Fine art is of great importance in the cultural development of Russia. There are many directions and, unfortunately, many names are unfamiliar to ordinary people.
Nevertheless, there are artists that everyone knows, regardless of the level of education and degree of interest in art. However, they are famous not only in their country, they are known all over the world.
Their paintings are very expensive. Lovers of art are not afraid of huge queues in art galleries; they are ready to wait to touch the beautiful. Streets are called by their names, they have become firmly established in history.
Who are these great artists? How did they get into the world of art, and how did their fate turn out? You will learn the answers to all these questions if you read our article. Below is a rating of the most famous Russian artists.
10. Alexey Savrasov
Alexey Savrasov - The founder of the genre of lyrical landscapes.
Alexei's father was a merchant and wanted his son to continue his work. The young man did not live up to his father’s expectations and entered the school of painting.
His first paintings were not appreciated. Fame brought him the work "View of the Kremlin from the Crimean bridge in inclement weather."
Soon after graduating from college, Savrasov began to lead the landscape class.
He has many worthy works, but he is considered the "artist of one painting." This is the well-known "Rooks Have Arrived."
Perhaps this was the reason for his torment. The artist became interested in alcohol; gloomy motifs appeared in his work.
The last years of his life, Alex spent in poverty. The great artist died in the hospital for the poor, but his paintings still delight posterity.
- The most famous paintings: Rooks Have Arrived, View of the Moscow Kremlin. Spring "," Country Road ".
9. Karl Bryullov
Karl Bryullov - An outstanding Russian painter.
Karl was more fortunate, he was born in a creative family, his father was engaged in carving. He noticed that the boy has abilities and sent him to study painting at the Academy of Arts.
Bryullov successfully completed his studies, and the painting “The Appearance of Three Angels at the Mamvrian Oak to Abraham” brought him a gold medal and the opportunity to go abroad at public expense.
Karl went to Italy, where he painted several paintings. "The Last Day of Pompeii" is Bryullov's most famous work, but portraits made him really popular. He painted representatives of the Italian nobility and his compatriots.
He was also interested in historical topics, a little later he became interested in religious subjects. In his last years in Russia, he painted St. Isaac's Cathedral, at the insistence of doctors, left the country.
The artist lived to 52 years old, the death was sudden.
- The most famous paintings: “The Last Day of Pompeii”, “The Horsewoman”, “Odalisque”.
8. Vasily Surikov
The Russian painter is known as a master of composition; his canvases were distinguished by their special scope and scale.
The story of Surikov is unusual and interesting. His family was not rich, there was no money for training. Once his drawings were seen by the Yenisei governor. He found a man who could help Surikov.
Already during training, he attached great importance to composition. Vasily was even given the nickname "Composer."
He painted many outstanding paintings, worked on the design of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (frescoes). Vasily Surikov lived 68 years and died of coronary heart disease.
Even serious health problems did not become an obstacle for the artist, in the last years of his life he was still doing what he loved.
- The most famous paintings: “Morning of the Archery Execution”, “Boyar Morozova”, “The Taking of the Snowy Town”.
7. Valentin Serov
Contemporaries knew Serova as a great portrait painter. Portraits of his authorship were an indicator of prestige for representatives of the Russian elite.
Valentine is a master of psychological portraiture, it was not for nothing that the models were afraid of the artist. He possessed an outstanding ability: he always grasped the essence of a person or phenomenon.
Serov’s childhood cannot be called happy, his father died early, and his mother was busy with her personal life. The boy did not study well, but was successful in art. He never finished his studies, but this did not stop him from becoming a famous artist.
He died at the age of 46 from a heart attack. Thanks to Serov, a modern person has the opportunity to see how many famous people looked like.
- The most famous paintings: “Girl with Peaches”, “Girl Lit by the Sun”, “Abduction of Europe”.
6. Ilya Repin
Realistic artist. The main theme of works Ilya Repin - life in Russia, as it is, is multifaceted and complex.
He touched on topics that worried the public. Even at the beginning of his career, Repin played a key role in Russian realism.
And he began as a worker in a nomadic icon-painting artel. Having learned about the existence of the Academy of Arts, a talented young man went to Petersburg.
The fame brought him the painting "Barge Haulers on the Volga." Soon orders began to arrive, including "state" ones. Throughout his life, the artist painted many famous paintings.
He was a very versatile person, this is reflected in his works, they are not similar to each other. The artist died away from his homeland, in Finland, he spent the last years of his life there, as he could not accept Soviet power.
- The most famous paintings: “Religious procession in Kursk province”, “Barge haulers on the Volga”, “They didn’t wait”, “Ivan the Terrible kills his son”.
5. Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev - The most famous Russian icon painter. Little is known about him. There is speculation that he was born into a family of artisans. He took monastic tonsure, then he got the name Andrew.
The first mention of it dates back to 1405. He participated in the painting of the walls of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.
Rublev has his own style, not like the others. His icons are filled with harmony, there is no tragedy in them. The artist gave his life to the service of God.
His last work was not preserved, Rublev worked on frescoes for the Savior Cathedral. He did not have time to finish them, fell ill with the plague, and soon died.
- The most famous icons: “Trinity”, “Christ Almighty”, “Ascension of the Lord”.
4. Mikhail Vrubel
Russian artist Mikhail Vrubel, worked in all genres of art. Known as the author of the "demonic cycle." This is a series that includes paintings, illustrations and sculptures depicting a demon.
Vrubelishche in his youth was carried away by drawing. True, at first he had to study law, this was what Mikhail's father wanted.
At first, the young man painted the walls of churches and even painted several icons. He did this after his studies.
"Demonic cycle" appeared thanks to Lermontov. Vrubel drew illustrations for his poem "Demon", he was very interested in this topic.
Unfortunately, the artist’s life ended sadly. He had problems with the psyche, and then Mikhail lost his sight.
- The most famous works: “The Swan Princess”, “A Girl Against the Persian Carpet”, “The Demon Sitting”, “The Demon Defeated”.
3. Ivan Aivazovsky
The famous artist, his element is the sea. No one else succeeded in creating something like this. He is considered one of the most expensive artists in Russia, the paintings are worth a fortune.
Himself Ivan Aivazovsky born in a poor family. The mayor of Feodosia helped him get an education. Even the first drawings of Ivan were related to the marine theme. Aivazovsky worked hard, during his life he wrote more than 6 thousand works.
- The most famous paintings: “View of Constantinople and the Bosphorus”, “Ninth Wall”, “Black Sea”.
2. Isaac Levitan
Master of the landscape. Isaac Levitan hardly graduated from the school of painting in Moscow, his family was constantly in need, there was no money to pay for tuition.
Only thanks to his talent, Isaac was able to finish his studies, but did not receive a diploma. Soon Isaac was expelled from Moscow because he was a Jew.
Levitan settled in the suburbs and began painting landscapes. After a while, the first exhibition was organized.
The artist lived only 39 years, he caught a cold and died a month later.
- The most famous works: “Birch Grove”, “Evening Ringing”, “Golden Autumn”.
1. Victor Vasnetsov
Painter. Victor Vasnetsov Born in a village in the family of a priest. His first paintings were devoted to rural life. He also willingly painted landscapes.
He studied at the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. While studying, he painted illustrations for fairy tales, everyday scenes.
Fame Vasnetsov brought paintings on historical subjects, based on fairy tales and epics. These works are known even to people far from art.
Vasnetsov lived to 78 years old and died of a heart attack.
- The most famous paintings: “The Knight at the Crossroads”, “Alyonushka”.