Branitskaya, born Engelhardt, Alexandra Vasilievna (1754-1838) - niece and mistress of Grigory Potemkin, wife of the Crown Hetman of Poland Xavier Branitsky. Artist I. Grassi, 1793
Kridener, born Lerhenfeld, Amalia Maksimilianovna (1808-1888) - illegitimate daughter M. Lerchenfeld, German diplomat and statesman, the Bavarian envoy to Russia and Princess Teresa Thurn-and-Taxis, nee Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Painter Karl Joseph Stieler, 1827
Pototskaya, Olga Stanislavovna, by her husband Naryshkin (1802-1861) - the daughter of the Polish magnate Stanislav Shchensky Pototsky and the famous adventurer Sofia Glyavone.
Artist N.S. Froste, 1830s
Thick, born Princess Baryatinsky, Anna Ivanovna (1772-1825) - sister of the actual chamberlain of Prince I.I. Baryatinsky, wife of Marshal N.A. Tolstoy; close friend of Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna.
Portrait by E. Vigee-Lebrun, 1790s
Vorontsova, born Senyavin, Ekaterina Alekseevna (1761-1784) - maid of honor, daughter of Admiral A.N. Senyavin; the wife of the ambassador in London, Count S.R. Vorontsov; mother of Field Marshal Count M.S. Vorontsov; sister of the lady of state M.A. Naryshkina.
Artist D.G. Levitsky, 1783
Divova, born Countess Buturlina, Elizaveta Petrovna (1762-1813) - maid of honor of Catherine II, niece of her friend Vorontsova-Dashkova, wife of Privy Councilor Adrian Divov.
Portrait by A. Graf, 1794
Zavadovskaya, born Apraksina, Vera Nikolaevna (1768-1845) - maid of honor, cavalier lady of the Order of St. Catherine of the Lesser Cross, one of the first beauties of her time; wife of the favorite of Catherine II and the first Minister of Education of Russia, Count P.V. Zavadovsky.
Artist V.L. Borovikovsky, 1790s
Lopukhina, born Baroness von Wenkstern, Anna (Jeanette) Ivanovna (1786-1869) - famous beauty, in the first marriage Countess Alopeus; mother of Lieutenant General F.D. Alopeus.
Painter Friedrich Johann Gottlieb Lieder, 1821
Musin-Pushkin, nee. Shernvall, Emilia Karlovna (1810-1846) - a famous beauty (Lermontov's madrigal is dedicated to her), an acquaintance of A.S. Pushkin, sister of the famous Aurora Demidova.
Artist Gau V.I., 1840
Naryshkina, by her husband Golitsina, Elena Alexandrovna (1785-1855), in her first marriage, the Most Serene Princess of Italy, Countess Suvorova-Rymnikskaya; - maid of honor; daughter of A.L. Naryshkin and Maria Senyavin, granddaughter of the famous admiral A.N. Senyavin, sister of L.A. and K.A. Naryshkins; daughter-in-law of Generalissimo A.V. Suvorov, cousin of Count M.S. Vorontsov.
Artist V.L. Borovikovsky, 1799
Orlova-Chesmenskaya, nee. Lopukhina, Evdokia Nikolaevna (1761-1786) - wife of Count Alexei Grigorievich Orlov, mother of the chamber-maid of honor Anna Alekseevna Orlova.
Artist Jean-Louis de Velli, c.1780s
Orlova, born Zinovieva, Ekaterina Nikolaevna (1758-1781) - cousin and wife former favorite Catherine II Prince Grigory Orlov.
Artist Rokotov, Fedor Stepanovich
Orlova-Chesmenskaya, Anna Alekseevna (1785-1848) - maid of honor, the only daughter of Alexei Orlov, an associate of Empress Catherine II, and heiress to his multi-million dollar fortune.
Portrait by I.V. Bazhenov, 1838
Protasova, Anna Stepanovna (1745-1826) - trusted maid of honor of Catherine II.
Portrait by D.G. Levitsky, c.1790s
Pushkina-Dubelt, Natalya Alexandrovnaa, Countess Merenberg (1836-1913) - daughter of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, morganatic wife of Prince Nicholas Wilhelm of Nassau.
Artist I.K.Makarov, 1849
Rostopchina, born Protasova, Ekaterina Petrovna (1776-1859) - maid of honor, author of several works of spiritual content; the wife of the Moscow Governor-General F.V. Rostopchin and the mother of the writer Countess de Segur.
Portrait by Orest Kiprensky, 1809
Stroganova, born Golitsyna, Sofya Vladimirovna (1775-1845) - maid of honor of the four empresses, youngest daughter"Moustached Princess" N.P. Golitsyna, sister of the Moscow Governor-General Prince D.V. Golitsyn and State Lady E.V. Apraksina; wife of General Count P.A. Stroganov. She was very friendly with Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna.
Painter Jean Laurent Monnier, 1808
Zubova, born Suvorova, Natalya Alexandrovna (1775-1844) - the only daughter of Field Marshal Suvorov, who affectionately called her "Suvorochka". Married to Nikolai Zubov, brother of the last favorite of Catherine II.
Artist V.L. Borovikovsky, 1795
Ficquelmont, born Countess Tizenhausen, Daria Fedorovna (1804-1863) - granddaughter of Field Marshal Kutuzov, daughter of E.M. Khitrovo, wife of an Austrian diplomat and politician K.L. Ficquelmont. Known as the hostess of the St. Petersburg salon and the author of a detailed "social diary", in whose notes special interest Pushkinists are called up with fragments relating to Pushkin and his wife, and a detailed account of the duel and death of Pushkin.
Watercolor by P.F.Sokolov, 1837
Khitrovo, born Golenishcheva-Kutuzova, Elizaveta Mikhailovna (1783-1839), in her first marriage, Countess Tizenhausen, daughter of M.I. Kutuzov, friend of A.S. Pushkin. The owner of the famous St. Petersburg salon.
Portrait of P.F. Sokolov, 1838
Chernysheva, born Rzhevskaya, Avdotya Ivanovna (1693-1747) - a general, nicknamed "Avdotya the boy-woman", given to her by Peter I, one of the mistresses of Peter the Great, according to Vilboa, "with her erratic behavior had a harmful effect on Peter's health"; mother of the Chernyshev brothers - prominent figures in the reign of Catherine II.
Unknown artist XVIII century
Chernysheva, born Islenyeva, Anna Aleksandrovna (1740-1794) - a relative (by mother) of Prince G.A. Potemkin, the wife of Field Marshal General for the Navy, President of the Admiralty College Count Ivan Grigorievich Chernyshev.
Artist S. Torelli, 1764
Chernysheva, nee Ushakova, Ekaterina Andreevna (1715-1779) - maid of honor, daughter of Count A.I. Ushakov; stepsister Field Marshal S.F. Apraksin; the wife of the diplomat Count P. G. Chernyshev; mother of Countess D.P. Saltykova and Princess N.P. Golitsyna.
Artist Alexander Roslin, 1776
Sheremeteva, Anna Petrovna (1744-1768) - maid of honor, daughter of P.B. Sheremetev; the bride of the mentor of the Grand Duke N.I. Panin.
Artist I.P. Argunov, 1760s
Shuvalova, born Shepeleva, Mavra Yegorovna (1708-1759) - the closest friend of Elizabeth Petrovna and the lady of state of her court, the wife of Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov. It is to her influence that the Shuvalov party owes its rise.
Portrait by Antropov, late 1750s
Demidova-Karamzina, Aurora Karlovna (Eva Aurora Charlotte Shernval), 1808-1902, - public figure, maid of honor at imperial court Finland. Aurora Shernval and her sister Emilia (married Countess Musina-Pushkina) were considered one of the first beauties of St. Petersburg.
Artist Bryullov K.P., 1837
Vorontsova, born Countess Skavronskaya, Anna Karlovna (1722-1776) - wife of Chancellor Count M.I. Vorontsov, cousin of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, lady of state.
Artist A.P. Andropov, 1763
Vorontsova, Ekaterina Semyonovna, married Lady Pembroke, (1783-1856) - maid of honor, daughter of Count S.R. Vorontsov, sister of Count M.S. Vorontsov, wife of Count George Herbert of Pembroke.
Artist Henry Raeburn, 1810s
Hanskaya Evelina (Polish Ewelina Hańska), nee Countess Rzhevuskaya (1801-1882) - Polish landowner and Russian subject, wife of Honore de Balzac.
Artist Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, 1835
Pototskaya, born Glyavone, Sofia Konstantinovna, in the first marriage Witt, in the second - Pototskaya (1760-1822) - a courtesan of Constantinople Greek origin, according to one of the legends, she was the concubine of the Sultan, a cohabitant of many celebrities, a spy and an adventurer, managed to become a Polish aristocrat (titled countess).
Artist I.B. Lampi, 1790s
Samoilova, born Trubetskaya, Ekaterina Sergeevna, (1763-1830) - maid of honor, wife of Prosecutor General A.N. Samoilov, sister of Prince V.S. Trubetskoy and Baroness A.S. Stroganova, mother of N.A. Samoilov and Countess S.A. .Bobrinskaya, mother-in-law of Yu.P. Samoilova.
Artist I-B Lumpy, 1792-1796
Andro, born Olenina, Anna Alekseevna (1808-1888) - daughter of the president of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, Alexei Olenin. Beloved of Pushkin in 1828−29 Musician and singer. Author of unpublished diaries and memoirs about Pushkin. Wife of the Vice-President of Warsaw, Count F.A. Langeron.
Portrait by O. Kiprensky, 1828
Samoilova, Yulia Pavlovna (1803-1875) - Countess, daughter of General Palen and Maria Skavronskaya, maid of honor, famous for her relationship with the artist Karl Bryullov.
Artist B.Sh.Mitoire, 1825
Vorontsova, born Branitskaya, Elizata Ksaveryevna (1792-1880) - Most Serene Princess, Lady of State, Honorary Trustee in the management of women's educational institutions, maid of honor, cavalier lady of the Order of St. Catherine; the addressee of many poems by A.S. Pushkin; wife of the Novorossiysk Governor-General M.S. Vorontsov.
Hayter George Painter, 1839
Zavadovskaya, born Vlodek, Elena Mikhailovna (1807-1874) - daughter of a cavalry general, adjutant general M.F. Vlodek, wife of the chief prosecutor of the Senate V.P. Zavadovsky. One of the most brilliant high-society beauties of Pushkin's time, memories and letters of that era did not cease to repeat about her exceptional beauty; an acquaintance of M.Yu. Lermontov; A.S. Pushkin, I.I. Kozlov, P.A. Vyazemsky dedicated poems to her.
Artist Chalon Alfred Edward (Chalon Alfred Edward), watercolor, 1838 Your youth shines with beauty, You are given to hearts for love, Bright, captivating, like joy, And like thoughtfulness, tender.
In a beautiful face. snow-white and scarlet roses on the cheeks - Everywhere everything breathes with a tender heart. It is in blue eyes, It is in a smile on the lips; And, like a ruddy dawn The brilliance of the sun with a fiery stream Throws life into heaven, - Your beauty is illuminated with a pure angelic soul ... I.I. Kozlov (E.M. Zavadovskoy)
The page contains the most famous paintings by Russian artists of the 19th century with titles and descriptions
The diverse painting of Russian artists since the beginning of the 19th century attracts with its originality and versatility in the domestic fine arts. Masters of painting of that time did not cease to amaze with their unique approach to the plot and reverent attitude to the feelings of people, to native nature. In the 19th century, portrait compositions were often painted with an amazing combination of an emotional image and an epicly calm motive.
The paintings of Russian artists are magnificent in craftsmanship and truly beautiful in perception, strikingly accurately reflected the breath of their time, the unique character of the people and their desire for beauty.
Canvases of Russian painters who are the most popular: Alexander Ivanov - bright representative picturesque biblical direction, in colors telling us about the episodes of the life of Jesus Christ.
Karl Bryullov - a painter popular in his time, his direction history painting, portrait subjects, romantic works.
Marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky, his paintings are magnificent and one might say simply unsurpassedly reflect the beauty of the sea with transparent rolling waves, sea sunsets and sailboats.
Distinctive versatility stands out the work of the famous Ilya Repin, who created genre and monumental works reflecting the life of the people.
Very picturesque and large-scale paintings by the artist Vasily Surikov, the description of Russian history is his direction, in which the artist emphasized the episodes in colors life path Russian people.
Each artist is unique, for example, unique in his style painter fairy tales and epics Viktor Vasnetsov are always juicy and bright, romantic canvases, the heroes of which are all of us famous heroes folk tales.
Each artist is unique, for example, the picturesque master of fairy tales and epics Viktor Vasnetsov, unique in his style, is always juicy and bright, romantic canvases, the heroes of which are the well-known heroes of folk tales. Very picturesque and large-scale paintings by the artist Vasily Surikov, the description of Russian history is his direction, in which the artist emphasized the episodes of the life path of the Russian people in colors.
In Russian painting of the 19th century, such a trend as critical realism, emphasizing ridicule, satire and humor in the plots. Of course, this was a new trend, not every artist could afford it. In this direction, such artists as Pavel Fedotov and Vasily Perov were determined.
Landscape painters of that time also occupied their niche, among them Isaac Levitan, Alexei Savrasov, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Vasily Polenov, the young artist Fyodor Vasiliev, the picturesque master of the forest, forest glades with pines and birches with mushrooms Ivan Shishkin. All of them colorfully and romantically reflected the beauty of Russian nature, the variety of forms and images of which is associated with the colossal potential of the surrounding world.
According to Levitan, in every note of Russian nature there is a unique colorful palette, hence there is a huge expanse for creativity. Perhaps this is the riddle that the canvases created in the vast expanses of Russia are distinguished by some exquisite severity, but at the same time, they attract with discreet beauty, from which it is difficult to look away. Or not at all intricate and rather not catchy plot, Levitan's painting Dandelions, as it were, encourages the viewer to think and see the beauty in the simple.
Famous portraits such as "Portrait of a lady in blue" T. Gainsborough, "Young Man with a Basket of Fruit" Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio, "Self-portrait" by K. P. Bryullov, etc. today have become the standard of excellence in fine arts.
For a connoisseur of beauty, famous portraits today are not just canvases that art critics write about and cost fabulous money.
For the connoisseur of each painting is, as it were, the "soul" of the artist - an expression of the worldview, aesthetic credo, manner of execution of the painter. Famous portraits (“Portrait of E. N. Arsenyeva” by V. L. Borovikovsky, “Gioconda” by Leonardo da Vinci, etc.) are so expensive because they evoke something special in the soul of the audience. This is that unique feeling, which is called the feeling of beauty.
Mona Lisa beautiful in her eyes, - it seemed to combine soft femininity, and a smile that is somewhat similar to a man's. Not without reason, many who have seen the real painting by da Vinci claim that if you look at the Gioconda from afar, it seems as if you are looking at a meek, gentle woman. But, if you get closer to the picture, you are convinced that the canvas depicts a man with an almost diabolical, almost cruel grin. Famous portraits are so famous because they have their own uniqueness, "zest".
Portraits of famous artists
portraits famous artists are also remarkable. Since their own paintings is a reflection of their worldview, then even in the eyes of the painters you can read something special, characteristic of them and their paintings. It is a special case when portraits of famous artists are created by them themselves.
Famous portraits sometimes appear as images of the appearance of their author. In a self-portrait, the artist can express his own vision of his appearance. Eg "Self-portrait" by I. I. Levitan created in the 1890s. The painting depicts Isaac Levitan in full dress. The artist himself is depicted in a more relaxed pose, but his figure is surrounded by a gray-brown haze, as if foreshadowing something bad, fatal. And his other self-portrait, dated 1880, appears completely different. Shown here is a young Beautiful face painter, smiling slyly. Here the figure of Levitan is on a blue background, cheerful and positive. The influence of the picture on the viewer often depends on the assessment of the painter's own appearance. Portraits of famous artists give a person the opportunity to look at the genius who created this or that picture. Who would not want to look at the face of the one who portrayed the Demon from the work of M. Yu. Lermontov? Or look at the person who created image unfortunate Alyonushka, who lost her brother?
Portraits of famous women
A special place in the galaxy of great paintings is occupied by portraits. famous women. Women's famous portraits most often tell about the beauty of those depicted. But it also happened that a woman was a painter herself, and could herself give an interpretation of her own appearance (self-portrait) and the appearance of those around her.
famous painting Louise Vigee-Lebrun "Self-portrait with daughter"
shows not only the beauty of its creator, but also Louise's affection for her daughter: they hug each other so tenderly. Louise's brush belongs to a series of portraits depicting Marie Antoinette. The great portrait painter A. G. Warnek (1782–1843) created magnificent portraits famous women. These were such well-known portraits as the Portrait of E. M. Olenina in Priyutino, the mistress of the literary salt. Also, the master’s brushes belong to such canvases as “ portrait Kolosova Evgenia Ivanovna" - famous ballerina, one of the hundred great masters of ballet. The picture shows a young beautiful girl, with her hair pulled back, and with a quiver of arrows in her hands. The woman in such portraits became equal to the man.
Portraits of famous people
portraits famous people allow descendants to see the real appearance of writers, musicians, politicians, etc. For example, a portrait of the famous Soviet writer A. N. Tolstoy, made by P. D. Kokorin, gives us not only an image of the writer’s face. The picture conveys Tolstoy's thoughtfully gloomy gaze, turned to the side. IN right hand pictured is holding smoking pipe but the fingers are tight wooden surface, which speaks of the concentration of Alexei Tolstoy. Portraits of famous people can transmit main point occupations depicted.
This is how another portrait is made - portrait of F. I. Chaliapin(1905. Canvas, charcoal, chalk) by V. A. Serov. Here the sad look of Fyodor Chaliapin is fully expressed. Chaliapin is wearing a tailcoat, but the wings of his nose rise excitedly, as if famous singer just finished another aria.
Perhaps only Strong woman can be the wife of an artist: endure his ups and downs, experience his failures as his own. Portraits of women by famous artists, painted by the painters themselves, serve as proof of love and gratitude. One of such strong, but at the same time soft women was Nadezhda Ivanovna Zabala-Vrubel. It was famous Opera singer, which at first sight fell in love with Mikhail Vrubel, the creator of the famous "Demon". It was Nadezhda Zabela who served as the prototype famous character paintings Vrubel "The Swan Princess".
It was beautiful woman who loved her husband, even despite the fact that Mikhail Alexandrovich had a very bad character. The great portraits of women by famous artists include a series of paintings by Gala, painted by Salvador Dali. In 1929, Gala (Elena Dyakonova), together with her first husband Paul Eluard, visited the young Catalan painter Salvador Dali. Salvador and Elena fell in love immediately, even though Dyakonova was ten years old older than the artist and had a daughter from her first marriage, Cecile. Gala (as Dali called it) became the first and the only love, muse and wife. She built the schedule of the artist's work, and became his "producer".
Elena Dyakonova painted such famous portraits as: “Portrait of Gala with two lamb ribs”, “Gala in the form of Leda”, etc. Salvador Dali wrote about his beloved in the dedication in his biography “The Diary of a Genius”: “I I dedicate this book to my genius, my victorious Gala Gradiva, my Helen of Troy, my Saint Helena, my resplendent as the surface of the sea, Gala Galatea the Serene.”
Notable female portraits
Even the most famous female portraits can not be compared in importance and fame with the painting by Leonardo da Vinci "La Gioconda". This picture struck many with its dissimilarity to other well-known portraits. She became so famous also because there was an opinion that Leonardo himself portrayed himself in it. And indeed, as mentioned above, some art historians think that the Mona Lisa's smile is truly masculine. Famous portraits of women are sometimes symbols of femininity and beauty.
These are such famous female portraits as "Portrait of N. N. Pushkina" A. P. Bryullov(Watercolor, 1831), and a portrait of Nina Chavchavadze by N. Iankoshvili. Both young girls are shown in the prime of their youth and beauty. Both of them are spouses of great Russian writers. In both of these girls there is something bright, pure, sublime, they are depicted as the muses of A. S. Griboyedov and A. S. Pushkin. The girls are dressed in light gauze dresses, as if sparkling in the rays innocent beauty their owners. These are famous portraits of not just women, but inspirers of writers.
The most famous portraits
The most famous portraits are, perhaps, those that were produced on the audience greatest impression. Such well-known portraits attract either by the unusual colors, the originality of the plot, etc. This is how the portrait of A. S. Pushkin, made by Orest Kiprensky, is perceived.
The artist's style, distinguished by its plastic expressiveness of form and truthfulness, managed to convey in one way or another the unique image of the poet. "Portrait of A. S. Pushkin" at one time caused a lot of controversy. Some viewers (Pushkin's contemporaries) talked about the amazing similarity, others stated that there was no such similarity. Here, rather, everything depended on how contemporaries knew Pushkin. The most famous portraits are so great also because they make the viewer feel the reflection of the soul depicted. We can feel the aura of a person who died many years ago, feel his eyes on us. Perhaps even the best photographs can never capture the enchanting magic of famous portraits. In the most famous portraits there is always something from their author - the artist. Two people are involved in creating a portrait - the artist and the character of the picture, one gives the canvas his appearance, and the painter, no matter how realistic the picture is, always brings an echo of his soul into it.
The most famous and significant for the history of art pictures of the world for your inspiration.
The immortal paintings of great artists are admired by millions of people. Art, classical and modern, is one of the main sources of inspiration, taste and cultural education of any person, and even more creative.
worldwide famous paintings certainly more than 33. There are several hundred of them, and all of them would not fit in one review. Therefore, for ease of viewing, we have selected a few that are most significant for world culture and are often copied. Each work is accompanied interesting fact, explanation artistic sense or history of its creation.
Raphael "Sistine Madonna" 1512
Stored in the Old Masters Gallery in Dresden.
The painting has little secret: the background, which looks like clouds from afar, upon closer examination turns out to be the heads of angels. And the two angels depicted in the picture below have become the motif of numerous postcards and posters.
Rembrandt "The Night Watch" 1642
Stored in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The true name of the painting by Rembrandt is "The performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg." Art critics who discovered the painting in the 19th century thought that the figures were standing against a dark background, and it was called " The night Watch". Later it turned out that a layer of soot makes the picture dark, and the action actually takes place during the day. However, the picture has already entered the treasury of world art under the name "Night Watch".
Leonardo da Vinci "The Last Supper" 1495-1498
Located in the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
Over the more than 500-year history of the existence of the work, the fresco was repeatedly destroyed: a doorway was made through the painting, and then a doorway was laid, the refectory of the monastery, where the image is located, was used as an armory, a prison, and bombed. famous fresco restored at least five times, with the last restoration taking 21 years. Today, to view the work of art, visitors must book tickets in advance and can only spend 15 minutes in the refectory.
Salvador Dali "The Persistence of Memory" 1931
According to the author himself, the picture was painted as a result of associations that arose in Dali at the sight of processed cheese. Returning from the cinema, where she went that evening, Gala quite correctly predicted that no one who saw "The Persistence of Memory" once would forget it.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder "Tower of Babel" 1563
Stored at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
According to Brueghel, in the failure that befell the construction Tower of Babel, are not guilty of sudden arising according to biblical story language barriers; and mistakes made during the construction process. At first glance, the huge building seems solid enough, but upon closer inspection, it is clear that all the tiers are laid unevenly, the lower floors are either unfinished or are already collapsing, the building itself is tilting towards the city, and the prospects for the entire project are very sad.
Kazimir Malevich "Black Square" 1915
According to the artist, he painted the picture for several months. Subsequently, Malevich made several copies of the "Black Square" (according to some sources, seven). According to one version, the artist was unable to complete the work on the painting in the right time, so he had to cover up the work with black paint. Subsequently, after the recognition of the public, Malevich painted new "Black Squares" already on blank canvases. Malevich also painted the paintings "Red Square" (two copies) and one "White Square".
Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin "Bathing the red horse" 1912
Located in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Painted in 1912, the picture turned out to be visionary. The red horse acts as the Destiny of Russia or Russia itself, which the fragile and young rider is unable to hold. thus, the artist symbolically predicted with his painting the “red” fate of Russia in the 20th century.
Peter Paul Rubens "The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus" 1617-1618
Stored in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
The painting "The Abduction of the Daughters of Leucippus" is considered the personification of courageous passion and bodily beauty. The strong, muscular arms of young men pick up young naked women to put them on horseback. The sons of Zeus and Leda steal the brides of their cousins.
Paul Gauguin "Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?" 1898
Stored at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
At the direction of Gauguin himself, the picture should be read from right to left - the three main groups of figures illustrate the questions posed in the title. Three women with a child represent the beginning of life; middle group symbolizes the daily existence of maturity; in the final group, as conceived by the artist, " old woman, approaching death, seems reconciled and indulged in her thoughts", at her feet "a strange White bird…represents the futility of words.”
Eugene Delacroix "Liberty Leading the People" 1830
Stored in the Louvre in Paris
Delacroix created a painting based on the July Revolution of 1830 in France. In a letter to his brother on October 12, 1830, Delacroix writes: "If I did not fight for the Motherland, then at least I will write for her." The bare chest of a woman leading the people symbolizes selflessness french people that time, which with " bare chested' went to the enemy.
Claude Monet "Impression. Rising Sun" 1872
Stored at the Musée Marmottan in Paris.
The title of the piece is "Impression, soleil levant" with light hand journalist L. Leroy became a name artistic direction"impressionism". The painting was painted from nature in the old outport of Le Havre in France.
Jan Vermeer "Girl with a pearl earring" 1665
Stored in the Mauritshuis Gallery in The Hague.
One of the most famous paintings Dutch artist Jan Vermeer is often referred to as northern or Dutch Mona Lisa. Very little is known about the painting: it is not dated, the name of the depicted girl is not known. In 2003 by novel of the same name Tracey Chevalier was filmed Feature Film"Girl with a Pearl Earring", in which the history of the creation of the canvas is hypothetically restored in the context of biography and family life Vermeer.
Ivan Aivazovsky "The Ninth Wave" 1850
Stored in St. Petersburg in the State Russian Museum.
Ivan Aivazovsky is a world famous Russian marine painter who has dedicated his life to depicting the sea. He created about six thousand works, each of which received recognition during the life of the artist. The painting "The Ninth Wave" is included in the book "100 Great Paintings".
Andrei Rublev "Trinity" 1425-1427
The icon of the Holy Trinity, painted by Andrei Rublev in the 15th century, is one of the most famous Russian icons. The icon is a board in a vertical format. The tsars (Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Mikhail Fedorovich) "wrapped" the icon with gold, silver and precious stones. Today the salary is stored in the Sergiev Posad State Museum-Reserve.
Mikhail Vrubel "Seated Demon" 1890
Stored in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
The plot of the picture is inspired by Lermontov's poem "The Demon". The demon is an image of the strength of the human spirit, internal struggle, doubts. Tragically clasping his hands, the Demon sits with sad, huge eyes directed into the distance, surrounded by unprecedented flowers.
William Blake "The Great Architect" 1794
Stored in british museum in London.
The name of the painting "The Ancient of Days" literally translates from English as "Ancient of Days". This phrase was used as the name of God. Main character pictures - God at the moment of creation, who does not establish order, but limits freedom and marks the limits of the imagination.
Edouard Manet "Bar at the Folies Bergère" 1882
Stored at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.
The Folies Bergère is a variety show and cabaret in Paris. Manet frequented the Folies Bergère and ended up painting this painting, his last before his death in 1883. Behind the bar, in the midst of a crowd of drinking, eating, talking and smoking, a barmaid is absorbed in her own thoughts, watching a trapeze acrobat, which can be seen in the upper left corner of the picture.
Titian "Earthly Love and Heavenly Love" 1515-1516
Stored in the Galleria Borghese in Rome.
It is noteworthy that the modern name of the painting was not given by the artist himself, but began to be used only two centuries later. Until that time, the painting had various titles: "Beauty embellished and unadorned" (1613), "Three types of love" (1650), "Divine and secular women" (1700), and, in the end, "Earthly love and Heavenly love" (1792 and 1833).
Mikhail Nesterov "Vision to the youth Bartholomew" 1889-1890
Stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
The first and most significant work from the cycle dedicated to Sergius of Radonezh. Until the end of his days, the artist was convinced that “The Vision of the Young Bartholomew” was his best work. In his old age, the artist liked to repeat: “It’s not me who will live. The “Young Bartholomew” will live.” Now, if in thirty, fifty years after my death he will still say something to people - that means he is alive, which means that I am also alive ."
Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The Parable of the Blind" 1568
Stored in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.
Other names of the painting are “The Blind”, “Parabola of the Blind”, “The Blind Leading the Blind”. It is believed that the plot of the picture is based on the biblical parable of the blind: "If the blind lead the blind, then both of them will fall into the pit."
Viktor Vasnetsov "Alyonushka" 1881
Stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
The fairy tale "About sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka" is taken as a basis. Initially, Vasnetsov's painting was called "Fool Alyonushka". Orphans were called “fools” at that time. “Alyonushka,” the artist himself later said, “as if she had been living in my head for a long time, but in reality I saw her in Akhtyrka when I met one simple-haired girl who struck my imagination. There was so much longing, loneliness and purely Russian sadness in her eyes ... Some special Russian spirit emanated from her."
Vincent van Gogh Starry Night 1889
Stored in the Museum contemporary art in NYC.
Unlike most of the artist's paintings, " Starlight Night"was written from memory. Van Gogh was at that time in the Saint-Remy hospital, tormented by bouts of insanity.
Karl Bryullov "The Last Day of Pompeii" 1830-1833
Stored in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
The painting depicts the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. e. and the destruction of the city of Pompeii near Naples. The image of the artist in the left corner of the picture is a self-portrait of the author.
Pablo Picasso "Girl on a ball" 1905
Stored in Pushkin Museum, Moscow
The painting ended up in Russia thanks to the industrialist Ivan Abramovich Morozov, who bought it in 1913 for 16,000 francs. In 1918, the personal collection of I. A. Morozov was nationalized. IN currently the painting is in the collection State Museum fine arts named after A.S. Pushkin.
Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta" 1491
Stored in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
The original title of the painting is Madonna and Child. Modern name painting comes from the name of its owner - Count Litt, the owner of the family art gallery in Milan. There is an assumption that the figure of the baby was not painted by Leonardo da Vinci, but belongs to the brush of one of his students. This is evidenced by the baby's pose, which is unusual for the author's manner.
Jean Ingres "Turkish Baths" 1862
Stored in the Louvre in Paris.
Ingres finished painting this picture when he was already over 80 years old. With this picture, the artist sums up a peculiar result of the image of bathers, the themes of which have long been present in his work. Initially, the canvas was in the form of a square, but a year after its completion, the artist turned it into round picture- tondo.
Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin Savitsky "Morning in a pine forest" 1889
Stored in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow
"Morning in pine forest"- a painting by Russian artists Ivan Shishkin and Konstantin Savitsky. Savitsky painted bears, but the collector Pavel Tretyakov, when he acquired the painting, erased his signature, so now only Shishkin is indicated as the author of the painting.
Mikhail Vrubel "The Swan Princess" 1900
Stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery
The picture was painted on the basis of the stage image of the heroine of the opera "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov based on the plot of the fairy tale of the same name by A. S. Pushkin. Vrubel created sketches for the scenery and costumes for the premiere of the opera in 1900, and his wife sang the part of the Swan Princess.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo "Portrait of Emperor Rudolf II in the form of Vertumnus" 1590
Located in Skokloster Castle in Stockholm.
One of the few surviving works of the artist, who made portraits from fruits, vegetables, flowers, crustaceans, fish, pearls, musical and other instruments, books, and so on. "Vertumnus" is a portrait of the emperor, represented as the ancient Roman god of the seasons, vegetation and transformation. In the picture, Rudolph consists entirely of fruits, flowers and vegetables.
Edgar Degas "Blue Dancers" 1897
Located in the Museum of Art. A. S. Pushkin in Moscow.
Degas was a big fan of ballet. He is called the artist of ballerinas. The work "Blue Dancers" refers to late period Degas' creativity, when his eyesight weakened, and he began to work with large color spots, giving paramount importance to the decorative organization of the surface of the picture.
Leonardo da Vinci "Mona Lisa" 1503-1505
Stored in the Louvre, Paris.
"Mona Lisa" might not have received worldwide fame, if she had not been kidnapped in 1911 by an employee of the Louvre. The picture was found two years later in Italy: the thief responded to an ad in the newspaper and offered to sell the Gioconda to the director Uffizi galleries. All this time, while the investigation was going on, "Mona Lisa" did not leave the covers of newspapers and magazines around the world, becoming an object of copying and worship.
Sandro Botticelli "The Birth of Venus" 1486
Stored in Florence at the Uffizi Gallery
The painting illustrates the myth of the birth of Aphrodite. The naked goddess floats to the shore in an open shell, driven by the wind. On the left side of the picture, Zephyr (the west wind), in the arms of his wife Chlorida, blows on a shell, creating a wind filled with flowers. On the shore, the goddess is met by one of the graces. "The Birth of Venus" is well preserved due to the fact that Botticelli applied to the picture protective layer from egg yolk.
Michelangelo "Creation of Adam" 1511
Is in Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
