Your reproaches and your defamatory words are fair. I deserve it, satisfy yourself, satiate yourself with at least this.” Menshikov and his family endured their misfortunes with firmness. Using the 500 rubles given to him before exile, Menshikov built a house and a chapel: he dug the ground and cut down the logs. His daughters took care of the housework. A.D. Menshikov impressed the residents of Berezov with his piety, humility and simplicity of behavior. Long winter evenings in Menshikov’s house they read the Bible and listened to interesting incidents from the life of the disgraced prince. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov died in the fall of 1729 from a fever, bequeathing to his children not to strive for higher power. In 1730, Anna Ioannovna allowed Menshikov’s children to return to Moscow and returned part of their property to them.

Surikov's painting "Conquest of Siberia by Ermak" depicts the battle of Ermak's troops with Khan Kuchum at the confluence of two rivers - Tobol and Irtysh, which took place in November 1579.

Ermak's Cossacks arrived in the Perm region at the invitation of the Stroganovs in 1579 to protect the eastern settlements from the raids of nomads and to develop new places beyond the Urals. The main detachment of the conquerors of Siberia consisted of five thousand Volga Cossacks, led by Ermak Timofeevich. Ermak's main opponent in this campaign was the Siberian Khan, the heir of the Great Horde, Kuchum. Deciding to attack the Cossacks, Khan Kuchum gathered an army of almost 15 thousand from mercenaries, since the khan’s own combat-ready forces went on a raid on Perm. The local population did not support Kuchum; at the height of the battle, the mercenary army abandoned the khan. Kuchum was defeated and retreated to the steppe. On November 8, 1582, Ataman Ermak Timofeevich occupied Kashlyk, the then capital of the Siberian Khanate. This was not the last battle of the Russian Cossack army with Kuchum and his army. In December 1582, military leader Mametkul ambushed a Cossack detachment and killed it. And in February, the Cossacks struck back, capturing Mametkul on the Vagai River.

The heroine of the picture "Visit of the princess to the convent" No real prototype. She talks about tragic destinies royal daughters in Rus'.

Russian princesses whiled away their lives in the royal chambers as recluses, among nannies, firecrackers and old women. According to the strict laws of that time, noble girls, heirs of power, did not have the right to marry anyone below the royal family. Noble foreigners were considered heretics, and Russian princesses could only become Christ's brides, nuns. They gave their entire rich dowry to the chosen monastery, so the monasteries guarded the royal daughters like a kite guarding prey. This is exactly the kind of princess that Surikov depicted in the painting. On her still ruddy face there is hopelessness and resignation to fate. The abbess of the monastery is closely watching the guest, who will soon become her novice. The nuns, perhaps also daughters of noble families, look at the elegant guest with sad mockery.

Vasily Ivanovich Surikov (1848-1916), Russian artist, unrivaled master of historical paintings, was born in Krasnoyarsk, into the family of an employee. I got my first drawing experience at school, with teacher N.V. Grebnev. The teacher noticed the boy's ability to paint and advised his parents to send him to St. Petersburg to receive a special education, which was done in 1869. In the northern capital, the future artist was admitted to the Academy of Arts, from which he graduated in 1875.

Start of a career

Two years later, Vasily Surikov moved to Moscow, where he settled. Even during his student years, the young painter managed to prove himself as a master of historical associative images; his first significant work was the painting “View of the monument to Peter the Great”, in which he depicted equestrian statue Emperor against the backdrop of St. Isaac's Cathedral. The canvas was created in 1870.

First masterpieces

The work of Vasily Surikov continued in 1877, when the artist created sketches of four Ecumenical Councils for painting the Moscow Church of Christ the Savior. Then, impressed by the ancient architecture of the capital, Surikov began his first masterpiece of the Moscow period. The work was completed in 1881. The execution of the rebels with the personal participation of Peter I on Red Square was reflected by the artist with frightening authenticity. Surikov’s life and work always bore the stamp of some special indisputability; not a single stroke gave reason to doubt anything.

Antiquity as a style in creativity

The artist masterfully mastered all drawing techniques, which gave him the opportunity to address the theme of Russia's historical past. He showed the conflict between the Russian modern era and the medieval period, and this conflict does not imply dominance by either side and can continue for centuries. Surikov’s work is thoroughly imbued with the “spirit of antiquity,” as I. N. Kramskoy figuratively put it in his correspondence with V. V. Stasov in 1884.

Menshikov and Morozova

The painter-historian Vasily Surikov periodically confirmed his role, creating one masterpiece after another. In 1883, he painted the painting “Menshikov in Berezovo”, and in 1887 he created another masterpiece of painting called “Boyaryna Morozova”. The first painting told about the exile to Siberia of one of the most powerful courtiers, the favorite of Peter the Great, Duke Menshikov. The second picture depicted the transportation from the prison to the schismatic Feodosia Morozova, sentenced to seclusion.

Surikov’s creativity, his deep talent, embodied in a huge canvas measuring 5 x 3 meters, is a grandiose phenomenon in the world of painting. was acquired Tretyakov Gallery, where the painting remains to this day.

Holiday theme

The painting “The Capture of the Snowy Town,” painted by him in 1891 and dedicated to Maslenitsa, is not inferior to Vasily Surikov’s previous masterpieces.

The characters depicted on the canvas amaze with their expressiveness; the festive action is depicted by the artist as an all-crushing element. In the center is a Cossack attacking a snowy “bastion”, surrounded by spectators who came to the Maslenitsa festivities.

Surikov’s creativity was reflected this time in the prowess of the Russian people, who are capable of creating a rollicking attack out of the blue, without any reason, but from this a whole event necessarily arises. This happened with the film “The Capture of a Snowy Town”; a simple game resulted in a real assault on the fortifications, albeit a theatrical one. Such are the Russian games in the paintings of Russian painters, such is the work of the artist Surikov. Russian fine arts characterized by impulsiveness.

Subsequent work

The subsequent works of Vasily Surikov became a certain stage in his activity. The canvases he created for the period from 1895 to 1907 are still full of drama, but the perspective of the events reflected in the paintings is different, with less expression. We are talking about the paintings: "Stepan Razin" (1907), "Suvorov's Crossing of the Alps" (1899) and Ermak" (1895). All works are written masterfully, but they lack the polyphony of drama.

In an effort to increase the degree of persuasiveness of the plot of the film, Surikov reduces the number of characters, thus shifting the semantic load to the remaining images. This technique always brings results. The artist expands the colorfulness of the texture and enhances the expressiveness of each character separately and all together, forcing them to interact.

Vasily Surikov compensates for the lack of expression in his paintings with an emphasis on the plot component. And this technique also brings results. For example, it is written in the best battle traditions, with many guns, bright flashes of shots, suggesting death and destruction. In reality, of course, everything happened less dramatically, as evidenced by the research of scientists concerning that time. However, painting is an art form that requires repeated exaggeration.

The canvas "Suvorov's Crossing of the Alps" is, of course, also written with some grotesqueness. There is a political reproach to the aggressive ambitions of the presumptuous French. With his crossing of the Alps, Suvorov gave the French military commanders a painful slap on the nose. The artist managed to fully reflect all these nuances.

The work of Surikov, whose paintings, like a mirror, reflect certain aspects public life the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, contributed greatly to the development of Russian art.

The painting "Stepan Razin" reveals the worship of ordinary warriors to their commander. He is an indisputable authority for them, the main military commander. When Stenka Razin, without hesitation, threw the princess overboard, it was an inhumane act that could become a reason for the soldiers’ disappointment in their leader. However, they continued to praise their chieftain. Dissatisfied with himself, gloomy as a cloud, Stepan Razin sits in the middle of the boat, surrounded by loyal subjects. The ataman is seriously concerned, and the artist was also able to convey his mood. All of Surikov’s work consists of his attempts to reflect on his canvases reality, even if she is sometimes impartial.

Surikov as a realist artist

Each painting by the artist is of Russian life, a separate fragment of it, which is presented by the master in an authentic reflection. This approach, which excludes the distortion of reality, is the work of Surikov, which is not possible to briefly describe; a deep analysis is required.

To the well-deserved title of an artist-historian, one more definition can be added - “realist painter”. Surikov's creativity, brief description his paintings, the main milestones of his life's path have been studied for many years by art historians. The conclusions of the studies are not always clear-cut, but one thing is clear - the artist Vasily Surikov is certainly an asset of Russian culture of the first magnitude.