Introducing Russian Classical Art

I'm a University graduate with a not so exiting job, love for art and travelling.This blog is a dedication to something I love a lot. Classical Russian art. For I am Russian and I love Art. Let's consider that to be an attempt to put 3 centuries in a nutshell.

[lovejewelry]

Diadem with large pink diamond and smaller white diamonds - circa 1810 - most likely belonged to Elizabeth Aleksandrovna, wife of Aleksander I. 

[russian-style]

Archangel Michael, fresco from the Nereditsa Church, 1199

Nereditsa Church had one of the most well-preserved fresco complexes of Medieval Rus period.

The photo was taken in 1930s. During the World War II, Nereditsa Church was  destroyed almost completely. Later, in 1950s, the church itself was restored, but frescoes could not be saved. 

[fawnvelveteen]

PEARL ROPE NECKLACE WITH DIAMOND TASSELS~ part of the major collection of Princess Lobanoff de Rostoff, née Princess Dolgorouky, who evaded the Bolshevik Revolution with her jewels.

[russianarthistory-blog]

Valentin Serov

Iphigenia in Tauris

[artvecher]

So, okay. I'm kinda trying to get back in shape for posting. This one here is by Valentin Serov (1865-1911), а great Russian portrait artist. Born to a family of composer, he never became a musician. Instead, he became a painter. His most famous work is a "Girl with peaches" but I'll tell more about it later. Great friend of Repin, Serov portrayed many outstanding people of his time: actors, composers, artists, nobility and members of the Russian Imperial family including Nicholas II and his family.

A retrospective of his works has just opened at Tretiyakoskaya gallery in Moscow. Watch YouTube to see a queue: http://youtu.be/RKrkylmHBKI

[derwandelndegeist-deactivated20]

Diamond imperial cyphers of the Empress Maria Feodorovna Russian Jewels spam

[nuitsflorentines]

Empress Maria Feodorovna (wife of Paul I, not the other one) commissioned a diadem from the famous Duval Brothers. The Empress wanted something that would remind of the Russian fields, and so the brothers created a diadem of oak and laurel leaves, bordered by sheaves of wheat.

[augustus-rus]

Small Imperial Crown made in 1856 for the coronation ceremony of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. It has 1393 diamonds.

[malevichkazimir]

Kazimir Malevich, The Reaper on Red, oil on canvas,1913

[artvecher]

a very powerful work. Typical contrast of red and black gives viewers a sense of disruption, it makes feel worried. Probably the best reflection of hard revolutionary years that are represented in Malevich's works. In my opinion of course.

[russian-style]

Isaac Levitan - Boulevard in winter, 1883

[symela]

[heavyarethecrown]

The Great Bouquet, 1760. Belong to Empress Elizabeth I of Russia, worn on the great gown. Then was presented by Emperor Peter III ( husband of Catherine II) to his mistress Lisa Vorontsova

Royals Jewels spam

[artvecher]

This one is by Mikhail Vrubel (1856-1910) and it's called Demon Seated in a Garden (1890).

This is probably the most famous of Vrubel's works. A son of a military officer Vrubel studied law for several years and graduated University with honours. But law didn’t interest him at all. Apart from studying law Vrubel attended classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St Petersburg. Main themes of his art are Demonic themes.

Basically, those demonic themes were inspired by a long Romantic poem by a russian poet Mikhail Lermontov. The poem described the carnal passion of "an eternal nihilistic spirit" for a Georgian girl Tamara.

Most conservative critics accused him of "wild ugliness", whereas the art patron Savva Mamontov praised the Demon series as "fascinating symphonies of a genius" and commissioned Vrubel to paint decorations for his private opera and mansions of his friends. Unfortunately the Demon, like other Vrubel's works, doesn't look as it did when it was painted, as the artist added bronze powder to his oils in order to achieve particularly luminous, glistening effects.

In 1902 Vrubel was diagnosed with mental illness.

[artvecher]

This is one by my all time favorites Boris Kustodiev called Christmas bargain (1918) I'be already mentioned Kustodiev couple of times here And here and here Kustodiev's works are always bright and colorful. Sometimes they are a bit "candy-like".No one can compare to him in painting russian winter and winter holidays. This painting above shows a traditional Christmas bargain where people would go to have fun, find gifts and buy Christmas trees. You can how many people are out there. But the most important is that there, in distance, you can see cathedral cupolas shining in sun light through cold and snow. They shine brightly reminding of glorious Christmas yet to come.

[theageofart]

Searching for Survivors

Artist: Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky Year: 1870 Type: Oil on canvas

[meanwhileinhere]

This is “View at the Moscow Kremlin” painted in 1920’s by Sergey Vinigradov (1969-1938)

Born in a small village to a family of a priest he entered the StPetersburg Academy of Arts to quit it before graduation later in. Vinigradov moved to Moscow and fell under influence of an outstanding artist Polenov. He helped Vinogradov to find his own style. Basically, Vinogradov’s paintings show us beautiful sun-lit landscapes that remind of works of French impressionists.

This particular painting above shows us the Moscow Kremlin in a very unusual way. For example, only few remember that originally the Kremlin walls used to be white, not red as we’re all used to see them. Moreover there are no more small wooden houses by the Kremlin walls these days and the landscape itself has changed significantly. All in all Vinogradov’s work gives quite a lyrical, romantic impression of that landscape which is curious.

[artvecher]

Ouch. Published it on my other blog accidentally.

[lilacsinthedooryard]

Wassily Kandinsky

Almost Submerged. 1930

[artvecher]

This one is by a genius who needs not to be introduced

[artvecher]

This is a "Knight at Crossroads" by Ivan Bilibin - a great late 19th century Russian illustrator and designer. I've already mentioned him here: http://artvecher.tumblr.com/post/73434668247/this-is-an-illustration-to-the-tale-of-tsar This illustration was inspired by an ancient Russian legend, a fairy-tale. Unfortunately, I don't know the exact year this particular illustration was created. But I believe it can be compared with a similar painting by Vasnetsov. And by the way, I've already mentioned the same subject here: http://artvecher.tumblr.com/post/86526775101/this-one-is-by-victor-vasnetsov-1848-1926-a#notes