Video: How a boy from a poor Armenian family Hovhannes Gayvazyan presented a painting to the Pope and became a great artist
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Russian artist of Armenian origin. He was close to the emperor, had friendly relations with Pushkin, but did not read his works. In all my life I have not read a single book at all. He believed that it was unnecessary, because everything has its own opinion. So how did a poorly educated person become the greatest asset of Russian and world culture? Ivan Aivazovsky is a great artist, philanthropist, collector.
Hovhannes Gayvozian (Gayvozovsky) was born in Feodosia on July 29, 1817 into a very poor family. Parents had to give his older brother to be raised in a wealthy family. The boy was afraid that the same fate awaited him and tried to find a job. His family dreamed that his son would grow up as a musician. He played the old violin on the streets, ran on errands and grabbed at any business, just to get at least a penny.
But it was not the music that attracted the boy. He loved to draw and drew lines on the ground, rocks, walls of houses. Once during such occupation he was noticed by the chief architect of the city, reported to the management. And soon Hovhannes was taken up by the mayor. The young man's fears turned into a fabulous success. A wealthy family hired painting teachers for him, so the artist's path began. The adoptive parents affectionately called the child - Vanechka. Later, the sovereign would notice him and send him to Europe to study at public expense.
His brush samples were purchased by princes and sultans. And he was not even Aivazovsky yet. The change of surname is connected with an interesting case. Catholic priests decided to accuse Aivazovsky of erisi for the painting “Chaos. World creation". This would mean the destruction of the artist's reputation. But the Pope wanted to see the picture, and when he saw it, he wanted to buy it. The resourceful artist presented his work to the priest, signing "Aivazovsky" in the corner.
Ivan Aivazovsky was a controversial person. They say that for many years and even in adulthood, the fear of becoming poor again did not leave him. Memories of the poverty he faced as a child did not leave him. And this is evidenced by his first marriage.
In 1848, Ivan Aivazovsky was already recognized and rich and chose the English governess Julia Grevs as his wife. She counted on a luxurious social life, but instead turned out to be a recluse in the Crimea. The husband was very stingy. He never allowed excesses. Eyewitnesses to their family life said that dessert (whipped cream) was served only once a week. Needless to say, the young woman's hopes were not justified. She decided to leave her husband, the divorce proceedings lasted 7 years.
In 1864, Emperor Alexander II granted Aivazovsky a hereditary title of nobility for state services and achievements in art. Being in a new status, Ivan Aivazovsky will meet a new lover.
The second wife of the artist was a young widow of Armenian origin Anna Sarkisova. This union turned out to be strong and happy. The age difference between the spouses was 40 years. The young wife cheated on Aivazovsky. He stopped being afraid of poverty. On the contrary, I felt myself able to fight it. In Feodosia, every poor girl of marriageable age received a rich dowry from a marine painter. He donated huge sums to charity. Participated in public life. Thanks to him, in the arid city, clean water became available to all residents.
Ivan Aivazovsky had a phenomenal visual memory and wrote a lot. During his life, he created 6 thousand canvases. Only one thing remained unfinished. The reason is the death of the artist. He died in his sleep of a heart attack at the age of 82. On the artist's tombstone is carved: "Born to mortals, he left an immortal memory."
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