Russian Peredvizhniki artists. Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov - biography and description of paintings 1 brief information about the artist

Vasnetsov Viktor Mikhailovich short biography famous Russian artist is presented in this article.

Viktor Vasnetsov short biography

Vasnetsov Viktor Mikhailovich was born on May 15, 1848 in the remote Vyatka village of Lopyal into a large family of a rural priest. Since childhood, Victor loved listening to folk tales, songs, and legends. They instilled in the boy a love for Russian folk art.

The boy's talent manifested itself at an early age, but due to lack of money, he was sent to a theological school and then to a seminary. Children of priests were admitted there free of charge. However, the craving for art led the 19-year-old seminarian from Vyatka to St. Petersburg, to the Academy of Arts.

While studying at the Academy, the young artist worked a lot (as an engraver and draftsman, and collaborated with a number of St. Petersburg magazines). I created illustrations for the alphabet with great interest. But most of all, the artist was captivated by thoughts about the heroic strength of Russian soldiers, about beauty, about freedom.

In 1876, Vasnetsov came to Paris at the invitation of Repin. At the exhibition, the artist’s attention was attracted by a large painting about fairy-tale knights. And again he remembered his idea of ​​​​creating a painting dedicated to Russian heroes.

In the summer of 1881, Vasnetsov wrote sketches in Abramtsevo and began working on the painting “Bogatyrs”. But only in 1898, Vasnetsov completed this picture.

Since 1893, Vasnetsov became a full member of the Russian Academy of Arts.

In 1899, Vasnetsov opened his first exhibition in Moscow, the central work of which was the painting “Bogatyrs”.

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Brief biography of Viktor Vasnetsov

Vasnetsov Viktor Mikhailovich - an outstanding Russian artist and painter; one of the founders of Russian Art Nouveau. Vasnetsov was also an architect and was fond of folk painting. Born on May 15, 1848 in the village of Lopyal, located in the Vyatka province. The father of the future artist was a priest. In addition to Victor, there were five more children in the family. The younger brother Apollinaris was also famous in artistic circles. The Vasnetsov surname had ancient Vyatka origins.

The boy's talent manifested itself at an early age, but due to lack of money, he was sent to a theological school and then to a seminary. Children of priests were admitted to such institutions free of charge. At the age of 19, Vasnetsov, leaving the seminary halfway, went to enter the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. He had very little money, but the sale of two of his paintings helped out: “The Milkmaid” and “The Reaper”. He was once given drawing lessons by his gymnasium teacher N.G. Chernyshev and I.N. Kramskoy. In St. Petersburg he was able to hone his skills in the field of painting.

The young artist’s works were first presented at one of the academic exhibitions in 1869. Already in his early paintings, the author's style and penchant for the Art Nouveau style were evident. In 1878, Viktor Mikhailovich moved to Moscow, where he developed an illustrative and folklore focus. All yours best works the artist created it in this city. He painted canvases on historical topics, epic heroes, characters from Russian fairy tales.

Vasnetsov’s art did not go unnoticed, so his works graced the pages of such magazines as “World of Art”. His work had a great influence on artists of the Art Nouveau period and members of the Abramtsevo circle. In Moscow he was lucky enough to communicate with Mamontov and Tretyakov. Together with V. Polenov, he built a temple in the “Russian style”. In addition, he designed the facade of the Tretyakov Gallery, his own house-workshop, the Tsvetkov Gallery and many other buildings in the city. In 1885 he moved to Kyiv to paint the Vladimir Cathedral.

After ten years of painstaking work, he began to be revered as a great Russian icon painter. However, its peak creative career became the painting “Three Heroes,” presented at the artist’s personal exhibition in 1899. V. M. Vasnetsov died in 1926 in his Moscow workshop. Until the end of his life he did not let go of the brush. The last thing he worked on was a portrait of his friend and student Nesterov.

There are many talented individuals among Russian artists. Their work is highly valued all over the world and is a worthy competitor to such world masters as Rubens, Michelangelo, Van Gogh and Picasso. In this article we have collected 10 of the most famous Russian artists.

1. Ivan Aivazovsky

Ivan Aivazovsky is one of the most famous Russian artists. He was born in Feodosia. From childhood, Aivazovsky showed his incredible creative abilities: he loved to draw and taught himself to play the violin.

At the age of 12, the young talent began studying in Simferopol at the Academy of Painting. Here he learned to copy engravings and paint pictures from life. A year later, he managed to enter the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy, although he had not yet reached the age of 14.

For a long time, the artist traveled around Europe and lived in Italy, where his paintings were also recognized. So the young artist from Feodosia became a fairly famous and rich man.

Later, Aivazovsky returned to his homeland, where he received the uniform of the Naval Ministry and the title of academician. The artist also visited Egypt and was present at the opening of the new Suez Canal. The artist described all his impressions in paintings. By this time, he had already developed his own unique style and the ability to write from memory. Aivazovsky quickly sketched complex elements in a notebook in order to later transfer them to canvas. His paintings “Odessa”, “The Ninth Wave” and “The Black Sea” brought him worldwide fame.

The artist spent the last years of his life in Feodosia, where he built himself a house in the Italian style. A little later, Aivazovsky added a small gallery to it so that everyone could freely enjoy his amazing paintings and drown in the ocean of colors. Today, this mansion still serves as a museum and many visitors come here every day to see with their own eyes the skill of the marine painter, who lived a long and happy life.

2. Viktor Vasnetsov

The list of the most famous Russian artists continues with Viktor Vasnetsov. He was born in the spring of 1848 into the family of a priest in the small village of Lopyal. His passion for painting arose at a very early age, but his parents could not give him a proper education due to lack of money. Therefore, at the age of 10, Victor began studying at a free theological seminary.

In 1866, with virtually no money, he left for St. Petersburg. Vasnetsov easily passed the entrance exam and entered the Academy of Arts. This is where his friendship began with famous artist Repin, with whom he later went to Paris. After returning to St. Petersburg, Vasnetsov begins to write his most famous paintings: “Three Heroes”, “Snow Maiden” and “God of Hosts”.

The artist was able to fully reveal his talent only after moving to Moscow. Here he feels cozy and comfortable, and each subsequent picture turns out better than the previous one. It was in Moscow that Vasnetsov painted such paintings as “Alyonushka”, “Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf” and “Nestor the Chronicler”.

3. Karl Bryullov

This famous Russian artist was born in 1799. Karl's father was a famous painter and professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Therefore, the boy’s fate was predetermined in advance. Fortunately, Karl Bryullov managed to inherit the talent of an artist from his father.

Studying was very easy for the young artist. He was many times superior to the rest of the students in his class and graduated from the Academy of Arts with honors. After this, Karl went to travel around Europe, stopping for a long time only in Italy. It was here that he created his masterpiece, “The Last Day of Pompeii,” spending about six years writing it.

Upon his return to St. Petersburg, fame and glory awaited Karl Bryullov. They were glad to see him everywhere and certainly admired his new paintings. During this period, the artist created several of his immortal canvases: “Horsewoman”, “Siege of Pskov”, “Narcissus” and others.

4. Ivan Shishkin

Ivan Shishkin is one of the most famous Russian landscape artists, who in his paintings could present any inconspicuous landscape in the most favorable light. It seems that nature itself plays on the canvases of this artist with living colors.

Ivan Shishkin was born in 1832 in Elabuga, which today belongs to Tatarstan. The father wanted his son to eventually take the post of city official, but Ivan gravitated towards drawing. At the age of 20, he went to Moscow to study painting. After successfully graduating from the Moscow School of Arts, Shishkin entered the Imperial Academy in St. Petersburg.

Later he traveled for a long time throughout Europe, sketching amazing landscapes. At this time, he created the painting “View in the vicinity of Düsseldorf”, which brought him great fame. After returning to Russia, Shishkin continues to create with renewed energy. According to him, Russian nature is several hundred times superior to European landscapes.

Ivan Shishkin painted many stunning paintings during his life: “Morning in a Pine Forest”, “First Snow”, “Pine Forest” and others. Even death overtook this painter right behind his easel.

5. Isaac Levitan

This great Russian master of landscapes was born in Lithuania, but lived his entire life in Russia. Repeatedly his Jewish origin caused him many humiliations, but never forced him to leave this country, which he idolized and praised in his paintings.

Levitan’s first landscapes already received high marks from Perov and Savrasov, and Tretyakov himself even bought his painting “Autumn Day in Sokolniki.” But in 1879, Isaac Levitan, along with all the Jews, was expelled from Moscow. Only through the enormous efforts of friends and teachers does he manage to return to the city.

In the 1880s, the artist painted many stunning paintings that made him very famous. These were “Pines”, “Autumn” and “First Snow”. But further humiliations forced the author to leave Moscow again and go to Crimea. On the peninsula, the artist paints a number of amazing works and significantly improves his financial condition. This allows him to travel around Europe and get acquainted with the work of world masters. The pinnacle of Levitan’s creativity was his painting “Above Eternal Peace.”

6. Vasily Tropinin

The great Russian portrait artist Vasily Tropinin had an amazing fate. He was born into the serf family of Count Markov in 1780 and only at the age of 47 received the right to be a free man. Even as a child, little Vasily showed a penchant for drawing, but the count sent him to study to become a pastry chef. Later, he is nevertheless sent to the Imperial Academy, where he shows his talent in all its beauty. For his portraits “The Lacemaker” and “The Old Beggar” Vasily Tropinin was awarded the title of academician.

7. Petrov-Vodkin Kuzma

The famous artist managed to leave behind a rich heritage in world painting. Russian artist Petrov-Vodkin. He was born in 1878 in Khvalynsk, and in his early years was going to become a railway worker. However, fate made him a world-famous painter.

8. Alexey Savrasov

The paintings of this Russian artist were already selling well when he was barely 12 years old. A little later, he entered the Moscow School of Painting and instantly became one of the best students. A trip to Ukraine helped Savrasov graduate from college ahead of schedule and receive the title of artist.

The paintings “Stone in the Forest” and “Moscow Kremlin” made this painter an academician at the age of 24! Interested in young talent royal family, and Tretyakov himself buys many of his works for international exhibitions. Among them were “Winter”, “The Rooks Have Arrived”, “Rasputitsa” and others.

The death of two daughters and the subsequent divorce greatly affect Savrasov. He drinks heavily and soon dies in a hospital for the poor.

9. Andrey Rublev

Andrei Rublev is the most famous Russian icon painter. He was born in the 15th century and left behind a great legacy in the form of icons “Trinity”, “Annunciation”, “Baptism of the Lord”. Andrei Rublev, together with Daniil Cherny, decorated many churches with frescoes, and also painted icons for iconostases.

10. Mikhail Vrubel

Our list of the most famous Russian artists is completed by Mikhail Vrubel, who during his life created many masterpieces in various subjects. He painted the Kyiv Temple, and later in Moscow began creating his famous series of “demonic” paintings. The creative wanderings of this artist did not find proper understanding among his contemporaries. Only several decades after the death of Mikhail Vrubel did art historians give him his due, and the Church agreed with his interpretations of biblical events.

Unfortunately, the artist’s personal life caused him to develop a severe form of mental disorder. The title of academician overtook him in a mental hospital, from which he was never destined to leave. Nevertheless, Mikhail Vrubel managed to create many amazing works of art that are worthy of genuine admiration. Among them, the paintings “Seated Demon”, “The Swan Princess” and “Faust” are especially worth highlighting.

Vasnetsov Viktor Mikhailovich, Russian painter.

He studied in St. Petersburg at the Drawing School of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts (1867-68) with I. N. Kramskoy and at the Academy of Arts (1868-75), of which he became a full member in 1893. Since 1878, a member of the Association of Itinerants. Visited France (1876) and Italy (1885). Lived in St. Petersburg and Moscow. During his studies, he made drawings for magazines and cheap folk products (“The People's Alphabet” by Stolpyansky, published in 1867; “Taras Bulba” by N.V. Gogol, published in 1874).

In the 1870s. performed small genre paintings, carefully painted mainly in grayish-brown color scheme. In scenes of street and home life of small merchants and officials, the urban poor and peasants, Vasnetsov captured with great observation Various types contemporary society (“From apartment to apartment”, 1876, “Military telegram”, 1878, both in Tretyakov Gallery).

In the 1880s, leaving genre painting, he created works on themes of national history, Russian epics and folk tales, devoting almost all of his time to them further creativity. One of the first Russian artists to turn to Russian folklore, Vasnetsov sought to give an epic character to his works, to embody age-old folk ideals and high patriotic feelings in poetic form.

Vasnetsov created the paintings “After the massacre of Igor Svyatoslavich with the Polovtsians” (1880), “Alyonushka” (1881), imbued with sincere poetry, “Ivan Tsarevich on gray wolf” (1889), “Bogatyrs” (1881-98), filled with faith in the heroic forces of the people, “Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible” (1897, all in the Tretyakov Gallery).

With the general direction of Vasnetsov’s easel painting of the 1880-1890s. His work for the theater is closely related. The scenery and costumes for the fairy tale play “The Snow Maiden” by A. N. Ostrovsky (staged in home theater S. I. Mamontov in 1882) and the opera of the same name by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov (in the Moscow private Russian opera of S. I. Mamontov in 1886), performed according to Vasnetsov’s sketches, - an example of the creative interpretation of genuine archaeological and ethnographic material - had great influence on the development of Russian theatrical and decorative art in the late 19th - early 20th centuries.

Landscape backgrounds of Vasnetsov’s works on fairy-tale and historical themes, imbued with a deeply national feeling native nature, sometimes remarkable for the lyrical spontaneity of her perception (“Alyonushka”), sometimes epic in character (“After the massacre of Igor Svyatoslavich with the Polovtsians”), played an important role in the development of Russian landscape painting.

In 1883-85 Vasnetsov completed the monumental panel “ Stone Age" For Historical Museum in Moscow, in 1885-96 - most of the paintings of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv. In the paintings of the Vladimir Cathedral, Vasnetsov tried to introduce spiritual content and emotionality into the traditional system of church monumental painting, which in the 2nd half of the 19th century. came into complete decline.

Vasnetsov’s painting in his mature period, distinguished by his desire for a monumental and decorative artistic language, the muted sound of generalized color spots, and sometimes an appeal to symbolism, anticipates the “modern” style that later became widespread in Russia. Vasnetsov also painted a number of portraits (A. M. Vasnetsov, 1878; Ivan Petrov, 1883; both in the Tretyakov Gallery), illustrations for “Song of the Prophetic Oleg” by A. S. Pushkin (watercolor, 1899, Literary Museum, Moscow).

Based on his drawings, the church and the fabulous “Hut on Chicken Legs” were built in Abramtsevo (near Moscow; 1883), and the facade of the Tretyakov Gallery was built (1902). IN Soviet time Vasnetsov continued to work on folk fairy tale themes(“Fight of Dobrynya Nikitich with the seven-headed Serpent Gorynych”, 1918; “Kashchei the Immortal”, 1917-26; both paintings are in the V.M. Vasnetsov House-Museum in Moscow).

The artist came from a rather ancient and wealthy merchant family, the Shishkins. Born in Elabuga in 1832 on January 13 (25). His father was a fairly well-known wealthy merchant in the city. He tried to give his son a good education.

Education

From the age of 12, Shishkin studied at the First Kazan Gymnasium, and at the age of 20 he entered the Moscow School of Painting. After graduating (in 1857), he continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts as a student of Professor S. M. Vorobyov. Already at this time, Shishkin liked to paint landscapes. He traveled a lot around the outskirts of the Northern capital and visited Valaam. The beauty of the harsh northern nature will inspire him all his life.

In 1861, at the expense of the Academy, he went on a trip abroad and studied for some time in Munich, Zurich, Geneva, and Dusseldorf. There he became acquainted with the works of Benno, F. Adamov, F. Dide, A. Kalam. The trip continued until 1866. By this time, in his homeland, Shishkin had already received the title of academician for his work.

Return to homeland and career peak

Returning to his homeland, Shishkin continued to improve his landscape techniques. He traveled a lot around Russia, exhibited at the Academy, took part in the work of the Association of Traveling Exhibitions, drawing a lot with a pen (the artist mastered this technique while abroad). He also continued to work with engraving “royal vodka”, joining the circle of St. Petersburg aquafortists in 1870. His reputation was impeccable. He was considered the best landscape painter and engraver of his time. In 1873, he became a professor at the Academy of Arts (received the title for the painting “Wilderness”).

Family

In Shishkin’s biography it is said that the artist was married twice, with the first marriage to the artist’s sister F.A. Vasilyev, and the second marriage to his student, O.A. Lagoda. From two marriages he had 4 children, of whom only two daughters lived to adulthood: Lydia and Ksenia.

The artist died in 1898 (suddenly). At first he was buried at the Smolensk cemetery, but then the ashes and tombstone were transferred to the cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Other biography options

• The year of birth of the artist is not known exactly. Biographers' data vary (from 1831 to 1835). But in official biographies it is customary to indicate the year 1832.
• The artist drew superbly with pencil and pen. His works, done with a pen, were very popular with the European public. Many of them are stored in Art gallery in Dusseldorf.
• Shishkin was an excellent naturalist. That is why his works are so realistic, spruce looks like spruce, and pine looks like pine. He knew Russian nature in general and the Russian forest in particular very well.
• The most famous work The artist’s “Morning in a Pine Forest” was created in collaboration with K. Savitsky. A little earlier than this picture, another one was painted, “Fog in a Pine Forest,” which the authors liked so much that they decided to rewrite it, including a certain genre scene. The masters were inspired by a trip through the virgin Vologda forests.
• The largest collection of Shishkin's works is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery, a little less - in the Russian Museum. A large number of drawings and engravings made by the artist are in private collections. Interestingly, a collection of photographs of Shishkin’s engravings was released