An apple from an apple tree: Famous Russian dynasties of artists

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Russian land has always been rich in talented people. Writers and poets, sculptors and artists, along with educators and scientists, were the glory and pride of Russia. It is not surprising that skill in any area has been passed down from generation to generation. Families of artists who have given their paintings to grateful descendants for many years stand as a separate line among the creative dynasties.

Argunov family

Initially, the Argunov family of serfs belonged to Count Cherkassky, and then went to Count Sheremetyev, Varvara Alekseevna's daughter, as a dowry.

The founder of the dynasty is Ivan Argunov, a portrait painter. Although he himself studied painting in the family, with his cousin Fyodor Argunov. Fyodor Semyonovich was a talented architect and even a landscape designer. With his participation, the Sheremetyevs' house was built on the Fontanka, then a park was laid out in Kuskovo. There, under his leadership, a unique stone greenhouse, a pavilion called the "Grotto" and an Italian house were built.

The three sons of Ivan Argunov, Pavel, Yakov and Nikolai, adopted the secrets of the artistic craft from their father and uncle. Subsequently, Pavel became an architect, Yakov and Nikolai - painters. Later Pavel continued his studies with the architect and artist Bazhenov, created amazing interiors, under his supervision the Sheremetyev Palace-Theater in Ostankino was built.

Nikolai studied painting in St. Petersburg, since 1997 he had the right to copy paintings in the Hermitage. Subsequently, he became an academician at the Academy of Arts.

Yakov Argunov, in addition to artistic talents, also possessed a pedagogical gift, taught the art of drawing at the district school and the Moscow gymnasium. He was known and in demand as a master of portrait.

Kolokolnikov family

Mina Lukich Kolokolnikov and Mikhail Lukich Kolokolnikov-Voronin became the founders of a dynasty of Russian artists descended from monastic peasants. Mina Lukich was a talented portrait painter, and Mikhail Lukich became famous as an icon painter. He painted the Cathedral of the Savior on Sennaya in St. Petersburg. The brothers Mina and Mikhail, Ivan-Bolshoi, Ivan-Menshoy and Fedot also mastered the art of painting, painted icons.

Yakov Mikhailovich Kolokolnikov-Voronin continued the dynasty of his father and his brothers. Stunning portraits, icons and genre drawings came out from under his hand, and according to his sketches, the unique gates of the male monastery on Stolobnoye Island were made. At the same time, he also had an acting talent, later he founded a theater, where he gladly took part in productions.

Yakov Mikhailovich's sons Mikhail, Alexander and Ivan also drew, and granddaughter Valentina discovered her writing talent, became famous as the author of graphic sketches and works for children.

The Brullo family

This family came from France, but it was in Russia that they revealed their talents and became famous as artists. Later, the letter "v" was added to the French surname of Alexander and Karl Bryullo at the highest will of the emperor himself. At the same time, all other representatives of the family, except for Alexander, Karl and their heirs, continued to bear a French surname.

Georg Brullo arrived in St. Petersburg to work as a sculptor at the Imperial Porcelain Factory. Pavel Bryulo, the grandson of the founder of the Russian branch of the dynasty, worked equally well in painting and sculpture. His sons, Fedor, Karl and Alexander were equally talented.

Fyodor became a graphic artist, Alexander became a watercolourist and sculptor, Karl became a painter who gave the world the painting "The Last Day of Pompeii". Another son of Pavel Bryullo Ivan, who showed talents in drawing and music, died quite early. Fyodor Pavlovich's son Nikolai became an architect.

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Makovsky family

The world famous artist Konstantin Makovsky. However, in the family, four brothers at once became talented artists. This is undoubtedly the merit of their father, Yegor Ivanovich. Konstantin Yegorovich recalled how his father instructed him, offering to sketch in a notebook everything that came across on the way. Little Kostya was then only four years old.

Alexandra, Konstantin, Nikolai, Vladimir - four brothers, four artists. At the same time, if the father developed artistic talent in his sons, then the mother, possessing a vocal gift, managed to instill in children a love of music, develop their talent in this direction. Yegor Makovsky's daughter Alexander also painted, becoming the first Russian woman artist.

Konstantin Makovsky's daughter Elena became an artist and sculptor, but spent most of her life in Germany. Son Sergei Konstantinovich was known as a poet, critic and publisher, Alexander - as a painter.

READ ALSO: The family album of Konstantin Makovsky in pictorial portraits: paintings that Tretyakov himself could not buy because of the high cost >>

Baronial family Clodt von Jurgensburg

Rod Klodt von Jurgensburg originates in Westphalia, from where the family later moved to Livonia. At the beginning of the 18th century, the family ended up in Russia. The first representative of the dynasty is called Karl Fedorovich. He took part in the Patriotic War of 1812, later began to draw maps, and painting became his outlet.

His son Konstantin Karlovich also went along the military line, became a general and was suddenly carried away by engraving. He was among the first Russian woodcut printers, and later taught woodcut at the Academy of Arts. The grandson of Konstantin Karlovich Yevgeny has already become a professional, worked at the Faberge factory as an artist. The grandson and great-grandson of Yevgeny Alexandrovich continued the dynasty, becoming artists already during the Soviet era.

The second son of the hero of the Patriotic War, Peter Karlovich, became an animal sculptor. His son Mikhail Petrovich was a famous master of genre painting. The grandchildren born in the family of the second son, Alexander, became the successors of the grandfather's business.

It went down in history and became a symbol of Russian wealth and generosity. The Demidovs justified their motto "Not in words, but in deeds" many times.