Artist Vasily Vereshchagin
Artist Vasily Vereshchagin outstanding artist, famous for his depiction of military battles, Vasily Vereshchagin was born October 14, 1842 in the landowner's family in the city of Cherepovets. At the age of eight he entered the Underage Cadet Corps, which finished in 1853 moved to the St. Petersburg Naval Cadet Corps. At this time, and began his fascination with drawing. In 1858, young Vereshchagin began taking lessons at the School of Drawing Society for the Encouragement of Arts. The teachers noted his undoubted talent for painting. The young man is very fond of art and drawing in 1860, after successfully passed examinations, decides to break up with a military career and entered the Academy of Fine Arts, against the will of his father, who as a punishment depriving his son of support. Vereshchagin hard to study painting, but he was closely in the framework of academic law. By creating a picture of the "Massacre of the suitors of Penelope returning Ulysses," he destroys it. In 1863 he left the Academy and left for the Caucasus to learn making art in nature and open space. Here he draws a lot of scenes from the life of the peoples of the Caucasus. In 1866, Vereshchagin lives in the village on the banks of the river Lyubets Sheksna. He struck hard-boatmen, and makes a few sketches for the painting, which was unable to finish. In 1867 Vasily went to Turkestan, where in the Russian garrison participated in hostilities against the Emir of Bukhara, shows there bravery and courage, for which he received the George Cross. The original purpose of his trip was to gain military experience. In the years 1869-1870 Vereshchagin new visitor to Turkestan, now that would be better to study the manners and customs of the inhabitants of the East, which creates a whole series of paintings of Central Asia. In his works, but bright colors and the sun is clearly discernible notok poverty and powerlessness of the people. Names pictures speak for themselves: "Beggars in Samarkand" (1870), "Opiumoedy", "Sale of a child-slave" (1872), "Samarkand dungeon", "The Uzbek woman in Tashkent" (1873) and many others. The artist has brush easily and has an amazing memory that allows him to return to previously seen events and transfer them to canvas. The main theme of the artist chooses a military event. His heroes are ordinary Russian soldiers in the paintings depicts a brave harsh, the truth of war. A number of works he combines in series: the painting "The city wall. Let the will" (1871) severely and firmly expect to fight Russian soldiers. Painting a> "entered" reflects the same place, but after the fight. In the pictures, "Look out" (1873), "Surprise Attack" (1871), "Present Trophies" (1872), "Celebration" (1872) and "The Apotheosis of War" (1871-1872). Vereshchagin exposes the cruelty of the feudal lords, kings and savage manners praises courage of simple Russian soldiers. Passionate indictment of war to become his painting "The Apotheosis of War", in which the background of debris left over from the city and burned trees, towering pyramid of human skulls. The idea arose in connection with the soldiers of Tamerlane, who left after his victories are the pyramids. But the destruction of the skull and become a symbol of all wars, and the artist wrote on the frame: "Dedicated to all the great conquerors - past, present and future." Such a bold criticism and invective causes enmity of reactionary circles in Russia. He is accused of being hostile to the host. Painter hurt unfair accusations. Yielding to the senses, he burns the painting "Lost," "surrounded - persecuted" and "entered". The tsarist government sees no need to purchase paintings of Vereshchagin, he was forbidden to organize the exhibition, the press are not allowed to reproduce his pictures on their pages. Only Pavel Tretyakov bought most of the work of Turkestan. In 1874-1876, 1882-1883 Vereshchagin's visit to India, where a lot of traveling, climbed to the top of the Himalayas and studied the manners and way of life of local people, as well as the extraordinary beauty of the surroundings. The result is more than one hundred fifty works. The best of which are - "Buddhist temple in Darjeeling" (1874-1875), "The glacier on the way from Kashmir to Ladakh" (1875), "The Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal" (1874-1876). And in India, he did not leave out the main themes of his works - the wars. He is full of plans to create paintings that reflect the transformation of a powerful country in the English colonies. So there is a picture of the "Procession of English and native authorities in Dzheypure" (1875-1879). In Russia broke out Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878) and the artist goes back to the front. He desperately fought and almost killed in one battle. To create his paintings, he finds it possible only after the himself Feel all the hardships of life at the front. The pain and grief experienced losses are reflected in the paintings of the artist, unvarnished painted scenes of them in hospitals and mercilessly depicted the atrocities the Turks. In the paintings are reflected careerism and crime king's command, senseless loss of face on Russian soldiers. This is a picture: "Dug on Shipka", "Batteries in the Shipka Pass," "All Quiet on Shipka" (1878-1879), "Shipka-Sheinovo" (1878-1879), "Attack" (1881), "After the attack" ( 1881). Paintings "Winners" (1878-1879), "Conquest. Requiem for the slain "(1878-1879). Pictures are sustained in severe overcast colors that enhance the tragic effect of the events. In 1880 and 1883 is an exhibition of works in this series, the success of which was very large.'s Success inspires the artist, and he again went to India (1882 - 1883) and then to Syria and Palestine (1883-1884). The result is a "Palestinian Series", reflecting mainly the ethnographic aspects of Palestinian life. Then there are of "Trilogy of Executions," "Crucifixion during the reign of the Romans" "The execution of the conspirators in Russia" (1884-1885) and "The suppression of the Indian uprising the British" (around 1884). V1880-1890 Artist makes several trips to the North of Russia, with the result that there are drawings and sketches depicting the ordinary Russian people, the northern nature and historical monuments. From 1887 to 1901 Vereshchagin dedicated work on the paintings that display the military events of 1812. In his more than twenty paintings, the artist shows the patriotic spirit and heroism of the Russian people against foreign invaders. This is a picture: "Napoleon at Borodino Heights "(1897)," The End of the Battle of Borodino "(1899-1900)," The Cathedral of the Assumption "(1887-1895)," Fire "(1896 - 1897)," Through the Fire "(1899-1900)," Shooting in Kremlin "(1897-1898)," The Grodno-break or retreat, "" On the stage - the bad news out of France "(1887-1895), etc. The artist in his paintings:" On the high road. Retreat and escape "(1887-1895)," Night of the Grand Army camp "(1896-1897)," No deputy, let go "(1887-1895)," with arms in their hands - to shoot "(1887-1895), - focuses on the partisan liberation movement. And here the characters of his paintings are simple peasants. The final stage of this series is the painting "The Night of the Grand Army camp," featuring the infamous end of Napoleon's army. patriotic spirit, the depth of images, the brightness of the tracks have a picture worthy contribution to the treasury of the Russian historical painting in the late XIX century. The artist continues to travel. In the late 80's and early 90's he was twice in America, 1901-1902 in the Philippines and Cuba, and in 1903 - Japan. After this he wrote a series of paintings inspired by his national colors of Japan. When the news of the finds Vereshchagin Russian-Japanese war, he leaves all his paintings are not completed and sent immediately to the front, to participate in the fighting, for that would later tell us about them in his paintings. It is for his paintings of the war, he was always trying to preach the message of peace.
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