Ilya Repin. The artist's paintings as a kind of artistic chronicle of the era

The highest achievements of realistic painting of the XIX century are associated with the names of outstanding Russian artists, among which Ilya Repin takes a special place. The paintings and works of this master are whole worlds, and the gallery of images is extremely diverse.

A bit of history

The heyday of the fine arts in Russia fell on the second half of the XIX century. The ways of its development largely coincided with the development of literature. Fine art did not remain aloof from the processes that affected the public consciousness. This is the time of the formation of the current, which was based on the ideas of critical realism. He managed to win over the official direction, which adhered to the leadership of the Academy of Arts. For the creative work of artists, mythological and biblical themes were brought to the fore, justified by the idea that art is higher than life.

In 1863 some graduates of the Academy refused to create program pictures. The students suggested subjects reflecting the problems of modern society, and were refused. As a sign of protest, they left the school without completing the course, and formed with I. Kramskoy "Petersburg Artel of Artists". Later in Moscow in 1870 was organized by the Association of Wanderers, who arranged art exhibitions in different cities. One of the brightest figures among the Wanderers was Repin Ilya Efimovich. The artist's paintings are attributed to the heights of peredvizhnicheskogo art. They reflect all the adversities of life and those turbulent changes that have affected all spheres of life that could not but lead to significant changes in art.

An outstanding draftsman, colorist and portraitist, master of genre and historical canvases, Repin IE. Left a rich creative heritage.

Religious painting

On his sixth birthday, Ilya Repin received for the first time as a gift watercolor paints and began to paint. At the age of 12, a talented boy was identified for study with the local painter IM Bunakov in Chuguev (Kharkov province). His first serious work was a copy of the icon depicting St. Alexander Nevsky. In 15 years, Ilya could already be attributed to independent artists-icon painters for good reason. He began to work together with the artel of local artisans and artists.

Painting churches, individual orders for icons - so began his creative work Ilya Repin. Paintings, engravings, portraits, known for their excellent sense of life, a spiritual beginning, a vivid depiction of nature with all its prejudices and elemental feelings, will be created later. The artist's first works are religious painting, the theme of which was destined to go through the whole work of Repin.

The first great work, which brought fame to a fifteen-year-old boy, was the icon "Crucifixion", written according to K. Shteiben's painting "Calvary." Ilya Repin became a famous master in the district.

Until now, the first watercolor of the artist - "View of the school of military topographers in Chuguev", dating from 1857, has reached.

In 1863, Ilya entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Graduation work of the young artist, awarded the highest award - a gold medal, was the painting "Resurrection of the daughter of Jairus."

To religious themes Repin repeatedly returned, performing icon-painting works. In 1898, in order to see the places where Christ walked and preached live, Ilya Efimovich went to the Holy Land. Here were collected materials for the picture "Temptation of Christ", written "Carrying the Cross."

The playwright of Russian painting

Still contemporaries of the artist admired masterfully created multi-figure genre compositions and as if by "living" portraits.

One of the most noteworthy phenomena in the Russian fine arts was his "Burlaki on the Volga". The painting was written after traveling through the Volga in 1870. She made a strong impression on the public. Its author claims himself as a master of a huge range. Widely known is the name - Ilya Repin. Pictures, description They are increasingly found in the periodical press. Especially many articles about "Burlacs on the Volga". In the opinion of the artist V. V. Stasov, the bitter human fate exhibited in the role of pack animals never appeared on the canvas in such a form of terrible mass, in such a piercing chord.

The highest award received at the Academy of Arts, gave Repin the right to travel to France. In the spring of 1873, he travels through Austria and Italy. In his correspondence with friends Stasov, Tretyakov, Kramskiy shares his admiration for the canvases of Titian, Veronese, Michelangelo, his fascination with the portraits of Rembrandt, Velasquez. In Paris, he writes paintings, the most famous of which are "Paris Cafe", "Sadko", "Negro".

The real heyday of Repin's work was the period from the moment of his return to his homeland. There are his multi-figure genre and historical compositions, magnificent portraits. The diverse phenomena of life, the wealth of folk types and characters with incredible power, portrayed Ilya Repin. His paintings seemed to be embodied in a kind of artistic chronicle of this era. This is both the long-suffering, embittered "A man with a bad eye" and "an extract of our deacons" - "Protodeacon". This is the merry, unrestrained dances of the peasants, the folk daring in the film "Vechorniki", and the social contrasts, deep contradictions depicted in the composition "The Procession in the Kursk Province." The artist manages to create a sense of action, which seems to happen in front of the viewer.

Ilya Repin is an artist whose paintings reflect the depth of perception of life. To understand the origins of the national character, the motives of various historical collisions, the strength of psychological experiences, he turned to stories from the past. This created dramatic stories about the stay of Princess Sophia Alekseevna in the Novodevichy Convent, the murder of Ivan the Terrible by his son Ivan. It was a kind of protest directed against despotism. The first artist to represent the revolutionary populists was Repin Ilya Efimovich. The pictures "Arrest of the propagandist", "Under escort", "Did not wait" and others reflect obvious sympathy for their heroes. An acute sense of modernity is the defining principle in Repin's work.

Portrait painting

By the 90s Repin had created a whole gallery of portraits. Among them there are many portraits of famous scientists, writers, composers, artists. A kind of perfection was the work "Solemn meeting of the State Council." In this composition, the artist managed to portray a considerable number of those present, many of whom were given psychological characteristics.

In the field of portrait graphics, Ilya Repin achieved great skill. His portraits of VA Serov, IS Ostroukhov, Eleonora Duse and others are distinguished by a beautiful drawing. The power of typification, free, wide writing make these sketches the peak of the skill of the painter Repin.

last years of life

Even during his life came the period of public recognition of an outstanding, versatile artist, which was in fact Ilya Repin. His paintings truly depict the various historical periods of Russia, containing in itself all the greatness, strength, pain and infirmity of Russia.

The last years of his life Repin lived in the Finnish territory in Kuokkala in the estate, nicknamed him "penates". After the October Revolution, he refused an invitation, made at a sufficiently high official level, to return to the country. Donated to his museums his paintings, did not lose contact with his friends and students I. Brodsky, K. Chukovsky, but did not return to his homeland.

The artist has lived a long and rather fruitful life, opening in the masterpieces created by him the way to justice and good.