Ivan Aivazovsky - paintings, full biography. Aivazovsky and the biography of the artist Family and hometown

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia:
After the end of the war in 1856, on the way from France, where international exhibition His works were exhibited, Aivazovsky visited Istanbul for the second time. He was warmly received by the local Armenian diaspora, and also, under the patronage of the court architect Sarkis Balyan, was received by Sultan Abdul-Mecid I. By that time, the Sultan’s collection already had one painting by Aivazovsky. As a sign of admiration for his work, the Sultan awarded Ivan Konstantinovich the Order of Nishan Ali, IV degree.
I.K. Aivazovsky made his third trip to Istanbul, at the invitation of the Armenian diaspora, in 1874. Many artists in Istanbul at that time were influenced by the work of Ivan Konstantinovich. This is especially evident in the marine paintings of M. Jivanyan. Brothers Gevork and Vagen Abdullahi, Melkop Telemakyu, Hovsep Samandzhiyan, Mkrtich Melkisetikyan later recalled that Aivazovsky also had a significant influence on their work. One of Aivazovsky’s paintings was presented by Sarkis Bey (Sarkis Balyan) to Sultan Abdul-Aziz. The Sultan liked the painting so much that he immediately ordered the artist 10 canvases with views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus. While working on this order, Aivazovsky constantly visited the Sultan’s palace, became friends with him, and as a result he painted not 10, but about 30 different canvases. Before Ivan Konstantinovich’s departure, an official reception was arranged for the padishah in honor of his being awarded the Order of Osmania, II degree.
A year later, Aivazovsky again goes to the Sultan and brings him two paintings as a gift: “View of St. Petersburg from the Holy Trinity Bridge” and “Winter in Moscow” (these paintings are currently in the collection of the Dolmabahce Palace Museum).
The next war with Turkey ended in 1878. The San Stefano Peace Treaty was signed in a hall whose walls were decorated with paintings by a Russian artist. It was a symbol of the future good relations between Turkey and Russia.
Paintings by I.K. Aivazovsky, which were in Turkey, were repeatedly exhibited in various exhibitions. In 1880, an exhibition of the artist’s paintings was held in the building of the Russian embassy. At the end of it, Sultan Abdul-Hamid II presented I.K. Aivazovsky with a diamond medal.
In 1881, the owner of the art store Ulman Grombach held an exhibition of works famous masters: Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Bruegl, Aivazovsky, Jerome. In 1882, the art exhibition I.K. Aivazovsky and Turkish artist Oskan Efendi. The exhibitions were a huge success.
In 1888, another exhibition was held in Istanbul, organized by Levon Mazirov (nephew of I.K. Aivazovsky), at which 24 paintings by the artist were presented. Half of her proceeds went to charity. It was during these years that the first graduation of the Ottoman Academy of Arts occurred. Aivazovsky’s style of writing can be traced in the works of Academy graduates: “The sinking of the ship “Ertugrul” in Tokyo Bay” by the artist Osman Nuri Pasha, the painting “Ship” by Ali Cemal, some marinas of Diyarbakır Tahsin.
In 1890, Ivan Konstantinovich made his last trip to Istanbul. He visited the Armenian Patriarchate and Yildiz Palace, where he left his paintings as a gift. On this visit, he was awarded the Order of Medjidiye, I degree, by Sultan Abdul-Hamid II.
Currently several famous paintings Aivazovsky are located in Turkey. The Military Museum in Istanbul houses the 1893 painting “Ship on the Black Sea”; the 1889 painting “Ship and Boat” is kept in one of the private collections. The residence of the President of Turkey houses the painting “A Ship Sinking in a Storm” (1899).

The biography of Aivazovsky, like any creator, is full interesting events, extraordinary people who met on life path an artist and faith in his talent.
Ivan Konstantinovich was born on July 17 (29), 1817 in Feodosia. Even as a child, Ivan was shown to have a talent for music and drawing. First lessons artistic skill were given to him by the famous Feodosian architect, J.H. Koch.

Having graduated from the school, Aivazovsky entered the Simferopol gymnasium. After its completion, under the patronage of the Feodosian mayor, A.I. Kaznacheev, the future artist was enrolled in the capital's Imperial Academy of Arts.

Further training

In August 1833, Aivazovsky arrived in St. Petersburg. He studied with such masters as M. Vorobiev, F. Tanner, A.I. Sauerweid. His paintings, painted during his studies, were awarded a silver medal. Aivazovsky was such a gifted student that he was released from the Academy for 2 years ahead of schedule. For independent creativity, Ivan Konstantinovich was sent first to his native Crimea, and then on a business trip abroad for 6 years.

Crimean-European period

In the spring of 1838, Aivazovsky left for Crimea. There he created seascapes, was engaged in battle painting. He stayed in Crimea for 2 years. Then, together with V. Sternberg, his friend in the landscape class, the artist went to Rome. On the way, they visited Florence and Venice, where Aivazovsky met N. Gogol.

Anyone interested in the biography of Aivazovsky should know that he acquired his style of painting in the south of Italy. Many paintings of the European period were praised by such a venerable critic as W. Turner. In 1844 Aivazovsky arrived in Russia.

Talent recognition

1844 was a landmark year for the artist. He became the main painter of the Russian Main Naval Headquarters. After 3 years, he was awarded the title of professor at the Academy of Arts of St. Petersburg. For children interested in the life of the great artist, it is important to know that his main works are the paintings “The Ninth Wave” and “The Black Sea”.

But his creativity was not limited to battles and seascapes. He created a series of Crimean and Ukrainian landscapes, wrote several historical paintings. In total, Aivazovsky painted more than 6,000 paintings during his life.

In 1864 the artist became a hereditary nobleman. He was also awarded the rank of active Privy Councilor. This rank corresponded to that of admiral.

Artist's family

Aivazovsky's personal life was not rich. He married twice. The first marriage took place in 1848. The artist’s wife was Yu.A. Graves. From this marriage four daughters were born. The union was not a happy one, and after 12 years the couple separated. The main reason The reason for the separation was that Grevs, unlike her husband, sought to live a social life in the capital.

Aivazovsky’s second wife was A.N. Sarkisova-Burzanyan. She was 40 years younger than Aivazovsky and outlived him by 44 years.

Death

Aivazovsky died suddenly at night from a cerebral hemorrhage on April 19 (May 2), 1900, in Feodosia. The painting “The Explosion of the Ship,” on which the marine painter had been working the day before, remained unfinished on the easel. He was buried in Armenian Church Surb Sarkis.

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (Hovhannes Ayvazyan) was born in Feodosia on July 29, 1817. His father, Konstantin Grigorievich Aivazovsky, an Armenian by nationality, married a fellow Armenian named Hripsime. Ivan (or Hovhannes - this was the name he was given at birth) had three sisters and a brother Gabriel (at birth - Sargis), who later became an Armenian historian and priest. Konstantin Aivazovsky was a merchant, initially quite successful, but in 1812 he went bankrupt due to the plague epidemic.

Even as a child, Ivan Aivazovsky showed extraordinary artistic and musical abilities- for example, he mastered playing the violin without outside help. Yakov Christianovich Koch, an architect from Feodosia, was the first to notice artistic talents young Ivan, and taught him elementary lessons skill. He supplied Aivazovsky with pencils, paper, paints, and also attracted the attention of A.I. Kaznacheev, the mayor of Feodosia, to the boy’s talents.

Aivazovsky graduated from the Feodosia district school, then was admitted to the Simferopol gymnasium with the assistance of the mayor, who by that time had already become an admirer of the young man’s talent. Following this, he was enrolled in the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (education in which was carried out at the expense of the state), thanks to the recommendation German painter Johann Ludwig Gross - the first drawing teacher of the young Aivazovsky. Sixteen-year-old Ivan Aivazovsky arrived in St. Petersburg in 1833.

In 1835, Aivazovsky’s landscapes “View of the Seaside in the Vicinity of St. Petersburg” and “Study of Air over the Sea” were awarded a silver medal, and the artist was appointed assistant to the fashionable French landscape painter Philippe Tanner. The latter forbade Aivazovsky to paint on his own, but the young artist continued to paint landscapes, and in the fall of 1836, five of his paintings were presented at an exhibition at the Academy of Arts, all of which received favorable reviews from critics.

But Philip Tanner filed a complaint against Aivazovsky to the Tsar, and on the instructions of Nicholas I, all the artist’s works were removed from the exhibition. Aivazovsky was pardoned six months later. He was transferred to the military class sea ​​painting under the guidance of Professor Alexander Ivanovich Sauerweid. After several months of studying with Sauerweid, Aivazovsky experienced unprecedented success - in the fall of 1837 he was awarded the Great Gold Medal for the painting “Calm”, thereby earning the right to travel to the Crimea and Europe.

The period of creativity from 1838 to 1844.

In the spring of 1838, the artist went to Crimea, where he lived until the summer of 1839. The main topic His work included not only seascapes, but also battle scenes. At the suggestion of General Raevsky, Aivazovsky took part in military operations on the Circassian coast in the valley of the Shakhe River. There he made sketches for the future canvas "Detachment landing in the Subashi Valley", which I wrote later; then this painting was acquired by Nicholas I. By the fall of 1839, the painter returned to St. Petersburg, and on September 23 he was awarded a certificate of graduation from the Academy of Arts, first rank and personal nobility.

During this period of time, Aivazovsky became a member of the artist’s circle. Karla Bryullova and composer Mikhail Glinka. In the summer of 1840, the artist and his Academy friend Vasily Sternberg went to Italy. The final destination of their journey was Rome; along the way they stopped in Florence and Venice. In Venice, Aivazovsky made acquaintance with N.V. Gogol, and also visited the island of St. Lazarus, where he met his brother Gabriel. Based in southern Italy, in Sorrento, he worked in his unique manner - he spent outdoors only for a short time, and in the workshop he recreated the landscape, improvising and giving free rein to his imagination. The painting “Chaos” was purchased by Pope Gregory XVI, who gave it to the artist as a reward for this work. gold medal. "Italian" period of creativity the artist is considered very successful both from a commercial point of view and from a critical point of view - for example, the works of Ivan Konstantinovich have earned high praise from the English painter William Turner. The Paris Academy of Arts awarded Aivazovsky's paintings with a gold medal.

In 1842, Aivazovsky visited Switzerland and Germany, then went to Holland, from there to England, and later visited Paris, Portugal and Spain. There were some incidents - in the Bay of Biscay the ship on which Ivan Konstantinovich was sailing was caught in a storm and almost sank, and information about the death of the artist appeared in the Parisian press. In the fall of 1844, Aivazovsky returned to his homeland after a four-year journey.

Further career, period from 1844 to 1895.

In 1844, Ivan Konstantinovich was awarded the title of painter of the Main Naval Staff, in 1847 - professor of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. He was an honorary member of five Academies of Arts in European cities - Paris, Rome, Florence, Stuttgart, Amsterdam.

The basis of creativity Aivazovsky amounted to marine theme, he created a series of portraits of cities on the Crimean coast. Among marine painters, Aivazovsky has no equal - he captured the sea as a stormy element with menacing foaming waves, and at the same time he painted numerous landscapes of amazing beauty depicting sunrises and sunsets at sea. Although among Aivazovsky’s paintings there are also views of land (mainly mountain landscapes), as well as portraits, the sea is undoubtedly his native element.

He was one of the founders Cimmerian school landscape painting , conveying on the canvas the beauty of the Black Sea coast of eastern Crimea.

His career can be called brilliant - he had the rank of rear admiral and was awarded many orders. The total number of works by Aivazovsky exceeds 6,000.

Aivazovsky did not like metropolitan life; he was irresistibly drawn to the sea, and in 1845 he returned to hometown- Feodosia, where he lived until the end of his life. He received the title of the first honorary citizen of Feodosia.

He was not only an outstanding artist, but also a philanthropist - with the money he earned he founded an art school and an art gallery. Aivazovsky put a lot of effort into the improvement of Feodosia: he initiated the construction railway, which connected Feodosia and Dzhankoy in 1892; thanks to him, water supply appeared in the city. He was also interested in archeology, he was involved in the protection of Crimean monuments, and participated in archaeological excavations(Some of the items found were transferred to the Hermitage). At his own expense, Aivazovsky erected a new building for the Feodosia Historical and Archaeological Museum.

To the Palestinian Society, which was headed by I. I. Tchaikovsky, brother famous composer, Ivan Konstantinovich donated his work "Walking on the Waters".

Completion of career and last days of the painter

Aivazovsky died on May 2, 1900 in Feodosia, having reached old age (he lived for 82 years).

Before last day Aivazovsky wrote - one of his latest paintings called “Sea Bay”, and the painting “The Explosion of a Turkish Ship” remained unfinished due to sudden death artist. Unfinished painting it remained on the easel in the painter’s studio.

Ivan Konstantinovich buried in Feodosia, in the fence of a medieval Armenian temple. Three years later, the painter’s widow installed a marble tombstone on his grave - a sarcophagus made of white marble by the Italian sculptor L. Biogioli.

In 1930, a monument to Aivazovsky was erected in Feodosia in front of the art gallery of the same name. The painter is represented sitting on a pedestal and peering into the sea, in his hands - a palette and a brush.

Family

Aivazovsky was married twice. He first married in 1848 to an Englishwoman Julia Grevs, daughter of a St. Petersburg doctor. In this marriage, which lasted 12 years, four daughters were born. At the beginning family life was prosperous, then a crack appeared in the relationship between the spouses - Yulia Yakovlevna wanted to live in the capital, and Ivan Konstantinovich preferred his native Feodosia. The final divorce took place in 1877, and in 1882 Aivazovsky remarried - Anna Nikitichna Sarkisova, a young merchant widow, became his wife. Despite the fact that her husband was almost 40 years older than Anna Sarkisova, Aivazovsky’s second marriage was successful.

An interesting fact is that many of the great painter’s grandchildren followed in his footsteps and became artists.

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky is a famous Russian marine painter of his time. He painted 6 thousand paintings depicting “ big water" The artist was delirious about the sea. The elements were something sacred and magical for Aivazovsky. Today I will briefly talk about the biography and work of the painter.

Biography of the artist

The biography of Ivan Aivazovsky is connected with the sea. The famous marine painter was born on July 29, 1817 in the port town of the Crimean Peninsula (Feodosia). The artist's family had an average income. The boy's family supported all his endeavors, since the child had a thirst for knowledge and an accurate memory.

One day, the city's chief architect noticed a talented boy drawing the sea. The official, inspired after viewing Ivan’s paintings, gave him a set of canvases and brushes, noting the young man’s extraordinary talent. The architect contributed to Aivazovsky receiving the necessary artistic education.

From the age of 13, the future artist studied at the Simferopol gymnasium, and at 16, at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. In 1837 the painter became the owner of a gold medal for his success applied arts allowing you to travel abroad. The artist conquers Abkhazia, Italy, France, Holland. He makes new acquaintances, often ending in close friendships, and is actively involved in painting.

In 1844 (after returning) the artist was awarded the title of academician. Works of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky develops fruitfully over the next few decades. The painter is working on creating new canvases, destined to have worldwide fame. At the same time, Ivan Konstantinovich is involved in charity work and makes a huge contribution to the development of the infrastructure of his native city.

Ivan Konstantinovich created his family in 1848. Aivazovsky married the daughter of the emperor’s court physician, Julia Grevs. U married couple 4 children were born. However, the happiness turned out to be short-lived, since Julia suffered a serious nervous illness that had a detrimental effect on a woman’s behavior.

The couple divorced (the wife loved the pomp of the capital and did not want to devote her life to Feodosia). Until the end of his days, Aivazovsky tried to maintain friendly relations with his daughters. It was very difficult to maintain a friendly position due to constant interference ex-wife preventing the establishment of normal relationships.

Ivan Konstantinovich married for the second time at the age of 65 (1881). The artist’s chosen one is young Anna Sarkizova (just turned 25 years old). The woman was faithful to the painter, and accordingly, she supported Aivazovsky until the end of her days. In her honor, he painted the painting “Portrait of the Artist’s Wife.”

Creation

At the age of 20, the artist becomes the youngest graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy (according to the rules, you need to study for another 3 years). Next comes a period of travel. The painter goes to his native Crimea for 2 seasons, and then to Europe for 6 seasons. Wanderings helped the artist find individual style creating paintings, improving visual skills.

The works of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky were a great success. The Pope wished to purchase the painting “Chaos”. The artist did not want to sell the canvas, but presented the painting to the pontiff as a personal gift.

Thanks to his talent and friendly character, of course, Aivazovsky had friendly connections with many influential people. The artist was friends with Pushkin, Bryullov, Glinka, and communicated warmly with the imperial family. Fame, wealth, and worldwide recognition have not changed the painter. The first place for Ivan Konstantinovich was still occupied by calling.

Paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky are highly valued (the most expensive is $3.5 million). The original paintings are in many museums around the world. Some paintings are kept in galleries in his hometown, founded by the artist himself.

Famous paintings

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky “The Ninth Wave” is mine favorite piece. The canvas depicts an angry sea raging amid a dark storm of night. The painting was painted in 1850. Today's original painting is in the State Russian Museum.

The canvas “Rainbow” depicts the tragic events of a shipwreck. The scene of the death of a ship crashing on the rocks is presented to the eye. Exhausted by the elements, the sailors are trying to escape with the help of a boat. A ghostly rainbow lights up the sky, symbolizing salvation.

“Evening in Crimea. Yalta" Aivazovsky created in 1848. The sunset gives a unique color scheme, illuminating the last sun rays mountains, people around.

“Sunset” is a painting painted by the artist in 1866. It depicts a ship among quiet waters evening sun. The sky is illuminated by carefree clouds, a family is located on the shore. Idyll.

The painting “Black Sea” (“A storm begins to break out on the Black Sea”) was created in 1881. The canvas shows the power sea ​​waves engulfed in a storm. Water is depicted as attractive and enchanting. The painting is painted using preferably dark tones.

The painting “Wave” depicts the power of a sea storm, the mercilessness of the waves. Among the raging waters, the sinking ship seems small and helpless.

“Storm” shows the majesty of the sea element in moments of an all-consuming storm. Despite the shipwreck and unsuccessful efforts to save the crew, the sea remains beautiful.

“Night on the Island of Rhodes” presents a charming seascape with an evening sunset. There are no high waves, usual for Aivazov’s storm. The picture breathes calmness and peace.

“Chesme Battle” is dedicated to the victory of the Russian people in the battle of the same name on June 24-26, 1770. The canvas depicts the confrontation between the navy of the native people and the enemy Turkey.

“Morning at the Sea” is a calming picture, which shows the regularity of people’s lives by the sea. Refers to late period creativity of Aivazovsky.

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky is not just an artist. This is an entire era, immortalized in hundreds of famous paintings.

Category

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky is a famous Russian marine painter, author of more than six thousand canvases. Professor, academician, philanthropist, honorary member of the Academies of Arts of St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Rome, Stuttgart, Paris and Florence.

The future artist was born in Feodosia, in 1817, into the family of Gevork and Hripsime Gaivazovsky. Hovhannes’s mother (the Armenian version of the name Ivan) was a purebred Armenian, and his father came from Armenians who migrated from Western Armenia, which found itself under Turkish rule, to Galicia. Gevork settled in Feodosia under the name Gaivazovsky, writing it down in the Polish manner.

Hovhannes's father was amazing person, enterprising, savvy. Dad knew Turkish, Hungarian, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian and even Gypsy languages. In Crimea, Gevork Ayvazyan, who became Konstantin Grigorievich Gaivazovsky, very successfully engaged in trade. In those days, Feodosia grew rapidly, acquiring the status of an international port, but all the successes of the enterprising merchant were reduced to zero by the plague epidemic that broke out after the war with.

By the time Ivan was born, the Gaivazovskys already had a son, Sargis, who took the name Gabriel as a monk, then three more daughters were born, but the family lived in great need. Repsime's mother helped her husband by selling her elaborate embroideries. Ivan grew up as a smart and dreamy child. In the morning, he woke up and ran to the seashore, where he could spend hours watching ships and small fishing boats entering the port, admiring the extraordinary beauty of the landscape, sunsets, storms and calms.

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky "Black Sea"

The boy painted his first pictures on the sand, and after a few minutes they were washed away by the surf. Then he armed himself with a piece of coal and decorated the white walls of the house where the Gaivazovskys lived with drawings. The father looked, frowning at his son’s masterpieces, but did not scold him, but thought deeply. From the age of ten, Ivan worked in a coffee shop, helping his family, which did not at all prevent him from growing up as an intelligent and talented child.

As a child, Aivazovsky himself learned to play the violin, and, of course, constantly drew. Fate brought him together with the Feodosia architect Yakov Koch, and this moment is considered to be a turning point, defining in the biography of the future brilliant marine painter. Noticing artistic ability boy, Koch supplied young artist pencils, paints and paper, gave the first drawing lessons. The second patron of Ivan was the mayor of Feodosia, Alexander Kaznacheev. The governor appreciated Vanya’s skillful playing of the violin, because he himself often played music.

In 1830, Kaznacheev sent Aivazovsky to the Simferopol gymnasium. In Simferopol, the wife of the Tauride governor, Natalya Naryshkina, drew attention to the talented child. Ivan began to visit her home often, and socialite placed at his disposal her library, a collection of engravings, books on painting and art. The boy worked incessantly, copying famous works, drew studies, sketches.

With the assistance of the portrait painter Salvator Tonchi, Naryshkina turned to Olenin, the president of the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, with a request to place the boy in the academy with full board. In the letter, she described in detail Aivazovsky’s talents, his life situation and attached drawings. Olenin appreciated the young man’s talent, and soon Ivan was enrolled in the Academy of Arts with the personal permission of the emperor, who also saw the drawings sent.

At the age of 13, Ivan Aivazovsky became the most a young student Academy in Vorobyov's landscape class. The experienced teacher immediately appreciated the magnitude and power of Aivazovsky’s talent and, to the best of his ability and ability, gave the young man a classical art education, a kind of theoretical and practical basis for the virtuoso painter that Ivan Konstantinovich soon became.

Very quickly the student surpassed the teacher, and Vorobiev recommended Aivazovsky to Philip Tanner, a French marine painter who arrived in St. Petersburg. Tanner and Aivazovsky did not get along in character. The Frenchman dumped all the rough work on the student, but Ivan still found time for his own paintings.

Painting

In 1836, an exhibition was held where the works of Tanner and the young Aivazovsky were presented. One of Ivan Konstantinovich’s works was awarded a silver medal, he was also praised by one metropolitan newspaper, but the Frenchman was reproached for mannerisms. Philip, burning with anger and envy, complained to the emperor about a disobedient student who had no right to exhibit his works at an exhibition without the knowledge of the teacher.

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky "The Ninth Wave"

Formally, the Frenchman was right, and Nicholas ordered the paintings to be removed from the exhibition, and Aivazovsky himself fell out of favor at court. A talented artist supported the best minds capitals with whom he managed to make acquaintance: , President of the Academy Olenin. As a result, the matter was decided in favor of Ivan, for whom Alexander Sauerweid, who taught painting to the imperial offspring, stood up.

Nikolai awarded Aivazovsky and even sent him and his son Konstantin to the Baltic Fleet. The Tsarevich studied the basics of maritime affairs and fleet management, and Aivazovsky specialized in the artistic side of the issue (it is difficult to write battle scenes and ships without knowing their structure).

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky "Rainbow"

Sauerweid became Aivazovsky's teacher in battle painting. A few months later, in September 1837, the talented student received a gold medal for the painting “Calm”, after which the leadership of the Academy decided to release the artist from educational institution, because it could no longer give him anything.

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky " Moonlight night on the Bosphorus"

At the age of 20, Ivan Aivazovsky became the youngest graduate of the Academy of Arts (according to the rules, he was supposed to study for another three years) and went on an paid trip: first to his native Crimea for two years, and then to Europe for six years. The happy artist returned to his native Feodosia, then traveled around the Crimea and took part in the amphibious landing in Circassia. During this time he painted many works, including peaceful seascapes and battle scenes.

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky "Moonlit Night on Capri"

After a short stay in St. Petersburg in 1840, Aivazovsky left for Venice, and from there to Florence and Rome. During this journey, Ivan Konstantinovich met with his older brother Gabriel, a monk on the island of St. Lazarus, and became acquainted with. In Italy, the artist studied the works of great masters and wrote a lot himself. He exhibited his paintings everywhere, and many were sold out immediately.

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky "Chaos"

The Pope himself wanted to buy his masterpiece “Chaos”. Hearing about this, Ivan Konstantinovich personally presented the painting to the pontiff. Touched by Gregory XVI, he presented the painter with a gold medal, and the fame of the talented marine painter thundered throughout Europe. Then the artist visited Switzerland, Holland, England, Portugal and Spain. On the way home, the ship on which Aivazovsky was sailing was caught in a storm, and a terrible storm broke out. For some time there were rumors that the marine painter had died, but, fortunately, he managed to return home safe and sound.

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky "Storm"

Aivazovsky had the happy fate of making acquaintances and even friendships with many outstanding people that era. The artist was closely acquainted with Nikolai Raevsky, Kiprensky, Bryullov, Zhukovsky, not to mention his friendship with the imperial family. And yet connections, wealth, fame did not seduce the artist. The main things in his life were always family, ordinary people, and his favorite job.

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky "Chesme Battle"

Having become rich and famous, Aivazovsky did a lot for his native Feodosia: he founded an art school and an art gallery, a museum of antiquities, sponsored the construction of a railway, and a city water supply fed from his personal source. At the end of his life, Ivan Konstantinovich remained as active and active as in his youth: he visited America with his wife, worked a lot, helped people, was engaged in charity, improvement of his native city and teaching.

Personal life

The personal life of the great painter is full of ups and downs. There were three loves, three women in his destiny. Aivazovsky’s first love is a dancer from Venice, world celebrity Maria Taglioni was 13 years older than him. The artist in love went to Venice to follow his muse, but the relationship was short-lived: the dancer chose ballet over the young man’s love.

In 1848, Ivan Konstantinovich Great love married Julia Grevs, the daughter of an Englishman who was the court physician of Nicholas I. The young couple went to Feodosia, where they had a magnificent wedding. In this marriage, Aivazovsky had four daughters: Alexandra, Maria, Elena and Zhanna.

In the photo the family looks happy, but the idyll was short-lived. After the birth of her daughters, the wife changed in character, suffering from a nervous illness. Julia wanted to live in the capital, attend balls, give parties, lead a social life, and the artist’s heart belonged to Feodosia and ordinary people. As a result, the marriage ended in divorce, which did not happen often at that time. With difficulty, the artist managed to maintain relationships with his daughters and their families: his grumpy wife turned the girls against their father.

Last love the artist met already at an advanced age: in 1881 he was 65 years old, and his chosen one was only 25 years old. Anna Nikitichna Sarkizova became Aivazovsky's wife in 1882 and was with him until the very end. Her beauty was immortalized by her husband in the painting “Portrait of the Artist’s Wife.”

Death

The great marine painter, who became a world celebrity at the age of 20, died at home in Feodosia at the age of 82, in 1900. The unfinished painting “Ship Explosion” remained on the easel.

Best paintings

• "The Ninth Wave";
• "Shipwreck";
• "Night in Venice";
• "Brig Mercury attacked by two Turkish ships";
• “Moonlit night in Crimea. Gurzuf";
• "Moonlit Night on Capri";
• "Moonlit Night on the Bosphorus";
• "Walking on the Waters";
• "Chesme fight";
• "Moonwalk"
• "Bosphorus on a Moonlit Night";
• "A.S. Pushkin on the Black Sea coast";
• "Rainbow";
• "Sunrise in the Harbor";
• "Ship in the middle of a storm";
• "Chaos. World creation;
• "Calm";
• "Venice Night";
• "Global flood".