Video: A master of historical paintings: why Vasily Surikov was called a composer, and his works - the mathematics of painting
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Today marks the hundredth anniversary of the death of an outstanding Russian artist Vasily Surikov … His famous works "The Morning of the Strelets' Execution", "Taking the Snow Town", "Boyarynya Morozova", "Stepan Razin" everyone knows, but few people know why Surikov drew inspiration in the distant past and how he escaped depression in Siberia, and what makes critics talk about the revolutionary technique of the artist, nicknamed for this "composer".
Vasily Surikov was born in Krasnoyarsk, his family originated from the Don Cossacks, which the artist was always very proud of. A keen sense of one's own roots, a genetic connection with previous generations, a search in the events of the past for answers to modern questions, a lyrical glorification of folk traditions and national history - these are the features that were inherent in Surikov's work throughout his life.
Vasily Surikov is rightfully considered a master of historical painting. He announced his creative credo already in the first work that glorified him - "The Morning of the Streltsy Execution" (1881). This is the first part of a historical trilogy dedicated to the era of Peter. In addition to this work, the trilogy includes the paintings "Menshikov in Berezovo" and "Boyarynya Morozova". Already in this work, the main features of the author's style were manifested - an increased attention to color and a complex dynamic composition. It was his enthusiasm for building an exquisite composition that made Surikov's fellow students at the Academy of Arts call him “the composer”.
A fatal event in the artist's life, a turning point that divided it into two parts, was the death of his wife Elizaveta Chare after a serious illness in 1888. This plunged Surikov into a state of deep depression. He gave up painting and left Moscow for his homeland, in Krasnoyarsk, intending to stay there forever. It is not the first time that the native land and the feeling of one's roots have become salutary for the artist. The painter's brother convinced him to start working on the painting "Taking the Snow Town". It depicts an old Siberian folk amusement - a game popular among the Cossack community on the forgiveness Sunday of Shrovetide week. This picture cured Surikov of melancholy. “I then brought extraordinary strength of mind from Siberia,” the artist admitted.
Surikov demonstrated his virtuoso mastery of composition in his work "Suvorov's Crossing the Alps" - the vertical format was absolutely uncharacteristic for battle pieces. In addition, the stage is constructed as if an avalanche of soldiers falls directly on the viewer. “The main thing in my picture is movement, selfless courage,” explained Surikov.
One of the most famous works of Surikov was "Boyarynya Morozova". The picture has the same complex and dynamic composition as the previous ones. In addition, she is imbued with hidden dialogism - outwardly not connected with any of the crowd, boyarynya Morozova, looking over her heads, as if conducting a hidden dialogue with each of those present and with God himself.
According to critics, "Surikov has created a distinctive artistic system - a clear arithmetic calculation and unsurpassed flavor create a sense of complicity in the living life of bygone eras." The artist created a revolutionary new writing technique, a kind of mathematics of painting, about which I. Grabar wrote: “There is not a single color spot that is not in harmony with the nearest neighbors and all the distant ones. There is not a single millimeter of "empty painting" here. Everything is saturated with color with such extravagance that only geniuses can handle."
The attitude towards Feodosia Morozova and assessments of her historical role are rather ambiguous. Boyarynya Morozova in life and in painting: the history of the rebellious schismatic
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