Portrait of Saltykov-Shchedrin by I.N. Kramskoy

Ivan Nikolayevich Kramskoy was a remarkable Russian artist, inspirer and organizer of the movement of the Wanderers. In their works, they urged to move away from dry academism and write pictures reflecting the pressing problems of society. Kramskoy was an excellent portraitist, and one of his best works is a portrait of Saltykov-Shchedrin.

Kramskoy-portraitist

In the portraits of Kramskoy, even custom-made, one can see the same desire for the truth of life as in the genre paintings of the Wanderers. For a long time, the portrayed model was portrayed in full parade, dressed up, powdered, and often the artist even flattered her with his brush. Such portraits were called ceremonial. They were hung in the living room to boast before the guests, and kept in family galleries for grateful descendants. Later they were replaced by psychological portraits. Here for the artist it was already important not to desire to please the customer, but the opportunity to reflect his inner world. In the works of talented artists, you can read all the movements of the soul of the person portrayed, character, attitude to the world. A good painter should not only masterfully master the brush and technical techniques, but also be an excellent psychologist. It was such an artist and was Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy.

He wrote our outstanding compatriots: Leo Tolstoy, Pavel Tretyakov, Empress Maria Feodorovna, Emperor Alexander III, Otto Struve, Apollon Maikov, Ivan Shishkin. His brush belongs to a portrait of Saltykov-Shchedrin, a famous Russian writer.

History of creation

Collector Pavel Tretyakov decided to create in his museum a gallery of outstanding compatriots who contributed to the development of Russia. The portrait of Saltykov-Shchedrin, intended for her, was ordered by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy. In the winter of 1877, the artist began work on the canvas. It was finished pretty quickly. However, in the first version Kramskoy depicted only the head of the writer, and Tretyakov wanted to get a belt portrait, where the writer's hands would be seen. To please him, Kramskoy remade the work, and in 1879 the portrait of Saltykov-Shchedrin was accepted by the customer and placed in the gallery.

Artistic analysis of the painting

On the canvas, we see an outstanding Russian writer. This is a man of the age. He interlaced his hands and looked at the viewer with a deep thoughtful gaze. You can not call it beautiful, the artist did not flatter his model. Sunken cheeks, wrinkles and sunken eyes do not adorn a person. However, it can not be denied that the writer has at his disposal, although he looks withdrawn. On his face we see a constant work of thought, a sadness about the difficult fate of his poor Homeland. Interlaced fingers emphasize stress. The artist decided the portrait in dark, subdued tones. Of the total gamut, only the serious face of the writer and the dazzling white cuffs of the shirt stand out. Portrait of Saltykov-Shchedrin Kramskoy created in his characteristic manner. The simplicity and expressiveness of the composition, the clarity of the lines are intended to emphasize the psychological characteristics of the model.

The portrait of Mikhail Yevgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin rightfully took a worthy place among the faces of prominent Russian people.