Little-known facts from the life of the brilliant seascape painter Ivan Aivazovsky

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

And at the end of the topic about the great Russian marine painters, it is impossible not to recall the greatest genius of the 19th century Ivane Aivazovsky … About his path, along which he had to go to the heights of world fame and universal recognition, about small professional tricks, about charitable deeds for the benefit of his native city and about many other things that make the world "take off its hat" in front of this amazing person.

Aivazovsky's seascape is the enormous power of the water element, brilliantly conveyed on dry canvas. Considering the landscapes of the seascape, sometimes the heart sinks from the sounds of the roaring sea and the sky sparkling from lightning, and sometimes it grows numb from the gentle whispering of the waves rolling onto the shore. Truly the gift of a painter received from God.

Magician with a brush

There were always a lot of rumors and speculations around Aivazovsky, which were spread by his envious people. It was rumored that to create his brilliant canvases, the painter uses unusual colors, and at their exhibitions in galleries, he installs a lamp behind the canvas in order to create the illusion of the glow of water and sky.

However, these rumors had no basis whatsoever. And Aivazovsky often had to work in public in order to dispel all her doubts. At the same time, leading others to complete amazement, with his speed and clarity in work. Everyone remembers the well-known story, when a venerable artist, in front of amazed students, wrote a picture of a rather impressive size in a couple of hours.

Ivan had to surprise people since childhood, when he first mastered playing the violin on his own, and then when an amazing gift for drawing was revealed in him.

A talented nugget from a poor Armenian family was patronized by many patrons of the arts. But a special role in his fate was played by the mayor of the city of Feodosia, Alexander Ivanovich Kaznacheev. It was with his light hand that Aivazovsky ended up at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, studying at public expense. There Ivan was immediately noticed and became a favorite student.

How a student bypassed his teacher

The recognition of the public was not long in coming. And the rumor about the unique talent of the Feodosia guy-nugget reached the very Emperor Nicholas I. He then recommended him to the French marine painter Philip Tanner as a student. Philip, being an ambitious and envious man, immediately saw a competitor in Aivazovsky and by all means tried to push the young artist over.

The mere thought that a student would one day surpass his teacher terrified him. And so Tanner categorically forbade Ivan to write his works and send them to any exhibitions. For some time, the young talent had to diligently mix colors and be a messenger for his envious French teacher.

But soon Philip Tanner was in for an unpleasant surprise. In 1836, at the exhibition at the Academy of Arts, Aivazovsky exhibited five of his inimitable canvases, which caused a storm of enthusiasm from the public and critics, as well as a grandiose scandal caused by the French. The complaint reached the emperor himself, and he was forced to ban Aivazovsky from painting for half a year.

The rising star of Russian painting

This scandalous story played the role of black PR for the aspiring artist. The fame of the forbidden painter so much fueled the interest of not only the ordinary public and critics, but also influential people of Russia.

Aivazovsky's works began to be highly appreciated at the Academy of Arts - gold medals followed one after another. And then it was decided to release the tanty artist from the walls of the academy two years earlier and send him to Crimea with the task of painting several landscapes. With which Ivan Konstantinovich, of course, coped brilliantly. This was followed by a retirement trip to European countries at the expense of the Academy.

Living and working abroad, Aivazovsky gained immense popularity and fame there as well. So, for example, for the canvas "Chaos. Creation of the World ", based on a biblical story, Pope Gregory XVI awarded the artist a gold medal. And being impressed, I wanted to buy it. Ivan Konstantinovich did not take the money, but nevertheless presented the painting to a high-ranking dignitary.

And immediately everyone wanted to get the work of the same artist, whose canvas became the decoration of the walls of the Vatican. Nikolai Gogol will write about this to Aivazovsky in his correspondence: "Your" Chaos "has raised chaos in the Vatican." Indeed, the artist's canvases sold like hotcakes, despite the comments of some critics. And they criticized mainly for the clichés in the composition and color.

Little tricks of the great marine painter

But Aivazovsky developed rapidly, as he worked a lot and very quickly. As you know, he spent no more than ten days to write one canvas. That is why his legacy is so huge - six thousand canvases. This performance seems incredible. But looking closely at his masterpieces, we understand what trick the venerable painter resorted to in his work.

When looking in detail at several pictures at the same time, you will notice that they all have a lot in common. Firstly, the artist painted each work from the center of the canvas, where he depicted an object that played a key role. As a rule, it was a crest of a wave, a ship or a raft, which he wrote down to the smallest detail, but everything else was easy and almost schematic, using an impressionistic manner.

Bringing the picture to half-finished, the master added clear and bright strokes and details. He scrupulously and realistically worked on the foam on the waves and on the surface of the water, the glare of light, the details of the ships. And thanks to this technique, the viewer perceives Aivazovsky's paintings as ours.

And what is interesting, working in this manner, it is almost impossible to create a portrait and, apparently, because Aivazovsky practically did not paint people. Even on the famous portrait "Pushkin's Farewell to the Sea" the poet was written by the well-known Ilya Repin.

However, then Aivazovsky more than once wrote a portrait of Pushkin on his own, and usually on the seashore. The artist has a self-portrait, painted in 1874. But these are just exceptional cases.

Amazing winter landscapes through the eyes of Ivan Aivazovsky

For many of us, the genius of the Russian marina is associated only with the seascape. However, not many people know that he also painted amazingly magical winter landscapes. Pictures on this subject are very rare, since there are very few of them.

Contemplating the winter landscapes of Aivazovsky, it is difficult to disagree with the fact that a real master, who knows all the nuances of natural phenomena to the smallest detail, had a hand in the canvas.

And being already quite rich and famous, at the peak of fame and recognition, the master continued to work with dedication and with great perseverance and inspiration. He was always sure

And at the end of his life, Aivazovsky was engaged in charity work in his hometown - Feodosia. A railway line stretching to the city, across half of the Crimea; water supply - with drinking water so valuable for the city; the art gallery is all the work of Ivan Konstantinovich. And the inhabitants of Feodosia with trepidation and love still honor and appreciate everything created by the great genius, their famous countryman.

Nowadays, Aivazovsky's works are highly valued all over the world. They are sold with great success at art auctions. So in 2012 at the Sotheby's auction the painting "View of Constantinople and the Bosphorus" was sold for 3.2 million pounds.

Ivan Aivazovsky left behind not only an enormous artistic heritage, but also descendants who followed in the footsteps of his brilliant grandfather. it his four grandchildren, who became very famous marine painters.