Artist Vasily Polenov: biography, creativity

The second half of the 19th century was the heyday of Russian painting. One of the representatives of the galaxy of outstanding artists of this period is Vasily Polenov, whose paintings amaze with realism and the desire to "give happiness and joy." The last words belong to the artist himself and are the motto of his work and life, as evidenced by the biography of the artist.

Parents

The future famous artist was born in a cultural and rather wealthy noble family in 1844. His father, Dmitry Polenov, was known as an enthusiastic archeologist and bibliographer. Mother, Maria Alekseevna, in the girlhood of Voeikov, was engaged in painting and wrote books for children. She was the daughter of Vera Nikolaevna Lvova, who, after the early death of her parents and before her marriage, was brought up in the family of Derzhavin.

Childhood

Polenov Vasily Dmitrievich spent his childhood in St. Petersburg, but his family often left for the summer in the Olonets area and the estate Olshanka Tambov province, owned by the artist's grandmother. Vera Nikolaevna adored her grandchildren and loved to entertain them, telling stories, legends and fairy tales. She was also well acquainted with Russian and European poetry, therefore she played an important role in the formation of the artistic taste of little Vasya. As for the birth of his love of painting, then drawing with the children was done by my mother. She also insisted that the spouse hire coaches for Vasily and Elena's younger daughter. As a teacher, P. Chistyakov was invited, who at that time studied at the Academy of Arts. In parallel, the boy attended the gymnasium and showed great zeal for learning.

Student years

In 1863, Vasily Polenov graduated from the gymnasium and, along with his younger brother Alexei, entered St. Petersburg University in the Physics and Mathematics Department. However, the love of painting was stronger than science, and in the evenings the young man attended the Academy of Arts. In addition, young Polenov was fond of music, was a frequent visitor to the opera house and even sang in the student choir of the Academy.

Soon the young man took an academic leave at the university and devoted all his time to painting. In 1867 Vasily Polenov graduated from the Academy of Arts. At the same time he received silver medals for sketches and drawings.

Immediately after that, the young man returned to the university, but changed the faculty and began to study for a lawyer.

Meeting with Repin

In 1869, Vasily Polenov became interested in receiving a gold medal from the Academy of Arts. To this end, he painted the picture "Job and his friends." She received a small award and gave him the right to continue participating in the competition. The new task was to create the canvas "Resurrection of the daughter of Jairus," and Ivan Repin became the rival of the young artist.

The result of the match was unexpected: both masters of the brush presented excellent works, so the jury awarded them with big gold medals and a trip to Europe.

In 1872, Polenov Vasily Dmitrievich and Repin went first to Germany, and then to Italy and Paris. The capital of France so fascinated the artist that he decided to stay there. In Paris, Polenov painted the canvas "Arrest of Countess d'Estremont", for which, after returning to Russia, he was awarded the title of Academician. Talent painter was appreciated and representatives of the imperial family. In 1876, he took up the post of court painter and went to the Russian-Turkish war, where he was at the headquarters of the Crown Prince Alexander.

Moscow period

Returning from the theater of military operations, Polenov Vasily Dmitrievich settled in Moscow and began teaching at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. There his students were I. Levitan, K. Korovin, I. Ostroukhov, A. Arkhipov, E. Tatevosyan and A. Golovin.

At the same time, the artist himself wrote a lot, and in 1877 presented his work "The Moscow Courtyard" at the 6th traveling exhibition. The picture was a resounding success, and Polenov Vasily Dmitrievich was recognized as the ancestor of a new genre, called by critics "an intimate landscape".

Another significant event of the Moscow period of the artist's life was his decision to join the Wanderers, among whom by that time he had many friends.

Biblical Subjects

Old Testament and Christian stories from the very beginning were present in the work of Polenov. In search of inspiration in 1881-1882, the artist went on a journey through biblical places, to the Middle East. He visited Constantinople, Syria, Palestine and Egypt. From the journey, the artist Polenov Vasili brought sketches and sketches to the painting "Christ and the Sinner" and other works written under the impression of what he saw. Part of them delighted Pavel Tretyakov, who bought paintings for his collection.

The Image of Christ

In 1883, the painter together with his wife went to Italy. There he continued work on the painting "Christ and the Sinner", which he presented to the public at the 15th Wanderers' Exhibition. The canvas made a furor, and the desire to see him in his museum was declared by Emperor Alexander the Third, who favored the artist from the time of the Russo-Turkish war.

In 1888, Polenov Vasily Dmitrievich wrote another famous painting on the Biblical theme: "At the Tiberias (Genisareth) Lake." On the new canvas, he again depicted Christ - a man with an oriental type of face and with a sage's glance, but not a sufferer. And the important "acting person" of the picture was a landscape, written according to the sketches made by the artist from nature during his trip to the Middle East.

Life in Bechovo

In the 1890s Vasily Polenov, whose biography is a long list of successes, decided to leave the capital and move to the Tula region. There on the bank of the Oka he built a house. To the main building a little later were attached workshops, in which Polenov taught the drawing of rural children. Based on the manor, the painter named Borok and began to make efforts to make it eventually become a people's museum.

Vasily Polenov: "The Golden Autumn"

The views of Borok's surroundings captivated the artist's heart. It was they who became the theme of the works that Vasily Polenov wrote in the early 1890s. "Golden Autumn" occupies a special place among them. The canvas depicts the shores of the Oka, bordered by birches in brightly decorated. The painting is exhibited in the museum-estate "Polenovo" (the former estate "Borok") and is strikingly different from the early landscapes, written by Vasily Polenov ("Overgrown Pond", "Old Mill", etc.).

After 1917

After the October Revolution, Polenov took an active part in organizing a theatrical circle in Borok's estate and worked hard with peasant youth.

At the same time he painted the canvas "Spilling on the Oka", which became one of the best works of the artist of the mature period.

last years of life

In 1924, in honor of the artist's 80th birthday, a solo exhibition of Vasily Dmitrievich's works was arranged in the Tretyakov Gallery. In general, Soviet power was supportive of the artist. In particular, in 1926, the painter was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR. Most likely, this was due to the charity work of Polenov and his desire to promote public education in every way even at a time when only rare representatives of the Russian intelligentsia were involved in it.

July 18, 1927, the painter died. The artist was buried on the banks of the Oka River, in the vicinity of the Borok estate he founded.

"Polenovo"

In 1931, the Soviet government decided to create a museum in the Borok estate. It was renamed to Polenovo, and there are preserved the interiors that were during the artist's lifetime. There are regularly held interesting cultural events and exposed paintings of the famous painter.

Now you know the main events of the biography of V. Polenov and the history of the creation of some of his most significant works, which are among the masterpieces of Russian fine art of the 19th century.