Famous paintings by Russian artists with titles. What are the main genres of painting do you know

The most famous and significant paintings in the history of art in the world for your inspiration.

The immortal paintings of the great artists are admired by millions of people. Art, classical and modern, is one of the most important sources of inspiration, taste and cultural education of any person, and even creative and even more so.

There are certainly more than 33 world famous paintings. There are several hundred of them, and all of them would not fit into one review. Therefore, for the convenience of viewing, we have selected several that are most significant for world culture and are often copied. Each work is accompanied by an interesting fact, an explanation of the artistic meaning or the history of its creation.

Raphael "Sistine Madonna" 1512

Stored in the Gallery of Old Masters in Dresden.

The picture has a little secret: the background, which looks like clouds from a distance, upon close examination turns out to be the heads of angels. And the two angels depicted in the picture below have become the motif of numerous postcards and posters.

Rembrandt "Night Watch" 1642

Stored at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The true title of Rembrandt's painting is "Speech by the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Kok and Lieutenant Willem van Reitenbürg." It seemed to art historians who discovered the painting in the 19th century that the figures appeared against a dark background, and it was called "Night Watch". Later it was discovered that a layer of soot made the picture dark, but the action actually takes place during the day. However, the painting has already entered the treasury of world art under the name "Night Watch".

Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper 1495-1498

Located in the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.

Over the more than 500-year history of the existence of the work, the fresco has been repeatedly destroyed: through the painting, a doorway was made and then laid, the refectory of the monastery where the image is located was used as an armory, a prison, and was bombed. The famous fresco has been restored at least five times, with the last restoration taking 21 years. Today, to view a work of art, visitors must book their tickets in advance and can only spend 15 minutes in the refectory.

Salvador Dali "The Persistence of Memory" 1931

According to the author himself, the painting was painted as a result of Dali's associations at the sight of processed cheese. Returning from the cinema, where she went that evening, Gala predicted quite correctly that no one, having seen "The Persistence of Memory", would forget it.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The Tower of Babel" 1563

Stored at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

According to Bruegel in the failure that befell the construction Tower of babel, are not guilty of not suddenly arising according to biblical story language barriers, and mistakes made during the construction process. At first glance, the huge structure seems strong enough, but upon closer inspection, it is clear that all the tiers are unevenly laid, the lower floors are either unfinished or are already crumbling, the building itself is tilting towards the city, and the prospects for the entire project are very sad.

Kazimir Malevich "Black Square" 1915

According to the artist, he painted the picture for several months. Subsequently, Malevich made several copies of the "Black Square" (according to some sources, seven). According to one version, the artist could not finish work on the painting in the right time so he had to paint over the work with black paint. Subsequently, after the recognition of the public, Malevich wrote new "Black Squares" already on blank canvases. Malevich also painted the paintings "Red Square" (in duplicate) and one "White Square".

Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin "Bathing the Red Horse" 1912

Located in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Painted in 1912, the picture turned out to be visionary. The red horse acts as the Destiny of Russia or Russia itself, which the fragile and young rider cannot keep. thus, the artist symbolically predicted with his painting the “red” fate of Russia in the 20th century.

Peter Paul Rubens "The Abduction of the Daughters of Leucippus" 1617-1618

Stored in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

The painting "The Abduction of the Daughters of Leucippus" is considered the personification of courageous passion and bodily beauty. The strong, muscular arms of the youths pick up the young naked women to put them on their horses. The sons of Zeus and Leda steal their cousins' brides.

Paul Gauguin "Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?" 1898

At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

At the direction of Gauguin himself, the painting should be read from right to left - three main groups of figures illustrate the questions posed in the title. Three women with a child represent the beginning of life; middle group symbolizes the daily existence of maturity; in the final group, as conceived by the artist, “ old woman, approaching death, seems reconciled and devoted to her reflections ", at her feet" a strange white bird ... represents the uselessness of words. "

Eugene Delacroix "Liberty Leading the People" 1830

Stored in the Louvre in Paris

Delacroix created a painting based on the July 1830 revolution in France. In a letter to his brother on October 12, 1830, Delacroix writes: "If I did not fight for the Motherland, then at least I will write for it." The naked chest of a woman leading the people symbolizes the dedication of the French people of that time, who with " bare chest"Went to the enemy.

Claude Monet "Impression. Rising Sun" 1872

Stored at the Marmottan Museum in Paris.

The title of the work "Impression, soleil levant" with light hand journalist L. Leroy became the name artistic direction"impressionism". The painting was painted from life in the old outport of Le Havre in France.

Jan Vermeer "Girl with a Pearl Earring" 1665

Stored in the Mauritshuis Gallery in The Hague.

One of the most famous paintings by the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer is often called the Northern or Dutch Mona Lisa. Very little is known about the painting: it is not dated, the name of the girl depicted is not known. In 2003, based on the novel of the same name by Tracy Chevalier, was filmed Feature Film"Girl with a Pearl Earring", in which the history of the creation of the canvas is hypothetically reconstructed in the context of the biography and family life Vermeer.

Ivan Aivazovsky "The Ninth Wave" 1850

Stored in St. Petersburg at the State Russian Museum.

Ivan Aivazovsky is an internationally renowned Russian marine painter who has dedicated his life to painting the sea. He created about six thousand works, each of which received recognition during the artist's lifetime. The painting "The Ninth Wave" is included in the book "100 Great Pictures".

Andrei Rublev "Trinity" 1425-1427

The icon of the Holy Trinity, painted by Andrei Rublev in the 15th century, is one of the most famous Russian icons. The icon is a vertical board. Tsars (Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Mikhail Fedorovich) "covered" the icon with gold, silver and precious stones... Today the salary is kept in Sergiev Posad state museum-reserve.

Mikhail Vrubel "Seated Demon" 1890

Stored in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

The plot of the picture is inspired by Lermontov's poem "The Demon". The demon is an image of the strength of the human spirit, internal struggle, doubt. Hands clasped tragically, the Demon sits with sad, huge eyes directed into the distance, surrounded by unprecedented flowers.

William Blake "The Great Architect" 1794

At the British Museum, London.

The title of the painting “The Ancient of Days” literally translates from English as “Ancient of Days”. This phrase was used as the name of God. The main character of the picture is God at the moment of creation, who does not establish order, but restricts freedom and denotes the limits of imagination.

Edouard Manet "The Bar at the Folies Bergères" 1882

At the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.

The Folies Bergère is a variety show and cabaret in Paris. Manet often visited the Folies Bergère and ended up painting this painting - the last one before his death in 1883. Behind the bar, in the midst of a drinking, eating, talking and smoking crowd, stands the barmaid, absorbed in her own thoughts, watching the trapeze acrobat in the upper left corner of the painting.

Titian "Earthly Love and Heavenly Love" 1515-1516

Stored in the Borghese Gallery in Rome.

It is noteworthy that the modern name of the painting was not given by the artist himself, but began to be used only two centuries later. Until that time, the painting had various names: "Beauty embellished and unadorned" (1613), "Three types of love" (1650), "Divine and secular women"(1700), and, finally," Earthly Love and Heavenly Love "(1792 and 1833).

Mikhail Nesterov "Vision to the youth Bartholomew" 1889-1890

Stored at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

The first and most significant work from the cycle dedicated to Sergius of Radonezh. Until the end of his days, the artist was convinced that the "Vision to the youth Bartholomew" is his best work. In his old age, the artist liked to repeat: "It will not be me who will live. The" Youth Bartholomew "will live. Now, if thirty, fifty years after my death, he still says something to people, it means that he is alive, that means I am alive. . "

Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The Parable of the Blind" 1568

Stored in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.

Other names for the painting are "The Blind", "The Parabola of the Blind", "The Blind Leads the Blind". It is believed that the plot of the picture is based on the biblical parable of the blind: "If a blind man leads a blind man, then both of them will fall into a hole."

Viktor Vasnetsov "Alyonushka" 1881

Stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery.

The tale "About Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka" is taken as a basis. Initially, Vasnetsov's painting was called "Fool Alyonushka". Orphans were called "fools" at that time. “Alyonushka,” the artist himself later said, “seemed to have lived in my head for a long time, but in reality I saw her in Akhtyrka when I met one simple-haired girl who struck my imagination. So much melancholy, loneliness and purely Russian sadness was in her eyes ... Some special Russian spirit exuded from her. "

Vincent van Gogh "Starry Night" 1889

At the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Unlike most of the artist's paintings, Starry Night was written from memory. Van Gogh was at that time in the hospital of Saint-Remy, tormented by fits of madness.

Karl Bryullov "The Last Day of Pompeii" 1830-1833

Stored in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

The painting depicts the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. NS. and the destruction of the city of Pompeii near Naples. The artist's image in the left corner of the painting is a self-portrait of the author.

Pablo Picasso "Girl on the Ball" 1905

Stored in the Pushkin Museum, Moscow

The painting ended up in Russia thanks to the industrialist Ivan Abramovich Morozov, who in 1913 acquired it for 16,000 francs. In 1918, the personal collection of I.A.Morozov was nationalized. V currently the picture is in the collection of the State Museum of Fine Arts named after A.S. Pushkin.

Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta" 1491

Stored in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

The original title of the painting is "Madonna and Child". Modern name the painting comes from the name of its owner - Count Litta, the owner of the family art gallery in Milan. There is an assumption that the figure of the baby was not painted by Leonardo da Vinci, but belongs to the brush of one of his students. This is evidenced by an unusual baby pose for the author's manner.

Jean Ingres "Turkish Baths" 1862

Stored in the Louvre in Paris.

Ingres finished painting this picture when he was already over 80 years old. With this picture, the artist sums up a kind of summary of the images of bathers, the theme of which has long been present in his work. Initially, the canvas was in the form of a square, but a year after its completion, the artist turned it into a round picture - tondo.

Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin Savitsky "Morning in a pine forest" 1889

Stored in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow

"Morning in pine forest"- a painting by Russian artists Ivan Shishkin and Konstantin Savitsky. Savitsky painted bears, but the collector Pavel Tretyakov, when he acquired the painting, erased his signature, so now only Shishkin is indicated as the author of the painting.

Mikhail Vrubel "The Swan Princess" 1900

Stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery

The picture was written on the basis of the stage image of the heroine of the opera by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" based on the story of the fairy tale of the same name by A. Pushkin. Vrubel created the premieres of the 1900 opera, sketches for the scenery and costumes, and his wife sang the part of the Swan Princess.

Giuseppe Arcimboldo "Portrait of Emperor Rudolph II as Vertumnus" 1590

Located in Skokloster Castle in Stockholm.

One of the few surviving works of the artist, who made portraits of fruits, vegetables, flowers, crustaceans, fish, pearls, musical and other instruments, books, and so on. "Vertumnus" is a portrait of the emperor, represented as the ancient Roman god of the seasons, vegetation and transformation. In the painting, Rudolph consists entirely of fruits, flowers and vegetables.

Edgar Degas "Blue Dancers" 1897

Located in the Museum of Art. A.S. Pushkin in Moscow.

Degas was a big fan of ballet. He is called a ballerina artist. The work "Blue Dancers" refers to the late period of Degas' work, when his eyesight weakened, and he began to work with large spots of color, attaching paramount importance to the decorative organization of the surface of the painting.

Leonardo da Vinci "Mona Lisa" 1503-1505

Stored in the Louvre, Paris.

"Mona Lisa" probably would not have received world renown if she had not been kidnapped in 1911 by an employee of the Louvre. The painting was found two years later in Italy: the thief responded to an advertisement in the newspaper and offered to sell the "La Gioconda" to the director of the Uffizi Gallery. All this time, while the investigation was going on, "Mona Lisa" did not leave the covers of newspapers and magazines around the world, becoming an object of copying and worship.

Sandro Botticelli "The Birth of Venus" 1486

Stored in Florence at the Uffizi Gallery

The painting illustrates the myth of the birth of Aphrodite. A naked goddess floats to the shore in an open shell, driven by the wind. On the left side of the picture, Zephyr (west wind), in the arms of his wife Chlorida, blows on the shell, creating a wind filled with flowers. On the shore, the goddess is met by one of the graces. "The Birth of Venus" is well preserved thanks to the fact that Botticelli applied to the picture protective layer from egg yolk.

Michelangelo "Creation of Adam" 1511

Located in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

The page contains the most famous paintings by Russian artists of the 19th century with names and descriptions

The varied painting of Russian artists since the beginning of the 19th century attracts with its originality and versatility in the domestic fine arts... Painting masters of that time never ceased to amaze with their unique approach to the plot and reverent attitude to the feelings of people, to their native nature. In the 19th century, portrait compositions were often painted with an amazing combination of an emotional image and an epic calm motive.

The paintings of Russian artists are magnificent in skill and truly beautiful in perception, amazingly accurately reflecting the breath of their time, the unique character of the people and their desire for beauty.

Canvases of Russian painters, which are the most popular: Alexander Ivanov is a bright representative of the picturesque biblical direction, in paints telling us about the episodes of the life of Jesus Christ.

Karl Bryullov was a popular painter in his time, his direction is historical painting, portrait subjects, romantic works.

Marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky, his paintings are magnificent and one can say simply unsurpassedly reflect the beauty of the sea with transparent rolling waves, sea sunsets and sailing ships.

The works of the famous Ilya Repin, who created genre and monumental works reflecting the life of the people.

Very picturesque and large-scale paintings by the artist Vasily Surikov, a description of Russian history is his direction, in which the artist emphasized episodes in paints life path of the Russian people.

Each artist is unique, for example, Viktor Vasnetsov, a picturesque master of fairy tales and epics, unique in his style, is always juicy and bright, romantic canvases, the heroes of which are all of us famous heroes folk tales.

Each artist is unique, for example, Viktor Vasnetsov, a picturesque master of fairy tales and epics, unique in his style - these are always juicy and bright, romantic canvases, the heroes of which are the well-known heroes of folk tales. Very picturesque and large-scale paintings by the artist Vasily Surikov, the description of Russian history is his direction, in which the artist in paints emphasized the episodes of the life of the Russian people.

In Russian painting of the 19th century, such a trend as critical realism, emphasizing ridicule, satire and humor, was also manifested. Of course, this was a new trend, not every artist could afford it. In this direction, such artists as Pavel Fedotov and Vasily Perov decided

The landscape painters of that time also occupied their niche, among them Isaac Levitan, Alexei Savrasov, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Vasily Polenov, the young artist Fyodor Vasiliev, the picturesque master of the forest, forest glades with pines and birches with mushrooms Ivan Shishkin. All of them colorfully and romantically reflected the beauty of Russian nature, the variety of forms and images of which is associated with the colossal potential of the surrounding world.

According to Levitan, in every note of Russian nature there is a unique colorful palette, hence there is a huge scope for creativity. Perhaps this is the mystery that the canvases created in the endless expanses of Russia stand out with some exquisite severity, but, at the same time, attract with a discreet beauty, from which it is difficult to look away. Or the painting by Levitan Dandelions, which is not at all intricate and rather not catchy, as if encourages the viewer to think and see the beautiful in the simple.

). However, within the framework of this article, we will only consider object art.

Historically, all genres were divided into high and low. TO high genre or historical painting included works of a monumental nature that carry some kind of morality, a significant idea that demonstrates historical, military events associated with religion, mythology or artistic fiction.

TO low genre included everything related to everyday life. These are still lifes, portraits, household painting, landscapes, animalism, nude images and more.

Animalism (lat.animal - animal)

The animalistic genre originated in antiquity, when the first people painted predatory animals on the rocks. Gradually, this direction has grown into an independent genre, implying an expressive image of any animals. Animalists usually show a great interest in the animal kingdom, for example, they can be excellent riders, keep pets, or simply study their habits for a long time. As a result of the artist's intention, animals can appear realistic or in the form of artistic images.

Among Russian artists, many were well versed in horses, for example, and. So, on famous painting Vasnetsov's "Bogatyrs" heroic horses are depicted with the greatest skill: the colors, behavior of animals, bridles and their connection with riders are carefully thought out. Serov disliked people and considered the horse in many ways better than human, which is why he often portrayed her in a variety of scenes. although he painted animals, he did not consider himself an animalist, so bears on his famous painting"Morning in a pine forest" was created by the animal painter K. Savitsky.

In tsarist times, portraits with pets, which were dear to man, became especially popular. For example, in the painting, Empress Catherine II appeared with her beloved dog. Animals were also present in portraits of other Russian artists.

Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the genre

Historical painting

This genre implies monumental paintings that are intended to convey to society grand design, any truth, morality or to demonstrate significant events. It includes works on historical, mythological, religious themes, folklore, as well as war scenes.

In ancient states, myths and legends long time were considered events of the past, so they were often depicted in frescoes or vases. Later, artists began to separate the events from fiction, which was expressed primarily in the depiction of battle scenes. V Ancient Rome, Egypt and Greece on the shields of victorious warriors often depicted scenes of heroic battles in order to demonstrate their triumph over the enemy.

In the Middle Ages, due to the dominance of church dogmas, religious themes prevailed; in the Renaissance, society turned to the past mainly in order to glorify its states and rulers, and since the 18th century this genre has often been turned to to educate young people. In Russia, the genre became widespread in the 19th century, when artists often tried to analyze the life of Russian society.

In the works of Russian artists, battle painting was presented, for example, and. He touched upon mythological and religious subjects in his paintings. Historical painting prevailed at, folklore - at.

Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the genre of historical painting

Still life (fr. Nature - nature and morte - dead)

This genre of painting is associated with the image inanimate objects... They can be flowers, fruits, dishes, game, kitchen utensils and other objects, of which the artist often composes a composition according to his intention.

The first still lifes appeared in ancient countries. V Ancient egypt it was customary to represent offerings to the gods in the form of various foods. At the same time, the recognition of the subject was in the first place, therefore, the ancient artists did not particularly care about chiaroscuro or the texture of still life objects. In Ancient Greece and Rome, flowers and fruits were found in paintings and in houses to decorate the interior, so that they were portrayed more authentically and picturesquely. The formation and flourishing of this genre falls on the 16th and 17th centuries, when still lifes began to contain hidden religious and other meanings. At the same time, many varieties of them appeared, depending on the subject of the image (floral, fruit, scientist, etc.).

In Russia, still life flourished only in the 20th century, since before that it was used mainly for educational purposes. But this development was rapid and captured, including abstractionism with all its directions. For example, he created beautiful flower compositions in, preferred, worked in and often "revived" his still lifes, giving the viewer the impression that the dishes are about to fall from the table or all objects will now begin to rotate.

The objects depicted by the artists were certainly influenced by their theoretical views or worldview, state of mind... So, these were objects depicted according to the principle of spherical perspective discovered by him, and expressionist still lifes were striking in their drama.

Many Russian artists used still life mainly for educational purposes. So, not only honed artistic skill, but also conducted many experiments, laying out objects in different ways, working with light and color. experimented with the shape and color of the line, then moving away from realism to pure primitivism, then mixing both styles.

Some artists combined in still lifes what they had depicted earlier and their favorite things. For example, in the paintings you can find his favorite vase, notes and the portrait of his wife he created before, and depicted flowers that he loved from childhood.

Many other Russian artists, for example, others, also worked in the same genre.

Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the genre of still life

Nu (fr.nudite - nudity, abbreviated nu)

This genre is intended to depict the beauty of the naked body and appeared before our era. V ancient world paid great attention physical development, since the survival of the entire human race depended on this. So, in ancient Greece, athletes traditionally competed naked, so that boys and young men could see their well-developed bodies and strive for the same physical perfection. Around the 7th-6th centuries. BC NS. nude male statues appeared, personifying the physical strength of a man. Female figures, on the other hand, always appeared in front of the audience in robes, as to bare female body was not accepted.

In subsequent eras, the attitude towards naked bodies changed. So, during Hellenistic times (from the end of the 6th century BC), endurance faded into the background, giving way to admiration male figure... At the same time, the first female nude figures began to appear. In the Baroque era, women with magnificent forms were considered ideal, during the Rococo era, sensuality became paramount, and in XIX-XX centuries paintings or sculptures with naked bodies (especially men) were often banned.

Russian artists have repeatedly turned to the nude genre in their works. So, these are dancers with theatrical attributes, they are posing girls or women in the center of monumental plots. It has a lot of sensual women, including in pairs, it has a whole series of paintings depicting naked women behind different occupations and y are girls full of innocence. Some, for example, depicted completely naked men, although such pictures were not welcomed by the society of their time.

Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the nude genre

Landscape (fr.Paysage, from pays - area)

In this genre, the priority is the image of natural or man-made environment: natural corners, types of cities, villages, monuments, etc. Depending on the chosen object, natural, industrial, sea, rural, lyrical and other landscapes are distinguished.

The first landscapes of ancient artists were discovered in rock art the Neolithic era and represented images of trees, rivers or lakes. Later, the natural motif was used to decorate the home. In the Middle Ages, the landscape was almost completely replaced by religious themes, and in the Renaissance, on the contrary, they came to the fore harmonious relationship man and nature.

In Russia, landscape painting has developed since the 18th century and was initially limited (landscapes were created in this style, for example, and), but later a whole galaxy of talented Russian artists enriched this genre with techniques from different styles and directions. created the so-called inconspicuous landscape, that is, instead of chasing spectacular views, he depicted the most intimate moments in Russian nature. and came to a lyrical landscape that amazed the audience with a subtly conveyed mood.

And this is an epic landscape, when the viewer is shown all the grandeur of the surrounding world. He endlessly turned to antiquity, E. Volkov knew how to turn any discreet landscape into a poetic picture, amazed the viewer with his marvelous light in the landscapes, and he could endlessly admire the forest corners, parks, sunsets and convey this love to the viewer.

Each of the landscape painters focused on such a landscape that fascinated him especially strongly. Many artists could not pass by large-scale construction projects and painted many industrial and urban landscapes. Among them are works,

Speaking about the genre of the landscape, it is impossible not to turn to the work of the great landscape painters. Now it is difficult to imagine that two hundred years ago there was no such thing as a landscape. The traditions of Russian landscape painting began to form only at the end XVIII century... Before that, artists painted under the influence of Italian and French masters, ennobling nature in accordance with the academic laws of construction, which were considered mandatory in painting at that time.

A huge contribution to the development of Russian landscape was made by the Association of Traveling Exhibitions (Wanderers) under the leadership of I. N. Kramskoy. The artists glorified the beauty of the discreet Russian nature, the simplicity of rural landscapes, the vast expanses of Russia.

Major landscape masters:

• Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov (1830-1897)
• Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817-1900)

Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898)

The art of I.I. Shishkin is surprisingly clear and transparent. His paintings are a hymn to wildlife, its beauty. He created landscape art with coniferous thickets, with vast expanses, with all the simplicity of a northern landscape.

At the age of 12, at the insistence of his father, he was assigned to the 1st Kazan gymnasium. Full course never finished. In 1852 he moved to Moscow and entered the School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Here Shishkin's mentor was A.N. Mokritsky. After completing the course (1856), the talented student was advised to continue his education in St. Petersburg at the Academy of Arts. His training was supervised by S. M. Vorobyov.

The teachers immediately noted Shishkin's penchant for landscape painting. Already in the first year of his stay at the Academy, he was awarded a small silver medal for "View in the vicinity of St. Petersburg". In 1858 the artist received the Great Silver Medal for the painting "View on the Island of Valaam".

The successes achieved allowed Shishkin to travel abroad as a scholar of the academy. The journey began in Munich (1861), where Ivan Ivanovich visited the workshops of the popular animal painters B. and F. Adamov. In 1863 Shishkin moved to Zurich, then to Geneva, Prague, Dusseldorf. Longing for his fatherland, he returned to Petersburg in 1866, before the expiration of his scholarship.

In Russia, the artist was awarded the title of academician (1865). From this time began the most fruitful period of the painter's work. The paintings "Cutting the forest" (1867), "Rye" (1878), "Pines illuminated by the sun" (1886), "Morning in a pine forest" (1889; bears were painted by K. A Savitsky), "Ship Grove" (1898) and many others.

Shishkin actively worked in the open air, often undertaking travels across Russia for artistic purposes. He exhibited his works almost every year - first at the academy, and then, after the Association of Traveling art exhibitions(1870), at these exhibitions.

Ivan Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900)

Born August 30, 1860 in the Lithuanian town of Kybartai into a Jewish family. My father was a minor employee in the city government. Soon after the birth of their youngest son, the family moved to Moscow. At the age of 13, Isaac was admitted to the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, in the class of A.K.Savrasov and V.D. Polenov. From the very beginning of his studies, Levitan earned his living by lessons and custom portraits. He graduated brilliantly from college, but due to his origin he was awarded a diploma of a calligraphy teacher.

He painted his first large painting "A Quiet Cloister" after a trip in 1890 across the Russian North. The canvas was purchased by P.M. Tretyakov for his gallery. In 1892, the artist was forced to leave Moscow, since Jews were not allowed to live in the capitals. He settled in a village along the Vladimirsky tract, along which convicts were driven to Siberia. The artist captured these places in the painting "Vladimirka" (1892). In the 90s. Levitan made another trip, this time along the Volga. There the painting “Fresh Wind. Volga "(1891-1895). The exacerbation of tuberculosis caused the artist's departure abroad, to France, then to Italy, although the efforts of his friends helped him get a residence permit in Moscow.

Returning home, in 1898 Levitan began to teach a landscape class at the school, which he graduated from. His health deteriorated, and in 1899 the artist, at the invitation of A.P. Chekhov, left for Yalta. When he returned, he began teaching again, but his health continued to deteriorate, and on August 4, 1900, Levitan died.

The landscapes of the singer of Russian nature are not just a photographic depiction of nature - the artist managed to convey her living breath. No wonder the critic V.V. Stasov called Levitan's paintings emotional poems. At the same time, Levitan was not only a magnificent landscape painter. His creative heritage also includes drawings, watercolors, book illustrations.

The city of Plyos is associated with the name of Isaac Levitan. Levitan comes to Plyos three summers in a row, in the years 1888-1890. There is not a single corner and path in the vicinity of Plyos, wherever you have been Great master... Inspired by the magical beauties of Plyos, he paints almost 200 paintings and sketches here! Now famous paintings: "Above eternal rest", "After the rain. Plyos "," Evening. Golden Plyos "," Birch Grove "and many others - have become an adornment of the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum and many collections in Russia and abroad.

Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov (1844-1927)

Born June 1, 1844 in the Borok estate (now Polenovo in the Tula region) in the family of archaeologist and bibliographer D.V. Polenov. After receiving secondary education, Vasily entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (1863), and a little later began attending lectures at the law faculty at the university.

In 1872, Polenov, who completed both courses with honors, was awarded a trip abroad at the expense of the academy. He visited Vienna, Venice, Florence, Naples, and lived in Paris for a long time. The home visit was short-lived; in 1876 the artist volunteered for the Serbo-Montenegrin-Turkish war.

In subsequent years he traveled extensively in the Middle East and Greece (1881-1882, 1899, 1909), Italy (1883-1884, 1894-1895). In 1879 he joined the Society of Itinerant Artists. In 1882-1895. taught at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

In recognition of his merits, Polenov was elected a full member of the Academy of Arts in 1893. Since 1910, he was engaged in the development of provincial theaters, three years later becoming the head of a special section at the Moscow Society of People's Universities.

Polenov is known as the author of works of different genres. He turned to historical and religious themes - "Christ and the Sinner" (1886-1887), "On Lake Tiberias" (1888), "Among the Teachers" (1896); in 1877 he created a series of sketches for the Kremlin cathedrals and palace chambers; v different time made theatrical scenery. According to his sketches, churches were built in Abramtsevo (in collaboration with V.M. Vasnetsov) and in Bekhov near Tarusa (1906). But the greatest glory to Polenov was brought by landscapes: "Moscow courtyard" (1878), "Grandma's garden", "Summer" (both 1879), "Overgrown pond" (1880), " Golden autumn"(1893), conveying the poetic charm of the corners of city life and pristine Russian nature.

The artist spent the last years of his life in the Borok estate, where he organized a museum of art and scientific collections. The museum-estate of V.D. Polenov has been operating here since 1927.

Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov (1830 - 1897)

The artist was born on May 12 (24), 1830 in Moscow, in the family of the merchant of the 3rd guild, Kondraty Artemyevich Savrasov. Contrary to the wishes of his father, who dreamed of adapting his son to "commercial affairs", in 1844 the boy entered the Moscow School of Painting and Sculpture, where he studied in the class of landscape painter K. I. Rabus. During his studies, in 1850 he completed the painting "A Stone in the Forest by the Spill", which art critics consider somewhat awkward in composition. In the same year, for the painting "View of the Moscow Kremlin by the Moon", he was awarded the title of an out-of-class artist.

Founding member of the Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions (see Wanderers). V early works S. dominated by romantic effects ("View of the Kremlin in inclement weather", 1851, Tretyakov Gallery).

In the 1850s and 60s. Savrasov more often turns to calm, narrative images, in a number of cases marked by the desire for color unity of works ("Losiny Island in Sokolniki", 1869, ibid.), To enhance the emotional sound of chiaroscuro. The result of these searches was the painting The Rooks Have Arrived (1871, ibid.), Where Savrasov, depicting an outwardly inconspicuous motive and emphasizing the moment of transition in the life of the natural environment (the onset of early spring), managed to show the deep sincerity of his native nature. The subsequent works of Savrasov also differ in lyrical spontaneity and interest in the open air ("The Grassland", 1873, "The Courtyard", 1870s; "The Grave over the Volga", 1874, private collection, Moscow).

Alexey Savrasov, one of the largest representatives of the lyrical movement in the Russian landscape, had a tremendous influence on Russian landscape painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Died A.K. Savrasov September 26, 1897, buried in Moscow, on Vagankovsky cemetery... The alley on which he is buried bears his name. Isaac Levitan was his favorite student

Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi (1841-1910)

Born in January 1841 in Mariupol in the family of a shoemaker, of Greek origin. Orphaned, brought up in a family of relatives. He began to paint early and mastered painting mostly on his own.

In 1855 he went on foot to Feodosia to study with IK Aivazovsky. The influence of the famous marine painter on young Kuindzhi was undoubted. In the late 60s. Kuindzhi arrived in St. Petersburg. The artist presented his first works in 1868 at the exhibition of the Academy of Arts and soon firmly established himself as a master of landscape: "Autumn thaws" (1872); The Forgotten Village (1874); "Chumatsky tract in Mariupol" (1875), etc.

In 1870 he first visited the island of Valaam, where he later painted a lot. As contemporaries believed, it was the landscapes created there that attracted the attention of the audience.

The painting "Ukrainian Night" (1876) simply stunned the audience and determined the author's special path in art. With her Kuindzhi began his "pursuit of light" - he strove to achieve the complete illusion of natural lighting. This was manifested to the highest degree in the painting "Night on the Dnieper" (1880) with a sparkling moon path, in velvet darkness.

The painter in a new way revealed the possibilities of the landscape, transforming, purifying and elevating reality. He achieved extraordinary intensity and brightness of colors, new color solutions. Numerous "sunny" paintings and sketches (including " Birch Grove", 1879).

Intense contrast of rich tones, lighting effects - all this was unusual for painting XIX v. phenomenon. The lack of understanding of his colleagues forced Kuindzhi to refuse to participate in exhibitions at the moment of his greatest success. V last time he exhibited his work in 1882.

The artist lived as a hermit in the Crimea, where he created a series of large canvases and hundreds of sketches, continuing to experiment with paints and color. Among the later works of Kuindzhi - the only one he has plot picture"Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane" (1901) and breathing with extraordinary harmony "Night" (1905-1908)

In 1909, Arkhip Ivanovich founded the Society of Artists (which later received his name), which provided support to people of art. The painter bequeathed to this Society all his fortune and the works in the workshop.

In early December 2011, new price records were set at the Russian auction in London. Summing up the results of the year, we have compiled a list of the most expensive works by Russian artists based on the results of auction sales.

33 most expensive k. Source: 33 most expensive k.

According to the ratings, the most expensive Russian artist is Mark Rothko. His White Center (1950), sold for $ 72.8 million, in addition, ranks 12th in the list of the most expensive paintings in the world in general. However, Rothko was Jewish, was born in Latvia and left Russia at the age of 10. Is it fairwith a similar stretch chase behind the records? Therefore, we deleted Rothko, like other emigrants who left Russia before becoming artists (for example, Tamara de Lempicki and Chaim Soutine).

No. 1. Kazimir Malevich - $ 60 million

The author of "Black Square" is too important a person for his works to be often found on the free market. So this picture got to the auction in a very difficult way. In 1927 Malevich, intending to arrange an exhibition, brought almost a hundred works from his Leningrad workshop to Berlin. However, he was urgently recalled to his homeland, and he left them for storage by the architect Hugo Hering. He saved the paintings during the difficult years of the fascist dictatorship, when they could well have been destroyed as "degenerate art", and in 1958, after Malevich's death, he sold them to the Stedelek State Museum (Holland).

V early XXI century, the group of Malevich's heirs, almost forty people, began trial- because Hering was not the legal owner of the paintings. As a result, the museum gave them this painting, and will give four more, which will surely cause a sensation at some auction. After all, Malevich is one of the most forged artists in the world, and the origin of the paintings from the Stedelek Museum is impeccable. And in January 2012, the heirs received another painting from that Berlin exhibition, taking it from a Swiss museum.

No. 2. Wassily Kandinsky - $ 22.9 million

The auction price of a work is influenced by its reputation. It's not only big name artist, but also "provenance" (origin). The thing from the famous private collection or a good museum always costs more than work from an anonymous congregation. "Fugue" comes from the renowned Guggenheim Museum: once the director Thomas Krenz withdrew from the museum funds of this Kandinsky, a painting by Chagall and Modigliani, and put them up for sale. For some reason, using the money received, the museum acquired a collection of 200 works by American conceptualists. Krenz was condemned for a very long time for this decision.

This painting by the father of abstract art is curious because it set a record back in 1990, when the auction halls of London and New York were not yet filled with reckless Russian buyers. Thanks to this, by the way, it did not disappear in some very private collection in luxurious mansion, and is on permanent display at the private Beyeler Museum in Switzerland, where anyone can see it. A rare occasion for such a purchase!

No. 3. Alexey Yavlensky - 9.43 million pounds

An unknown buyer paid about $ 18.5 million for a portrait of a girl from a village near Munich. Shokko is not a name, but a nickname. The model, coming to the artist's studio, each time asked for a cup of hot chocolate. This is how Shokko took root behind her.

The sold painting is part of his famous cycle "Race", depicting the domestic peasantry of the first quarter of the twentieth century. And, right, depicting with such mugs that it's scary to look. Here, in the image of a shepherd, the peasant poet Nikolai Klyuev, the forerunner of Yesenin, appears. Among his poems are the following: "In the hot spot, the scarlet flower Degraded and faded - The daring light of a fellow From the sweetheart is far away."

No. 19. Konstantin Makovsky - 2.03 million pounds

Makovsky is a salon painter, known for the huge number of hawthorn heads in kokoshniks and sundresses, as well as for the painting "Children running from a thunderstorm", which at one time was constantly printed on gift boxes chocolates. Its sweet historical paintings are in stable demand among Russian buyers.

The theme of this painting- Old Russian "Kissing ceremony". Noble women on Ancient Rus it was not allowed to leave the female half, and only for the sake of the guests of honor could they go out, bring a glass and (the most pleasant part) allow themselves to be kissed. Pay attention to the picture hanging on the wall: this is an image of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, one of the first equestrian portraits that appeared in Russia. Its composition, although it was impudently copied from the European model, was considered unusually innovative and even shocking for that time.

No. 20. Svyatoslav Roerich - $ 2.99 million

Nicholas Roerich's son left Russia as a teenager. Lived in England, USA, India. Like his father, he was interested in Eastern philosophy. Like his father, he painted many paintings on Indian themes. In general, his father occupied a huge place in his life - he painted more than thirty of his portraits. This painting was created in India, where the clan settled in the middle of the century. Svetoslav Roerich's paintings rarely appear at auctions, and in Moscow the works of the famous dynasty can be seen in the halls of the Museum of the East, to which the authors donated them, as well as in the Museum of the International Center of the Roerichs, which is located in a luxurious noble estate right behind the Pushkin Museum. Both museums are not very fond of each other: the Oriental Museum claims both the building and the collection of the Roerich Center.

No. 21. Ivan Shishkin - 1.87 million pounds

The main Russian landscape painter spent three summers in a row on Valaam and left many images of the area. This piece is a little gloomy and not like the classic Shishkin. But this is explained by the fact that the picture refers to his early period when he did not feel his style and was heavily influenced by the Düsseldorf school of landscape, in which he studied.

We already remembered about this Dusseldorf school above, in the recipe for a fake "Aivazovsky". " Shishkins "are made according to the same scheme, for example, in 2004 on Sotheby "s" Landscape with a Stream "of the Dusseldorf period of the painter was exhibited. It was estimated at 1 million dollars and was confirmed by the expertise of the Tretyakov Gallery. in Sweden for 65 thousand dollars

No. 22. Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin - 1.83 million pounds

A portrait of a boy with an icon of the Virgin was found in a private collection in Chicago. After being passed auction house, experts began research trying to establish its origin. It turned out that the painting was on display in 1922 and 1932. In the 1930s, the artist's works traveled around the United States as part of an exhibition of Russian art. Perhaps it was then that the owners acquired this painting.

Note the empty space on the wall behind the boy. At first, the author thought to write a window there with green landscape... This would balance the picture both in composition and in colors - the grass would have something in common with the green tunic of the Mother of God (by the way, according to the canon, it should be blue). Why Petrov-Vodkin painted over the window is unknown.

No. 23. Nicholas Roerich - 1.76 million pounds

Before visiting Shambhala and starting to correspond with the Dalai Lama, Nicholas Roerich rather successfully specialized in Old Russian theme and even made ballet sketches for Russian Seasons. The lot sold belongs to this period. The pictured scene is miraculous phenomenon over the water, which is observed by a Russian monk, most likely - Sergius of Radonezh. It is curious that the picture was painted in the same year as another vision of Sergius (then the youth Bartholomew), which appears in our list above. The stylistic difference is enormous.

Roerich painted many canvases and the lion's share of them in India. He donated several of them to the Indian Institute of Agricultural Research. Recently, two of them, "Himalayas, Kanchenjunga" and "Sunset, Kashmir ”Appeared at an auction in London. Only then did the junior researchers of the institute notice that they had been robbed. In January 2011, the Indians applied to a London court for permission to investigate the crime in England. Thieves' interest in Roerich's legacy is understandable, because there is a demand.

No. 24. Lyubov Popova- 1.7 million pounds

Lyubov Popova died young, so she failed to become famous as another Amazon avant-garde Natalia Goncharova. And her legacy is smaller - so it is difficult to find in the sale of her work. After her death, a detailed inventory of the paintings was compiled. This still life long years was known only for black and white reproduction, until it surfaced in a private collection, becoming the most significant work of the artist in private hands. pay attention to Zhostovo tray- maybe this is a hint of Popova's taste for folk crafts. She came from the family of an Ivanovo merchant who was engaged in fabrics, and she herself created many sketches of agitation textiles based on Russian traditions.

No. 25. Aristarkh Lentulov - 1.7 million pounds

Lentulov went down in the history of the Russian avant-garde with a memorable image of St. Basil's Cathedral - either cubism or a patchwork quilt. In this landscape, he tries to divide the space according to a similar principle, but it turns out not so exciting. Actually, therefore "Basil the Blessed"In the Tretyakov Gallery, and this picture- in the art market. Still, once museum workers had the opportunity to skim the cream.

No. 26. Alexey Bogolyubov - 1.58 million pounds

Sale of this little-known artist, albeit the favorite landscape painter of the tsar Alexander III, for such insane money - a symptom of market frenzy on the eve of the 2008 crisis. Then Russian collectors were ready to buy even minor masters. Moreover, first-class artists are rarely sold.

Perhaps this picture was sent as a gift to some official: it has a suitable plot, because the Cathedral of Christ the Savior has long ceased to be just a church, and has become a symbol. And a flattering origin - the painting was kept in the royal palace. Pay attention to the details: the brick Kremlin tower is covered with white plaster, and the hill inside the Kremlin is completely unsettled. Well, why bother? In the 1870s, the capital was Petersburg, not Moscow, and the Kremlin was not a residence.

No. 27. Isaac Levitan - 1.56 million pounds

Completely atypical for Levitan, the work was sold at the same auction as the painting by Bogolyubov, but it turned out to be cheaper. This is connected, of course, with the fact that the picture does not look like "Levitan ". Its authorship, however, is indisputable; there is a similar plot in the Dnepropetrovsk Museum. 40 thousand lamps, with the help of which the Kremlin was decorated, were lit in honor of the coronation of Nicholas II. The Khodyn catastrophe will happen in a few days.

No. 28. Arkhip Kuindzhi - $ 3 million

The famous landscape painter painted three similar paintings. The first is in the Tretyakov Gallery, the third is in the State Museum of Belarus. The second, presented at the auction, was intended for Prince Pavel Pavlovich Demidov-San Donato. This representative of the famous Ural dynasty lived in a villa near Florence. In general, the Demidovs, having become Italian princes, enjoyed themselves as best they could. For example, Paul's uncle, from whom he inherited the princely title, was so rich and noble that he married Napoleon Bonaparte's niece, and once in bad mood carved her. The poor lady barely managed to get a divorce. The painting, however, did not get to Demidov, it was acquired by the Ukrainian sugar manufacturer Tereshchenko.

No. 29. Konstantin Korovin- 1.497 million pounds

Impressionists a very "light", sweeping style of writing is inherent. Korovin is the main Russian impressionist. He is very popular with scammers; according to rumors, the number of its forgeries at auctions reaches 80%. If a painting from a private collection was exhibited at the artist's personal exhibition in the famous state museum, then its reputation is strengthened, and at the next auction it costs much more. In 2012, the Tretyakov Gallery is planning a large-scale exhibition of Korovin. Maybe there will be works from private collections. This paragraph is an example of manipulation of the reader's consciousness by the example of listing facts that do not have a direct logical connection with each other.

• Please note that from March 26 to August 12, 2012 the Tretyakov Gallery promises to arrangeKorovin's exhibition ... For more information on the biography of the most charming of the Silver Age artists, read in our review opening days of the State Tretyakov Gallery in 2012.

No. 30. Yuri Annenkov - $ 2.26 million

Annenkov managed to emigrate in 1924 and made a good career in the west. For example, in 1954 he was nominated for an Oscar as a costume designer for the film "Madame de ...". His early Soviet portraits are best known.- Cubist faces, faceted, but completely recognizable. For example, he repeatedly drew Leon Trotsky in this way - and even repeated the drawing many years later from memory, when the Times wanted to decorate the cover with it.

The character depicted in the record portrait is the writer Tikhonov-Serebrov. He entered the history of Russian literature mainly because of his close friendship with. So close that, according to dirty rumors, the artist's wife Varvara Shaykevich even gave birth to a daughter from the great proletarian writer. It is not very noticeable on the reproduction, but the portrait was made using the collage technique: on top of the layer oil paint here comes glass and plaster, and even a real doorbell is attached.

No. 31. Lev Lagorio - 1.47 million pounds

Another minor landscape painter, for some reason sold for a record price. One of the indicators of the success of the auction is the excess of the estimate ("assessment") - the minimum price that experts auction house set for the lot. Estimate of this landscape was 300-400 thousand pounds, and it was sold 4 times more expensive. As one London auctioneer put it: “happiness is when two Russian oligarchs compete for the same subject. "

No. 32. Viktor Vasnetsov - 1.1 million pounds

The heroes of steel business card back in the 1870s. He returns to his stellar theme, like other veterans of Russian painting, in the years of a young Soviet republic- both for financial reasons, and to feel in demand again. This picture is the author's repetition "Ilya Muromets" (1915), which is kept in the House-Museum of the artist (on Prospekt Mira).

No. 33. Eric Bulatov - 1.084 million pounds

The second living artist on our list (also said that for an artist The best way to raise prices for your work is to die). By the way, this is the Soviet Warhol, underground and anti-communist. He worked in the genre of Sots Art, which was created by the Soviet underground, as our version of Pop Art. "Glory to the KPSS" is one of the most famous works artist. According to his own explanations, the letters here symbolize the lattice that blocks the sky from us, that is, freedom.

Bonus: Zinaida Serebryakova - £ 1.07m

Serebryakova loved to draw naked women, self-portraits and her four children. This ideal feminist world is harmonious and calm, which cannot be said about the life of the artist herself, who with difficulty escaped from Russia after the revolution and spent a lot of effort to get her children out of there.

“Nude” is not an oil painting, but a pastel drawing. This is the most expensive Russian drawing. Such a high amount paid for the graphics is comparable to the prices for the drawings of the Impressionists and caused great surprise at Sotheby's, which started the auction with 150 thousand pounds sterling, and received a million.

The list is compiled based on the prices listed on the official websites of the auction houses. This price consists of net worth(voiced when the hammer is lowered), and« buyer's premium ”(additional percentage of the auction house). Other sources may indicate "Clean» price. The dollar / pound exchange rate often fluctuates, so British and American lots are located relative to each other with approximate accuracy (we are not Forbes).

Additions and corrections to our list are welcome.