The page presents the most famous paintings by Russian artists of the 19th century with names and descriptions
The diverse painting of Russian artists since the beginning of the 19th century has attracted attention with its originality and versatility in Russian fine art. The masters of painting of that time never ceased to amaze with their unique approach to the subject and reverent attitude towards the feelings of people, to native nature. In the 19th century, portrait compositions with an amazing combination of an emotional image and an epically calm motif were often painted.
Canvases by Russian painters who are the most popular: Alexander Ivanov is a prominent representative of the biblical pictorial movement, telling us in colors about the episodes of the life of Jesus Christ. Karl Bryullov was a popular painter in his time; his direction was historical painting, portraiture, and romantic works.
Marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky, his paintings perfectly and one might say simply unsurpassedly reflect the beauty of the sea with transparent rolling waves, sea sunsets and sailboats.
The works of the famous Ilya Repin, who created genre and monumental works reflecting the life of the people, stand out for their distinctive versatility. Very picturesque and large-scale paintings by the artist Vasily Surikov, the description of Russian history is his direction, in which the artist emphasized the episodes in colors life path Russian people.
Each artist is unique, for example, the painterly master of fairy tales and epics, Viktor Vasnetsov, unique in his style - these are always rich and bright, romantic canvases, the heroes of which are all of us famous heroes folk tales. The artist Vasily Surikov’s paintings are very picturesque and large-scale, the description of Russian history is his direction, in which the artist emphasized in paint the episodes of the life path of the Russian people.
In Russian painting of the 19th century, such a movement as critical realism appeared, emphasizing ridicule, satire and humor in the plots. Of course, this was a new trend, not every artist could afford it. Such artists as Pavel Fedotov and Vasily Perov decided in this direction
Landscape artists of that time also occupied their niche, among them Isaac Levitan, Alexey Savrasov, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Vasily Polenov, the young artist Fyodor Vasiliev, a picturesque master of the forest, forest glades with pine trees and birch trees 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 the enormous freedom for creativity. Perhaps this is the mystery that the canvases created in the vast expanses of Russia stand out with a certain refined severity, but, at the same time, attract with an understated beauty, from which it is difficult to look away. Or Levitan’s painting Dandelions, which is not at all intricate and rather not flashy, seems to encourage the viewer to think and see the beauty in the simple.
The paintings of Russian artists are magnificent in craftsmanship and truly beautiful in perception, amazingly accurately reflecting the breath of their time, the unique character of the people and their desire for beauty. They cannot be forgotten by anyone who happened to see them in museums. The artists created in various genres, but all their works are imbued with a sense of the beautiful and eternal. Therefore, in our busy, high-speed age, when there is so little time, it is worth looking closely at one of these paintings, and you will find yourself in a cool oasis of calm, hope, joy and inspiration. Having rested your soul, you will be ready to continue your journey, washing away the layer of daily worries and unnecessary fuss. Each person can find in these works not only amazing color and elegance of lines, but also the answer to the question about the very meaning of life.
Geniuses, innovators, brawlers, pioneers who have had an incredible impact on world culture. The greatest Russian artists - who are they?
Top 7 Russian artists
Among the most outstanding and influential Russian artists:
1. Kazimir Malevich(1879-1935) – author of the most controversial work in the entire history of world painting, “Black Square”. However, Malevich’s legacy is great and includes, in particular, not only the “Black”, but also the “Red” and “White” squares. The most scandalous and most expensive of Russian artists. His masterpiece “Suprematist Composition” was sold at Sotheby’s for $60 million.
"Suprematist composition" 2. Ivan Aivazovsky(1817-1900) – the greatest Russian marine painter, author of the immortal “The Ninth Wave”. The most prolific artist - he painted more than 6 thousand paintings. Due to his enormous heritage, he is also one of the most counterfeited artists in the world. Widely known in the West, his works are regularly sold at auctions, including Sotheby's.
Ninth wave 3. Viktor Vasnetsov(1848-1936) - perhaps the most Russian of all Russian artists. Known for his works glorifying folklore, fairy tales, and epics. Not only the author of “Three Heroes”, but also one of the developers of the Soviet budenovka.
4. Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin(1878-1939) - the most revolutionary artist. The painting “Bathing the Red Horse” prophetically predicted terrible upheavals in Russia. Although he was often criticized for his eroticism (he boldly depicted not only naked women, but also men), in general he can be considered the forerunner of socialist realism. At foreign auctions, it is not so much his revolutionary works that enjoy great success as his still lifes.
"Bathing the Red Horse" 5. Vasily Vereshchagin(1842–1904) – battle painter, famous for his documentary depictions of the horrors of war. The most famous work is “The Apotheosis of War,” depicting a pile of skulls bleached by the scorching sun. For decades he was persecuted by the tsarist government for his pacifist position. At the same time, he enjoyed incredible popularity both in Russia and in the West. His exhibition in St. Petersburg in 1880 was visited by 240 thousand people (in 40 days), in Berlin - 140 thousand people (in 65 days), in Vienna - 110 thousand (in 28 days). Many modern pop stars have never dreamed of such fame.
"Apotheosis of War" 6. Vladimir Tatlin(1885–1953) – founder of constructivism, artist, architect, graphic artist. His artistic work, similar in style to Picasso's early creations, is exhibited in the Pompidou Museum in Paris and in the Oxford Library. His masterpiece “Tatlin's Tower” is one of the most recognizable and replicated symbols of avant-gardeism in the world. He enjoyed enormous success in the West (“Tatlin’s machine art”), inspired a whole generation of Dada artists, including the master of surrealism, the Frenchman Marcel Duchamp.
"Tatlin's Tower" 7. Ilya Glazunov(born 1930) is the most monumental Russian artist. The most famous is his canvas “Eternal Russia” (size - 3x6 m) - a picturesque chronicle of Russian history for the years 988-1988, dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of the baptism of Rus'. In total, he created more than 3 thousand works (portraits, landscapes, historical and political paintings). Glazunov's reputation is indisputable - some consider him a genius, others - an opportunist. One thing is clear - this is a figure of titanic scale, like his canvases.
"Eternal Russia" I would like to believe that in the future, artists will also appear in Russia who are capable of changing humanity’s ideas about beauty.
There are many talented individuals among Russian artists. Their work is highly valued all over the world and is a worthy competitor to such world masters as Rubens, Michelangelo, Van Gogh and Picasso. In this article we have collected 10 of the most famous Russian artists.
1. Ivan Aivazovsky
Ivan Aivazovsky is one of the most famous Russian artists. He was born in Feodosia. From childhood, Aivazovsky showed his incredible Creative skills: He loved to draw and taught himself to play the violin.
At the age of 12, the young talent began studying in Simferopol at the Academy of Painting. Here he learned to copy engravings and paint pictures from life. A year later, he managed to enter the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy, although he had not yet reached the age of 14.
For a long time, the artist traveled around Europe and lived in Italy, where his paintings were also recognized. So the young artist from Feodosia became a fairly famous and rich man.
Later, Aivazovsky returned to his homeland, where he received the uniform of the Naval Ministry and the title of academician. The artist also visited Egypt and was present at the opening of the new Suez Canal. The artist described all his impressions in paintings. By this time, he had already developed his own unique style and the ability to write from memory. Aivazovsky quickly sketched complex elements in a notebook in order to later transfer them to canvas. His paintings “Odessa”, “The Ninth Wave” and “The Black Sea” brought him worldwide fame.
The artist spent the last years of his life in Feodosia, where he built himself a house in the Italian style. A little later, Aivazovsky added a small gallery to it so that everyone could freely enjoy it. amazing paintings and drown in an ocean of colors. Today, this mansion still serves as a museum and many visitors come here every day to see with their own eyes the skill of the marine painter, who lived a long and happy life.
2. Viktor Vasnetsov
The list of the most famous Russian artists continues with Viktor Vasnetsov. He was born in the spring of 1848 into the family of a priest in the small village of Lopyal. His craving for painting awoke in a very early age, but his parents could not give him a proper education due to lack of money. Therefore, at the age of 10, Victor began studying at a free theological seminary.
In 1866, with virtually no money, he left for St. Petersburg. Vasnetsov easily passed the entrance exam and entered the Academy of Arts. This is where his friendship began with famous artist Repin, with whom he later went to Paris. After returning to St. Petersburg, Vasnetsov began to paint his most famous paintings: “Three Heroes,” “Snow Maiden” and “God of Hosts.”
The artist was able to fully reveal his talent only after moving to Moscow. Here he feels cozy and comfortable, and each subsequent picture turns out better than the previous one. It was in Moscow that Vasnetsov painted such paintings as “Alyonushka”, “Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf” and “Nestor the Chronicler”.
3. Karl Bryullov
This famous Russian artist was born in 1799. Karl's father was a famous painter and professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Therefore, the boy’s fate was predetermined in advance. Fortunately, Karl Bryullov managed to inherit the talent of an artist from his father.
Studying was very easy for the young artist. He was many times superior to the rest of the students in his class and graduated from the Academy of Arts with honors. After this, Karl went to travel around Europe, stopping for a long time only in Italy. It was here that he created his masterpiece, “The Last Day of Pompeii,” spending about six years writing it.
Upon his return to St. Petersburg, fame and glory awaited Karl Bryullov. They were glad to see him everywhere and certainly admired his new paintings. During this period, the artist created several of his immortal canvases: “Horsewoman”, “Siege of Pskov”, “Narcissus” and others.
4. Ivan Shishkin
Ivan Shishkin is one of the most famous Russian landscape artists, who in his paintings could present any inconspicuous landscape in the most favorable light. It seems that nature itself plays on the canvases of this artist with living colors.
Ivan Shishkin was born in 1832 in Elabuga, which today belongs to Tatarstan. The father wanted his son to eventually take the post of city official, but Ivan gravitated towards drawing. At the age of 20, he went to Moscow to study painting. After successfully graduating from the Moscow School of Arts, Shishkin entered the Imperial Academy in St. Petersburg.
Later he traveled for a long time throughout Europe, sketching amazing landscapes. At this time, he created the painting “View in the vicinity of Düsseldorf”, which brought him great fame. After returning to Russia, Shishkin continues to create with renewed energy. According to him, Russian nature is several hundred times superior to European landscapes.
Ivan Shishkin painted many stunning paintings during his life: “Morning in a Pine Forest”, “First Snow”, “Pine Forest” and others. Even death overtook this painter right behind his easel.
5. Isaac Levitan
This great Russian master of landscapes was born in Lithuania, but lived his entire life in Russia. Repeatedly his Jewish origin caused him many humiliations, but never forced him to leave this country, which he idolized and praised in his paintings.
Levitan’s first landscapes already received high marks from Perov and Savrasov, and Tretyakov himself even bought his painting “Autumn Day in Sokolniki.” But in 1879, Isaac Levitan, along with all the Jews, was expelled from Moscow. Only through the enormous efforts of friends and teachers does he manage to return to the city.
In the 1880s, the artist painted many stunning paintings that made him very famous. These were “Pines”, “Autumn” and “First Snow”. But further humiliations forced the author to leave Moscow again and go to Crimea. On the peninsula, the artist paints a number of amazing works and significantly improves his financial condition. This allows him to travel around Europe and get acquainted with the work of world masters. The pinnacle of Levitan’s creativity was his painting “Above Eternal Peace.”
6. Vasily Tropinin
The great Russian portrait artist Vasily Tropinin had an amazing fate. He was born into the family of serfs, Count Markov, in 1780, and only at the age of 47 received the right to be a free man. Even as a child, little Vasily showed a penchant for drawing, but the count sent him to study to become a pastry chef. Later, he is nevertheless sent to the Imperial Academy, where he shows his talent in all its beauty. For his portraits “The Lacemaker” and “The Old Beggar” Vasily Tropinin was awarded the title of academician.
7. Petrov-Vodkin Kuzma
The famous Russian artist Petrov-Vodkin managed to leave behind a rich legacy in world painting. He was born in 1878 in Khvalynsk, and in his youth he was going to become a railway worker. However, fate made him a world-famous painter.
8. Alexey Savrasov
The paintings of this Russian artist were already selling well when he was barely 12 years old. A little later, he entered the Moscow School of Painting and instantly became one of the best students. A trip to Ukraine helped Savrasov graduate from college ahead of schedule and receive the title of artist.
The paintings “Stone in the Forest” and “Moscow Kremlin” made this painter an academician at the age of 24! Interested in young talent royal family, and Tretyakov himself buys many of his works for international exhibitions. Among them were “Winter”, “The Rooks Have Arrived”, “Rasputitsa” and others.
The death of two daughters and the subsequent divorce greatly affect Savrasov. He drinks heavily and soon dies in a hospital for the poor.
9. Andrey Rublev
Andrei Rublev is the most famous Russian icon painter. He was born in the 15th century and left behind a great legacy in the form of icons “Trinity”, “Annunciation”, “Baptism of the Lord”. Andrei Rublev, together with Daniil Cherny, decorated many churches with frescoes, and also painted icons for iconostases.
10. Mikhail Vrubel
Our list of the most famous Russian artists ends with Mikhail Vrubel, who during his life created many masterpieces in various subjects. He painted the Kyiv Temple, and later in Moscow began creating his famous series of “demonic” paintings. The creative wanderings of this artist did not find proper understanding among his contemporaries. Only several decades after the death of Mikhail Vrubel did art historians give him his due, and the Church agreed with his interpretations of biblical events.
Unfortunately, the artist’s personal life caused him to develop a severe form of mental disorders. The title of academician overtook him in a mental hospital, from which he was never destined to leave. Nevertheless, Mikhail Vrubel managed to create many amazing works of art that are worthy of genuine admiration. Among them, the paintings “Seated Demon”, “The Swan Princess” and “Faust” are especially worth highlighting.
Magnificent works of art by the hands of great masters can surprise even people for whom art means little. This is why world-famous museums are among the most popular attractions, attracting millions of visitors a year.
To stand out from the huge number of paintings written throughout the history of art, the artist needs not just talent, but also the ability to express a unique plot in an unusual and very relevant way for his time.
The paintings below loudly proclaim not only the talent of their authors, but also the numerous cultural trends that have come and gone, and the most important historical events which have always been reflected in art.
"Birth of Venus"
This painting, painted by the great Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli, depicts the moment of the appearance of the beautiful Venus from sea foam. One of the most attractive aspects of the painting is the modest pose of the goddess and her simple but beautiful face.
"Dogs Play Poker"
Painted by Cassius Coolidge in 1903, a series of 16 paintings depict dogs gathered around a coffee or gaming table playing poker. Many critics recognize these paintings as the canonical depiction of Americans of the era.
Portrait of Madame Recamier
This portrait, painted by Jacques-Louis David, depicts the glittering socialite in a contrastingly minimalist and simple setting, wearing a simple sleeveless white dress. This is a striking example of neoclassicism in portrait art.
№5
This famous painting, painted by Jackson Pollock, is his most iconic work, which vividly depicts the chaos that raged in Pollock's soul and mind. This is one of the most expensive works ever sold by an American artist.
"Son of Man"
"Son of Man", written by Rene Magritte, is a kind of self-portrait, depicting the artist himself in a black suit, but with an apple instead of a face.
"Number 1" ("Royal Red and Blue")
This fairly recent piece, painted by Mark Rothko, is nothing more than brushstrokes of three different shades on canvas. self made. The painting is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.
"Massacre of the Innocents"
Based on the biblical story of the murder of innocent babies in Bethlehem, Peter Paul Rubens created this eerie and cruel painting that touches the emotions of everyone who looks at it.
"Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte"
Created by Georges Seurat, this unique and very popular painting depicts a relaxed weekend atmosphere in big city. This painting is an excellent example of pointillism, which combines many points into one whole.
"Dance"
"The Dance" by Henri Matisse is an example of a style called Fauvism, which is characterized by bright, almost unnatural colors and shapes and high dynamics.
"American Gothic"
"American Gothic" is a work of art that perfectly symbolizes the image of Americans during the Great Depression. In this painting, Grant Wood depicted a strict, probably religious couple standing in front of a simple house with Gothic-style windows.
"Flower Loader"
This painting by the most popular Mexican painter of the 20th century, Diego Rivera, depicts a man struggling to carry a basket overloaded with bright tropical flowers on his back.
"Whistler's Mother"
Also known as "An Arrangement in Gray and Black. The Artist's Mother", this is one of the most famous paintings by American artist James Whistler. In this painting, Whistler depicted his mother sitting on a chair against a gray wall. The painting uses only black and gray shades.
"The Persistence of Memory"
This is an iconic work by the no less iconic Salvador Dali, the world-famous Spanish surrealist who brought this movement to the forefront of art.
Portrait of Dora Maar
Pablo Picasso is one of the most popular and influential Spanish painters. He is the founder of a style that was sensational in his time, called cubism, which seeks to fragment any object and convey it with clear geometric forms. This painting is the first portrait in the Cubist style.
"Portrait of an artist without a beard"
This painting by Van Gogh is a self-portrait, and a unique one, since it depicts the artist without the usual beard. In addition, this is one of the few paintings by Van Gogh that were sold to private collections.
"Night cafe terrace"
Painted by Vincent van Gogh, this painting depicts a familiar sight in a completely new way, using surprisingly vibrant colors and unusual shapes.
"Composition VIII"
Wassily Kandinsky is recognized as the founder of abstract art, a style that uses shapes and symbols instead of familiar objects and people. "Composition VIII" is one of the artist's first paintings made exclusively in this style.
"Kiss"
One of the first works of art In the Art Nouveau style, this painting is almost entirely done in gold tones. The painting by Gustav Klimt is one of the most striking works of the style.
"Ball at the Moulin de la Galette"
The painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir is a vibrant and dynamic depiction of city life. In addition, this is one of the most expensive paintings in the world.
"Olympia"
In the painting Olympia, Edouard Manet created a real contradiction, almost a scandal, since the naked woman with a gaze is clearly a lover, not veiled by the myths of the classical period. This is one of the early works in the style of realism.
"Third of May 1808 in Madrid"
In this work, Francisco Goya depicted Napoleon's attack on the Spaniards. This is one of the first Spanish paintings to portray the war in a negative light.
"Las Meninas"
Diego Velázquez's most famous painting depicts the five-year-old Infanta Margarita against the background of Velázquez's portrait of her parents.
"Portrait of the Arnolfini couple"
This painting is one of the oldest works of painting. It was painted by Jan van Eyck and depicts Italian businessman Giovanni Arnolfini and his pregnant wife in their home in Bruges.
"Scream"
A painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch depicts a man's face distorted with fear against a blood-red sky. The landscape in the background adds a dark charm to this painting. In addition, "The Scream" is one of the first paintings made in the style of expressionism, where realism is minimized to allow more freedom for emotions.
"Water lilies"
"Water Lilies" by Claude Monet is part of a series of 250 paintings depicting elements of the artist's own garden. These paintings are exhibited in various art museums around the world.
"Starlight Night"
Van Gogh's Starry Night is one of the most famous images in modern culture. It is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
"The Fall of Icarus"
This painting, painted by Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel, shows man's indifference to the suffering of his fellow men. A strong social theme is shown here quite in a simple way, using the image of Icarus drowning underwater and people ignoring his suffering.
"The Creation of Adam"
The Creation of Adam is one of several magnificent frescoes by Michelangelo that adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace. It depicts the creation of Adam. In addition to depicting ideal human forms, the fresco is one of the first attempts in the history of art to depict God.
"Last Supper"
This fresco by the great Leonardo depicts the last supper of Jesus before his betrayal, arrest and death. In addition to the composition, shapes and colors, discussions of this fresco are replete with theories about hidden symbols and the presence of Mary Magdalene next to Jesus.
"Guernica"
Picasso's Guernica depicts the explosion of the Spanish city of the same name during the Spanish civil war. This is a black and white picture that negatively depicts fascism, Nazism and their ideas.
"Girl with a Pearl Earring"
This painting by Johannes Vermeer is often called the Dutch Mona Lisa, not only because of its extraordinary popularity, but also because the expression on the girl's face is difficult to capture and explain.
"Beheading of John the Baptist"
Caravaggio's painting very realistically depicts the moment of the murder of John the Baptist in prison. The semi-darkness of the painting and the facial expressions of its characters make it a true classical masterpiece.
"The night Watch"
"The Night Watch" is one of Rembrandt's most famous paintings. It depicts a group portrait of a rifle company led by its officers. A unique aspect of the painting is the semi-darkness, which gives the impression of a night scene.
"School of Athens"
Painted by Raphael in his early Roman period, this fresco depicts famous Greek philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Socrates, Pythagoras and others. Many philosophers are depicted as contemporaries of Raphael, for example, Plato - Leonardo da Vinci, Heraclitus - Michelangelo, Euclid - Bramante.
"Mona Lisa"
Probably the most famous painting in the world is Leonardo da Vinci's La Gioconda, better known as the Mona Lisa. This canvas is a portrait of Mrs. Gherardini, attracting attention with a mysterious expression on her face.
The most famous and significant paintings of the world for the history of art for your inspiration.
The immortal paintings of 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 more so a creative one.
Worldwide famous paintings certainly more than 33. There are several hundred of them, and all of them would not fit into one review. Therefore, for ease of viewing, we have selected several that are most significant for world culture and are often copied. Each work is accompanied interesting fact, an explanation of the artistic meaning or the history of its creation.
Raphael "Sistine Madonna" 1512
Kept in the Old Masters Gallery in Dresden.
The painting has a little secret: the background, which from afar appears to be clouds, turns out to be the heads of angels upon closer examination. And the two angels depicted in the picture below became the motif of numerous postcards and posters.
Rembrandt "Night Watch" 1642
Kept in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The true title of Rembrandt’s painting is “The Performance of the Rifle Company of Captain Frans Banning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg.” Art historians who discovered the painting in the 19th century thought that the figures were standing out against a dark background, and it was called “Night Watch.” Later it was discovered that a layer of soot makes the picture dark, but the action actually takes place during the day. However, the painting has already been included in 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 work, the fresco has been destroyed more than once: a doorway was cut through the painting and then blocked, the refectory of the monastery where the image is located was used as an armory, a prison, and was bombed. The famous fresco was restored at least five times, with the last restoration taking 21 years. Today, to view the art, visitors must reserve tickets in advance and can spend only 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 the associations that Dali had with the sight of processed cheese. Returning from the cinema, where she went that evening, Gala quite correctly predicted that no one, once they saw The Persistence of Memory, would forget it.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder "Tower of Babel" 1563
Kept in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
According to Bruegel, the failure that befell the construction of the Tower of Babel was not due to language barriers that suddenly arose according to the biblical story, but to mistakes made during the construction process. At first glance, the huge structure seems quite strong, but upon closer examination it is clear that all the tiers are laid unevenly, the lower floors are either unfinished or are already collapsing, 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 “Black Square” (according to some sources, seven). According to one version, the artist was unable to complete the painting on time, so he had to cover the work with black paint. Subsequently, after public recognition, Malevich painted new “Black Squares” on blank canvases. Malevich also painted “Red Square” (in two copies) 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 painting turned out to be visionary. The red horse acts as the Fate of Russia or Russia itself, which the fragile and young rider is unable to hold. Thus, the artist symbolically predicted with his painting the “red” fate of Russia in the 20th century.
Peter Paul Rubens "The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus" 1617-1618
Kept in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
The painting “The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus” is considered the personification of manly passion and physical beauty. The strong, muscular arms of young men pick up young naked women to put them on horses. The sons of Zeus and Leda steal their cousins' brides.
Paul Gauguin "Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?" 1898
Kept in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
According to 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, according to the artist’s plan, “the old woman, approaching death, seems reconciled and given over to her thoughts,” at her feet “a strange white bird ... represents the uselessness of words.”
Eugene Delacroix "Liberty Leading the People" 1830
Kept in the Louvre in Paris
Delacroix created a painting based on the July Revolution of 1830 in France. In a letter to his brother on October 12, 1830, Delacroix writes: “If I did not fight for my Motherland, then at least I will write for it.” The bare chest of a woman leading the people symbolizes the dedication of the French people of that time, who went bare-chested against the enemy.
Claude Monet "Impression. Rising Sun" 1872
Kept in the Marmottan Museum in Paris.
The title of the work “Impression, soleil levant”, with the light hand of journalist L. Leroy, became the name of the artistic movement “impressionism”. The painting was painted from life in the old outport of Le Havre in France.
Jan Vermeer "Girl with a Pearl Earring" 1665
Kept in the Mauritshuis Gallery in The Hague.
One of the most famous paintings by the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer is often called the Nordic or Dutch Mona Lisa. Very little is known about the painting: it is undated and the name of the girl depicted is unknown. In 2003, based on the novel of the same name by Tracy Chevalier, the feature film “Girl with a Pearl Earring” was shot, in which the history of the creation of the painting was hypothetically restored in the context of biography and family life Vermeer.
Ivan Aivazovsky “The Ninth Wave” 1850
Kept in St. Petersburg in the State Russian Museum.
Ivan Aivazovsky is a world-famous Russian marine painter who devoted his life to depicting 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 Paintings”.
Andrey 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 board in a vertical format. The kings (Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Mikhail Fedorovich) “overlaid” the icon with gold, silver and precious stones. Today the salary is kept in the Sergiev Posad State Museum-Reserve.
Mikhail Vrubel "Seated Demon" 1890
Kept in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
The plot of the film is inspired by Lermontov’s poem “The Demon”. The demon is an image of the strength of the human spirit, internal struggle, doubt. Tragically clasping his hands, the Demon sits with sad, huge eyes directed into the distance, surrounded by unprecedented flowers.
William Blake "The Great Architect" 1794
Kept in the British Museum in 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 limits freedom and marks the limits of imagination.
Edouard Manet "Bar at the Folies Bergere" 1882
Kept at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.
The Folies Bergere is a variety show and cabaret in Paris. Manet often visited the Folies Bergere and ended up painting this painting, his last before his death in 1883. Behind the bar, in the middle of a crowd of people drinking, eating, talking and smoking, a bartender stands absorbed in her own thoughts, watching the trapeze acrobat, who can be seen in the upper left corner of the picture.
Titian "Earthly Love and Heavenly Love" 1515-1516
Kept in the Galleria Borghese 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 this time, the painting had various titles: “Beauty, Embellished and Unadorned” (1613), “Three Types of Love” (1650), “Divine and Secular Women” (1700), and, ultimately, “Earthly Love and Heavenly Love” "(1792 and 1833).
Mikhail Nesterov "Vision to the Youth Bartholomew" 1889-1890
Kept in 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 “Vision to the Youth Bartholomew” was his best work. In his old age, the artist liked to repeat: “It’s not me who will live. “Youth Bartholomew” will live. Now, if thirty, fifty years after my death he still says something to people, that means he’s alive, that means I’m alive too "
Pieter Bruegel the Elder "Parable of the Blind" 1568
Kept in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.
Other titles of the painting are “The Blind”, “Parabola of the Blind”, “The Blind Leading the Blind”. It is believed that the plot of the film is based on the biblical parable of the blind: “If a blind man leads a blind man, they will both fall into a pit.”
Victor Vasnetsov "Alyonushka" 1881
Kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
It is based on the fairy tale “About Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka.” Initially, Vasnetsov’s painting was called “Fool Alyonushka.” At that time, orphans were called “fools.” “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. There was so much melancholy, loneliness and purely Russian sadness in her eyes ... Some special Russian spirit emanated from her.”
Vincent van Gogh "Starry Night" 1889
Kept in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Unlike most of the artist’s paintings, “Starry Night” was painted from memory. Van Gogh was at that time in the Saint-Rémy hospital, tormented by attacks of madness.
Karl Bryullov “The Last Day of Pompeii” 1830-1833
Kept in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
The painting depicts the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. e. 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 a Ball” 1905
Stored in the Pushkin Museum, Moscow
The painting ended up in Russia thanks to industrialist Ivan Abramovich Morozov, who purchased it in 1913 for 16,000 francs. In 1918, the personal collection of I. A. Morozov was nationalized. Currently the painting is in the collection of the State Museum of Fine Arts named after A.S. Pushkin.
Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta" 1491
Kept in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
The original title of the painting was “Madonna and Child.” The modern name of the painting comes from the name of its owner - Count Litta, 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 the baby's pose, which is unusual for the author's style.
Jean Ingres "Turkish Baths" 1862
Kept in the Louvre in Paris.
Ingres finished painting this picture when he was already over 80 years old. With this painting, the artist sums up the image of bathers, the theme of which has long been present in his work. Initially, the canvas was in the shape of a square, but a year after its completion the artist turned it into a round painting - a tondo.
Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin Savitsky "Morning in a pine forest" 1889
Stored in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow
“Morning in a Pine Forest” is a painting by Russian artists Ivan Shishkin and Konstantin Savitsky. Savitsky painted the bears, but the collector Pavel Tretyakov, when he acquired the painting, erased his signature, so now Shishkin alone is indicated as the author of the painting.
Mikhail Vrubel "The Swan Princess" 1900
Stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery
The painting is based on the stage image of the heroine of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” based on the plot of the fairy tale of the same name by A. S. Pushkin. Vrubel created sketches for the scenery and costumes for the 1900 premiere of the opera, and his wife sang the role of the Swan Princess.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo "Portrait of Emperor Rudolf II as Vertumnus" 1590
Located in Skokloster Castle in Stockholm.
One of the few surviving works of the artist, who composed portraits from 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 seasons, vegetation and transformation. In the picture, 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 the artist of ballerinas. The work "Blue Dancers" dates back to the late period of Degas's work, when his eyesight weakened and he began to work in large spots of color, giving paramount importance to the decorative organization of the surface of the picture.
Leonardo da Vinci "Mona Lisa" 1503-1505
Kept in the Louvre, Paris.
The Mona Lisa may not have gained worldwide fame if it had not been stolen 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 “Gioconda” to the director of the Uffizi Gallery. All this time, while the investigation was ongoing, the “Mona Lisa” did not leave the covers of newspapers and magazines around the world, becoming an object of copying and worship.
Sandro Botticelli "Birth of Venus" 1486
Kept in Florence in the Uffizi Gallery
The painting illustrates the myth of the birth of Aphrodite. A naked goddess swims to the shore in an open shell, driven by the wind. On the left side of the painting, Zephyr (the west wind), in the arms of his wife Chloris, blows on a 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 due to the fact that Botticelli applied a protective layer of egg yolk to the painting.
Michelangelo "Creation of Adam" 1511
Located in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
