From everyday scenes to paintings in the "nude" genre: Such different women from the 19th century on the true canvases of Firs Zhuravlev

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

The best works of the famous painter and connoisseur of the Russian life of the artist - Firs Sergeevich Zhuravlev are on a par with the paintings of the greatest masters of Russian realistic art of the 19th century. The gallery of works by the gifted painter testifies that he was especially attracted to the female theme in his work, which, although not the first, but a very significant place. It was Firs Zhuravlev, one of the first in the history of Russian art in the second half of the 19th century, to bare and show a beautiful female body in his painting.

In the family of a tailor, in December 1836, a boy was born, to whom his parents would prophesy the future of a tailor. And until the age of 19, Firs was forced to engage in tailoring. But against the will of his parents, in 1855 the young man went to St. Petersburg and entered the Academy of Arts, where during his studies he would write several famous works that were awarded silver and gold medals.

A rebel in his youth, the artist was among the fourteen students headed by Ivan Kramskoy who revolted and left the Academy. Well, later on, an academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts - Firs Zhuravlev became the most famous genre painter in Russia. He exhibited his canvases with great success at international exhibitions, took an active part in the painting of churches, became the author of a number of unique mosaics and icons.

In the 70s of the 19th century, the artist created his most famous canvases. Perfectly knowing the merchant life, the painter drew plots for his paintings in the "dark kingdom." And even in those days, unequal marriages were commonplace in society.

"Before the crown" (1874)

The most famous painting by Firs was the work "Before the crown", for which he was awarded the title of academician and was awarded the first prize "for painting folk scenes" from the Society for the Encouragement of Arts. The audience was also delighted with the canvas, which touched the topical topic. This prompted the artist to write another version of the picture on this subject.

The drama of the situation unfolded in front of the viewer, where a young girl in a wedding dress is crying, sitting on her knees. Apparently, she will have a profitable marriage at the expense of her parents, who in this way decided to improve their position in society. But the bridegroom they have chosen, although rich and noble, is old and does not like their daughter.

A young bride, dressed for the crown, makes a last attempt to avoid the marriage she hates, begging my friend not to give her in marriage, but, alas, everything has been decided long ago and nothing can be changed. The father, picking up the gold-framed icon, was preparing to bless his daughter for marriage, but now he looks down on her "like a hawk at a dove." In his left hand, he tightly squeezes the handkerchief, and his foot is about to stamp on the stubborn daughter. And, apparently, he is very angry and will not back down from his word. In the background, the artist depicted the drooping mother of the bride, who is unable to help her daughter, because the father is the head of the whole house.

The father of the bride looks a little differently in the second version of the picture. What's the difference? On the second canvas, my friend is upset and confused, he does not have enough words to persuade the sobbing daughter. For her good, he tried and picked up such a party that would be rich, and noble, and accepted in society. The old father himself is ready to cry, but the rich groom is already waiting at the church … It's time to go.

An Unequal Marriage (1880)

An unequal marriage was concluded and the young wife was in a semi-faint state, and in the doorway the figure of the old husband froze, who, with some apprehension and at the same time lasciviously, looks at the newlywed.

"Bachelorette Party in the Bath" (1885)

The canvas, dedicated to the old custom on the eve of the wedding, "Bachelorette Party in the Bathhouse" impresses with a plot where a young bride is sad, who cannot be amused by her prancing relatives and girlfriends. The young girl has no time for fun now. Her parents "sentenced" her to marry her unloved. And from her whole appearance it is noticeable that she has little faith in what her sister whispers to her.

"The Woman of Fashion" (1872)

The canvas "The Woman of Fashion" has set new accents in the problem of unequal marriage: a highly educated intellectual and a small-minded wife, spinning all day in front of a mirror and demanding new outfits from her husband.

Return from the Ball (1868)

Another canvas that arouses interest in the storyline and composition is Return from the Ball, where we see the spouses riding home in a carriage. The husband, tipsy and tired, dozed off, wrapping his arm around his wife, and she is upset and tries to distance herself, clearly thinking not about her husband.

Homecoming (1868)

The husband, returning home after a long-term absence, sees his wife pregnant. Dumbfounded by what he saw, he froze with bulging eyes. The guilty one stands in front of him with the air of a criminal awaiting inevitable execution, and a baby clung to his mother's hem, who did not recognize the old man in the bearded, angry peasant.

Both of the latter canvases were exhibited at an academic exhibition in 1868 and earned Firs the title of class artist of the first degree.

Portraits of women by Firs Zhuravlev

Firs Zhuravlev's canvases adorn many museums and galleries in Russian cities and neighboring countries, his paintings on the walls of Orthodox churches in Moscow and St. Petersburg are unique.

The theme of a woman occupied a huge place in the work of the famous Russian artist. Konstantin Makovsky, who worked in the style of salon academism.