Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov. Biography for children

When it comes to artists who worked on the "revival" of epics, fairy tales and legends, one of the first to remember is Vasnetsov. Biography for children will traditionally begin with the birth of a talented master and his childhood.

How was the childhood of the future artist?

And Viktor Mikhailovich was born on May 15, 1848 in a village called Lopial, near Vyatka. His father, Mikhail Vasilyevich, was a local priest. After the birth of his son, he was forced to move to another place - Ryabovo village. The mother of the future artist, Apollinaria Ivanovna, raised six sons (Victor himself was the second).

The life of the Vasnetsov family could not be called particularly rich. In their house there were also customs and customs typical for both rural and urban life. After the death of his wife, the father of the family, Mikhail Vasnetsov, remained behind the main one. Biography for children, telling about the main points of life of the future artist, continues. Mikhail Vasilyevich was an intelligent and well-educated person, so he tried to instill in all his sons inquisitiveness, observation, and give them knowledge in various fields. But my grandmother taught to draw children. Despite poverty, adults have always found the means to purchase interesting scientific journals, paints, brushes and other accessories for creativity and study. Victor Vasnetsov already in his childhood showed an extraordinary propensity for drawing: on his first sketches there are picturesque country landscapes, as well as scenes of rural life.

The other inhabitants of the village Victor Vasnetsov perceived as their kind friends and listened with pleasure to the fairy tales and songs that they told during the gatherings with the subdued light and the crackling of the ray.

Vasnetsov did not imagine his life without drawing from his early years

Vasnetsov Viktor Mikhailovich, whose biography today is the topic of our conversation, began to draw very early. But in those days it was accepted that the son would follow in the footsteps of his father, so he first went to study in a religious school, and then - to a seminary in Vyatka. As a seminarian, Vasnetsov constantly studied the annals, the lives of saints, chronographs, various documents. And special attention was attracted to the ancient Russian literature - it further strengthened the love of Russian antiquity, which Vasnetsov was already distinguished for. The biography for children dedicated to this amazing artist should also mention that it was in the seminary that Vasnetsov received deep knowledge in the field of Orthodox symbols, which were then useful to him while working on the painting of churches.

Training in the seminary did not prevent Viktor Mikhailovich from diligently studying the study of painting. In the years 1866-1867. From under his hand came 75 wonderful drawings, which in the end served as illustrations for the "Collection of Russian proverbs" N. Trapitsina.

Strong impression on Vasnetsov made acquaintance with E. Andrioli - Polish artist, who was in exile. Andrioli tells his young friend about the Academy of Arts, in St. Petersburg. Vasnetsov immediately became fired with the desire to enter. The artist's father did not object, but immediately warned that he could not help financially.

The beginning of independent life in St. Petersburg

However, without support Vasnetsov did not remain. Andrioli and his acquaintance Bishop Adam Krasinsky talked with the governor of Campaneuschik, and he helped them sell the paintings "Milkmaid" and "Znitsa", which Vasnetsov drew. The biography for children should include a few more interesting points related to this. Vasnetsov received 60 rubles for the paintings sold, and with this sum he went to Petersburg. Modesty and uncertainty of the young man did not allow him to even look at the list enrolled in the academy after passing the exams. Victor through the acquaintances was able to get a draftsman to earn his living. Later, Vasnetsov finds an occupation for himself and begins to draw illustrations for magazines and books. Then he goes to the School of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists, where he meets with I. Kramskoy, who still has to play an important role in the life of the young artist.

Training in the Academy of Arts and the further life of the artist

In 1868 Vasnetsov again makes an attempt to enter the academy of Petersburg. And learns that the last time he still managed to successfully pass the exams.

The time of training at the academy gave Viktor Mikhailovich many new interesting acquaintances. Here he approaches and begins to be friends with Repin, Polenov, Kuindzhi, Surikov, Maximov, brothers Prahov, Antokolsky, Chistyakov.

Already during the first year of his studies, Vasnetsov received a silver medal, and then - two more small medals for the sketch from nature and the drawing "Two nude sitters." Two years later, the teachers awarded him for the drawing "Christ and Pilate before the people," this time with a large silver medal.

This period became very difficult for Vasnetsov. In 1870 the father of the artist died, and he began to take care of his maternal uncle, who also dreams of the glory of a talented artist and is looking for an opportunity to earn money. Beginning in 1871, Vasnetsov appeared less and less at the academy, mainly due to lack of time and deteriorated health. However, he still worked fruitfully: during this time, he executed more than 200 illustrations for Soldatskaya ABC, People's ABC, Russian Alphabet for Children (Vodovozov). The artist is engaged in illustrating fairy tales "Firebird", "Humpbacked Horse" and some others. Vasnetsov succeeds in drawing for himself - as a rule, these were drawings on household themes.

1875 was the year of cardinal changes in the life of Viktor Mikhailovich. He leaves the academy because the need to earn money becomes for him in the first place, and besides, because he wants to develop his talent independently. At the exhibition of the Wanderers, his painting "Tea drinking in the tavern" appears, and the work on "Beggars singers" also ends. In 1876, he presents the paintings "Book shop" and "From apartment to apartment".

In the same year, Vasnetsov has the opportunity to visit Paris. The visit to France amazes the imagination of the artist, and under the impression of him he writes the famous "Balagany in the environs of Paris" (1877).

A year later the artist returns to his homeland, is crowned with Alexandra Ryazantseva and moves with her newly-made wife to Moscow.

Painting of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev - the most important work in the life of Vasnetsov

In 1885, A. Prahov invites Vasnetsov to take part in the painting of the recently constructed Vladimir Cathedral (Kiev). Thinking, the artist agrees. The minimal experience he already received, working on the Abramtsevo Church of the Savior and the epic paintings. Being a deeply religious person, it is in the painting of churches that Vasnetsov begins to see his real calling.

Over painting in the Vladimir Cathedral Vasnetsov worked more than ten (!) Years. After all, he was instructed to paint both the main nave and the apse. The artist skillfully portrayed important stories from the New and Old Testaments, Russian saints, ennobled the vaults with the help of amazing ornaments. In the history of art in the entire 19th century, the scope of the work carried out is unmatched. After all, during this time Viktor Mikhailovich created over four hundred sketches, and the total area of the painting occupies more than 2 thousand square meters. M.!

The work was interesting, but also very difficult. After VM Vasnetsov, whose biography is the topic of our conversation, carefully studied the topic with which he was to work. To this end, he got acquainted with the monuments of early Christianity preserved in Italy, frescoes and mosaics that existed in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, the paintings of the Mikhailovsky and Cyril monasteries. Vasnetsov paid close attention to the study of related art areas: folk art, ancient Russian book miniature. In many ways, when working, he was guided by the Moscow Old Believer icons. And besides, Vasnetsov always checked whether his work with the spirit of the Church is sufficient. Many of the sketches the artist was forced to reject because he himself considered his work insufficiently ecclesiastical, or because the consent of the church council did not give them.

Vasnetsov himself believed that his work in the cathedral was his personal "path to light", to the comprehension of great values. Sometimes it was very difficult for him because he could not depict this or that plot exactly as he saw it in his thoughts.

One of the most beloved images was the Virgin Vasnetsova, first portrayed "with warmth, courage and sincerity." In many Russian houses of the late XIX-early XX centuries. It was possible to meet her reproductions.

The work was completed in 1896, and in the presence of the Tsar's family the cathedral was solemnly consecrated. The painting of Vasnetsov was a huge success, and already in the same year on all sides the artist showered a lot of proposals for the design of St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Darmstadt and other churches. The peak of Vasnetsov's work as a monumental decorator was his canvas "The Last Judgment".

Vasnetsov is an experimenter who combines centuries-old traditions and living power in his work

While painting the Kiev cathedral, Vasnetsov does not stop working in other genres in his spare time. In particular, at this time he created a whole series of historical and epic paintings.

For a while, Victor Mikhailovich devoted himself to creating theatrical scenery.

In the years 1875-1883. Vasnetsov is instructed to draw an atypical picture of the "Stone Age", which was to decorate the opening soon Historical Museum of Moscow.

But over one of his most famous paintings - "Bogatyri" - the artist worked for several decades, and finished his work in 1898. Vasnetsov himself called this painting his "commitment to his native people." And in April of the same year Pavel Tretyakov happily took this picture, so that it would forever become one of the brightest exhibits in his gallery.

Vasnetsov's paintings never left people indifferent, although fierce arguments often developed around them. Someone admired and admired them, someone - criticized. But amazing, "live" and having their own work did not go unnoticed.

Vasnetsov died July 23, 1926 at the age of 79 years because of heart problems. However, the traditions that he started, continued and continue to live in the works of artists of the next generation.