Painting "The Young Painter" II Firsov

Contemporaries of the painter say that most of the work done by Ivan Ivanovich Firsov's hand came at the disposal of churches, cathedrals and theaters. Often the panel of this artist could be found in the interiors of the houses of wealthy families. However, up to our time literally read his works, one of which is the painting "The Young Painter". And with its history, as well as with the life of the creator, there are several interesting and mysterious events.

I. I. Firsov: biography

Firsov's exact date of birth is not known, but he was born around 1733 in Moscow, in a merchant family. Both the father and grandfather of Ivan Ivanovich had a direct relationship to art - they were engaged in artistic carving in wood and jewelry. It was from them that the talent in the field of painting passed to the heir.

As soon as it became clear that the young Firsov has a very clear predisposition to this type of activity, the family council decided to send him to work in St. Petersburg. Upon the arrival of the future artist, he was identified for decoration work, where he was engaged in decorating buildings and palaces.

At the age of 14 (precisely at this age), Firsov enters the office of the buildings, while simultaneously learning and developing his talent as a painter. Talent Ivan Ivanovich could not remain unnoticed - his work was admired by Catherine II herself, and she insisted on his further training, and not somewhere, but abroad, in France.

In 1756, Firsov entered the Royal Academy of Paris, and already there is largely inspired by the works of French painters. The greatest influence on him had Sharden, writing paintings with a picture of genre scenes: the picture of Ivan Firsov's "The Young Painter" is most consonant with the work of this Parisian realist.

Upon his return from France (the period 1758-1760 gg.) I. I. Firsov becomes a court painter. He gained fame mainly as a result of decorative design with his own painted panels to various performances and productions. A little later Ivan Ivanovich became one of the main employees of the Directorate of the Imperial Theaters.

Unfortunately, very little is known about the last years of the painter's life. In this regard, comparing some historical data and the dates of mentioning Firsov, experts say that he died after 1785. According to some facts, the artist could easily end his days in a house for the insane, because at the end of his life he suffered some mental disabilities.

Ivan Ivanovich performed a sufficient number of works both for the order of the leadership and for the nobles. However, little has been preserved until our times. The painting "The Young Painter" simultaneously tells about what kind of talent Firsov possessed, and in the same way does not allow to deeply feel everything that his creations were imbued with. Undoubtedly the only thing: this is a real masterpiece in the field of genre painting.

Description of the painting "The Young Painter"

The composition on the canvas is simple and at the same time it is interesting with this everyday life. In the center of attention are three figures: the youngest painter, a little girl and her mother. A boy in a blue uniform sits on a chair, putting one foot on the easel, and draws a portrait of the baby opposite him. Despite the seeming relaxed posture, he is focused and passionate about his occupation.

As for the youngest model, dressed in a pink dress and a light cap, then she looks ready to run away to do more interesting things. Such a trait, like restraint, also shines in her pose - she pressed herself against her mother, affectionately bending her daughter by the head. The woman herself with one hand at the same time and keeps, and calms the small egoza, and the second instructively threatens her with a finger. However, there is no shadow of tension here either - the apparent severity of the mother is not at all serious.

In addition to the people themselves, there are also some objects in the room flooded with soft light, inherent in the workshop of each artist: a bust, a mannequin, a box with brushes and paints, a pair of paintings on the wall.

Pastel and not lost its freshness over time, the tone, the atmosphere of a cozy and quiet routine - that's how you can complete the description of the painting "The Young Painter". The plot of her is conveyed with incredible cordiality, as evidenced by the fact that the canvas was written not for order, but for "the soul", under the influence of certain feelings.

History of the painting

The painting "The Young Painter" was completed around 1768 in Paris. This canvas opens a subsequent series of works in a similar genre. At the time of writing the "Young Painter", in addition to Firsov, similar paintings can be considered some pictures of Shibanov and Eremenev, which tell of the life of the peasants.

By the way, until the beginning of the XX century it was believed that this painting was created not by Firsov. "Young Painter" - a painting by the artist A. Losenko, which tried to testify the same name on the front side. However, the art critics did not calm down until in 1913, during the examination, a decision was made to remove the aforementioned family name, under which the name of I. I. Firsov was discovered.

At the moment, the painting "The Young Painter" is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery, where it fell due to the founder of the museum - merchant Pavel Tretyakov, who bought a canvas from a collector named Bykov in 1883.

Household painting as a genre and attitude to it

The Russian Academy of Arts at the time Firsov wrote his famous work, one might say, did not recognize the everyday genre as a kind of painting to the full, considering it base. Perhaps this fact is also the reason that the work has long spent in the workshop, in which Ivan Firsov worked.

The painting "The Young Painter", despite this, nevertheless saw the light and is now considered the most vivid example of the genre of the 18th century, and its value only increases.

Painting in Russian Painting

The main difference of the canvas lies in its somewhat absent-mindedness. It is written with love, not obeying any generally recognized laws of the classics. The image of scenes from ordinary life, without embellishments, excessive rigor and observance of canons - this is what the art critics characterize the painting "The Young Painter". People do not pose, they are adorable in their simplicity, which was not at all characteristic of the Russian fine arts of that time.

That is why for a long time no one had any associations with the fact that this work could be performed by the hand of our compatriot. Specialists in the field of painting confirm that the written picture is so unconnected with the events in Russia in the XVIII century. In spirit, which creates a vivid impression of atypicality and immediacy.

Other paintings by I. I. Firsov

However, the work in question is not all that Firsov left to us as a legacy. "The Young Painter" is a picture of the hand of this master in his genre, one might say, alone, but there is one more preserved canvas. It is called "Flowers and Fruits" and is a decorative panel, formerly located in the Catherine Palace. Both works are written in completely different styles, but nevertheless they belong to Ivan Ivanovich's brush, testifying to the multifacetedness and uncommonness of his talent.