Mysterious world art may seem confusing to the unsophisticated, but there are masterpieces that everyone should know. Talent, inspiration and painstaking work on every stroke give birth to works that are admired centuries later.
It is impossible to collect all the outstanding creations in one selection, but we tried to select the most famous paintings, drawing giant queues in front of museums around the world.
The most famous paintings by Russian artists
“Morning in a pine forest”, Ivan Shishkin and Konstantin Savitsky
Year of creation: 1889Museum
Shishkin was an excellent landscape painter, but he rarely had to draw animals, so the figures of bear cubs were painted by Savitsky, an excellent animal artist. At the end of the work, Tretyakov ordered Savitsky’s signature to be erased, considering that Shishkin had done much more extensive work.
“Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan November 16, 1581”, Ilya Repin
Years of creation: 1883–1885Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Repin was inspired to create the masterpiece, better known as “Ivan the Terrible Kills His Son,” by Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Antar” symphony, namely its second movement, “The Sweetness of Revenge.” Under the influence of the sounds of music, the artist depicted a bloody scene of murder and subsequent repentance observed in the eyes of the sovereign.
"The Seated Demon", Mikhail Vrubel
Year of creation: 1890Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
The painting was one of thirty illustrations drawn by Vrubel for the anniversary edition of the works of M.Yu. Lermontov. “The sitting demon” personifies the doubts inherent in the human spirit, the subtle, elusive “mood of the soul.” According to experts, the artist was to some extent obsessed with the image of a demon: this painting was followed by “Demon Flying” and “Demon Defeated.”
“Boyaryna Morozova”, Vasily Surikov
Years of creation: 1884–1887Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
The film is based on the plot of the Old Believer life “The Tale of Boyarina Morozova”. Understanding key image came to the artist when he saw a crow spreading its black wings like a blur on the snowy surface. Later, Surikov spent a long time looking for a prototype for the noblewoman’s face, but could not find anything suitable until one day he met an Old Believer woman with a pale, frantic face in a cemetery. The portrait sketch was completed in two hours.
"Bogatyrs", Viktor Vasnetsov
Years of creation: 1881–1898Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
The future epic masterpiece was born small pencil sketch in 1881; For further work on the canvas, Vasnetsov spent many years painstakingly collecting information about the heroes from myths, legends and traditions, and also studied authentic ancient Russian ammunition in museums.
Analysis of Vasnetsov’s painting “Three Heroes”
“Bathing the Red Horse”, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin
Year of creation: 1912Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Initially, the painting was conceived as an everyday sketch from the life of a Russian village, but during the work the artist’s canvas became overgrown with a huge number of symbols. By the red horse, Petrov-Vodkin meant “The Fate of Russia”; after the country joined the First world war he exclaimed: “So that’s why I painted this picture!” However, after the revolution, pro-Soviet art critics interpreted the key figure in the painting as a “harbinger of revolutionary fires.”
"Trinity", Andrei Rublev
Year of creation: 1411Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
The icon that laid the foundation for the tradition of Russian icon painting in the 15th–16th centuries. The canvas depicting the Old Testament trinity of angels who appeared to Abraham is a symbol of the unity of the Holy Trinity.
"The Ninth Wave", Ivan Aivazovsky
Year of creation: 1850Museum
A pearl in the “cartography” of the legendary Russian marine painter, who without hesitation can be considered one of the most famous artists in the world. We can see how the sailors who miraculously survived the storm cling to the mast in anticipation of meeting the “ninth wave,” the mythical apogee of all storms. But the warm shades that dominate the canvas give hope for the salvation of the victims.
“The Last Day of Pompeii”, Karl Bryullov
Years of creation: 1830–1833Museum: Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Completed in 1833, Bryullov’s painting was initially exhibited in the largest cities of Italy, where it caused a real sensation - the painter was compared to Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael... At home, the masterpiece was greeted with no less enthusiasm, securing the nickname “Charlemagne” for Bryullov. The canvas is truly great: its dimensions are 4.6 by 6.5 meters, which makes it one of the largest paintings among the works of Russian artists.
The most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci
"Mona Lisa"
Years of creation: 1503–1505Museum: Louvre, Paris
A masterpiece of the Florentine genius that needs no introduction. It is noteworthy that the painting received cult status after the incident of theft from the Louvre in 1911. Two years later, the thief, who turned out to be a museum employee, tried to sell the painting to the Uffizi Gallery. The events of the high-profile case were covered in detail in the world press, after which hundreds of thousands of reproductions went on sale, and mysterious Gioconda became an object of worship.
Years of creation: 1495–1498Museum: Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
After five centuries, the fresco with a classical plot on the wall of the refectory of the Dominican monastery in Milan is recognized as one of the most mysterious paintings in history. According to Da Vinci's idea, the painting depicts the moment of the Easter meal, when Christ notifies the disciples of imminent betrayal. The huge number of hidden symbols has given rise to an equally huge number of studies, allusions, borrowings and parodies.
"Madonna Litta"
Year of creation: 1491Museum: Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Also known as "Madonna and Child" painting for a long time was kept in the collection of the Dukes of Litta, and in 1864 was purchased by the St. Petersburg Hermitage. Many experts agree that the figure of the baby was painted not by da Vinci personally, but by one of his students - a pose that is too uncharacteristic for a painter.
The most famous paintings of Salvador Dali
Year of creation: 1931Museum: Museum contemporary art, NY
Paradoxically, but the most famous work genius of surrealism, was born from thoughts about Camembert cheese. One evening, after a friendly dinner, which ended with appetizers with cheese, the artist was lost in thought about “spreading pulp,” and his imagination painted a picture of a melting clock with an olive branch in the foreground.
Year of creation: 1955Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington
A traditional plot given a surreal twist using arithmetic principles studied by Leonardo da Vinci. The artist put the peculiar magic of the number “12” at the forefront, moving away from the hermeneutic method of interpreting the biblical plot.
The most famous paintings of Pablo Picasso
Year of creation: 1905Museum: Pushkin Museum, Moscow
The painting became the first sign of the so-called “pink” period in Picasso’s work. Rough texture and simplified style are combined with a sensitive play of lines and colors, the contrast between the massive figure of an athlete and a fragile gymnast. The canvas was sold along with 29 other works for 2 thousand francs (in total) to the Parisian collector Vollard, changed several collections, and in 1913 it was acquired by the Russian philanthropist Ivan Morozov, already for 13 thousand francs.
Year of creation: 1937Museum: Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid
Guernica is the name of a city in the Basque country that was subjected to German bombing in April 1937. Picasso had never been to Guernica, but was stunned by the scale of the disaster, like “the blow of a bull’s horn.” The artist conveyed the horrors of war in abstract form and showed the real face of fascism, veiling it with bizarre geometric shapes.
The most famous paintings of the Renaissance
"Sistine Madonna", Raphael Santi
Years of creation: 1512–1513Museum: Gallery of Old Masters, Dresden
If you look closely at the background, at first glance consisting of clouds, you can see that in fact Raphael depicted the heads of angels there. The two angels located at the bottom of the picture are almost more famous than the masterpiece itself, due to its wide circulation in mass art.
"Birth of Venus", Sandro Botticelli
Year of creation: 1486Museum: Uffizi Gallery, Florence
At the heart of the picture - ancient greek myth about the birth of Aphrodite from sea foam. Unlike many masterpieces of the Renaissance, the canvas has survived to this day in excellent condition thanks to the protective layer of egg yolk that Botticelli prudently covered the work with.
"The Creation of Adam", Michelangelo Buonarotti
Year of creation: 1511Museum: Sistine Chapel, Vatican
One of the nine frescoes on the ceiling Sistine Chapel, illustrating the chapter from Genesis: “And God created man in His own image.” It was Michelangelo who was the first to depict God as a gray-haired old man, after which this image became archetypal. Modern scientists believe that the contours of the figure of God and angels represent the human brain.
"Night Watch", Rembrandt
Year of creation: 1642Museum: State Museum, Amsterdam
The full title of the painting is “Performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Kok and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg.” Modern name The painting received its attention in the 19th century, when it was found by art critics who, due to the layer of dirt covering the work, decided that the action in the painting was taking place under the cover of night darkness.
"The Garden of Earthly Delights", Hieronymus Bosch
Years of creation: 1500–1510Museum: Prado Museum, Madrid “Black Square”
Malevich wrote “Black Square” for several months; legend says that hidden under a layer of black paint is painting– the artist did not have time to finish the work on time and, in a fit of anger, covered up the image. There are at least seven copies of the “Black Square” made by Malevich, as well as a kind of “continuation” of the Suprematist squares – “Red Square” (1915) and “White Square” (1918).
"The Scream", Edvard Munch
Year of creation: 1893Museum: National Gallery, Oslo
Due to its inexplicable mystical effect on the viewer, the painting was stolen in 1994 and 2004. There is an opinion that the picture created at the turn of the 20th century anticipated numerous disasters of the coming century. The deep symbolism of "The Scream" inspired many artists, including Andy Warhol
This painting still causes a lot of controversy. Some art critics believe that the excitement around the painting, painted using the signature splashing technique, was created artificially. The canvas was not sold until all the artist’s other works were purchased, and accordingly, the price for a non-figurative masterpiece skyrocketed. “Number Five” was sold for $140 million, becoming the most expensive painting in history.
"Marilyn Diptych", Andy Warhol
Year of creation: 1962Museum: Tate Gallery, London
A week after the death of Marilyn Monroe, the controversial artist began work on the canvas. 50 stenciled portraits of the actress were applied to the canvas, stylized in the “pop art” genre based on a photograph from 1953.
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There are works of art that seem to hit the viewer over the head, stunning and amazing. Others draw you into thought and a search for layers of meaning and secret symbolism. Some paintings are shrouded in mystery and mystical riddles, while others surprise with exorbitant prices.
We carefully reviewed all the main achievements in world painting and selected from them two dozen of the most strange paintings. Salvador Dali, whose works completely fall within the format of this material and are the first to come to mind, were not included in this collection on purpose.
It is clear that “weirdness” is a rather subjective concept and everyone has their own amazing paintings, standing out from other works of art. We will be glad if you share them in the comments and tell us a little about them.
"Scream"
Edvard Munch. 1893, cardboard, oil, tempera, pastel.
National Gallery, Oslo.
"Scream" counts significant event expressionism and one of the most famous paintings in the world.
There are two interpretations of what is depicted: it is the hero himself who is gripped by horror and silently screams, pressing his hands to his ears; or the hero closes his ears from the cry of the world and nature sounding around him. Munch wrote four versions of “The Scream,” and there is a version that this painting is the fruit of manic-depressive psychosis from which the artist suffered. After a course of treatment at the clinic, Munch did not return to work on the canvas.
“I was walking along the path with two friends. The sun was setting - suddenly the sky turned blood red, I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned against the fence - I looked at the blood and flames over the bluish-black fjord and city. My friends moved on, and I stood, trembling with excitement, feeling an endless scream piercing nature,” Edvard Munch said about the history of the painting.
“Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?"
Paul Gauguin. 1897-1898, oil on canvas.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
According to Gauguin himself, the painting should be read from right to left - 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, according to the artist’s plan, “ old woman, approaching death, seems reconciled and given over to her thoughts”, at her feet “a strange White bird...represents the futility of words.”
Deep philosophical picture post-impressionist Paul Gauguin was painted by him in Tahiti, where he fled from Paris. Upon completion of the work, he even wanted to commit suicide: “I believe that this painting is superior to all my previous ones and that I will never create something better or even similar.” He lived another five years, and so it happened.
"Guernica"
Pablo Picasso. 1937, oil on canvas.
Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid.
Guernica presents scenes of death, violence, brutality, suffering and helplessness, without specifying their immediate causes, but they are obvious. They say that in 1940, Pablo Picasso was summoned by the Gestapo in Paris. The conversation immediately turned to the painting. “Did you do this?” - “No, you did it.”
The huge fresco painting “Guernica,” painted by Picasso in 1937, tells the story of a raid by a Luftwaffe volunteer unit on the city of Guernica, as a result of which the city of six thousand was completely destroyed. The painting was painted literally in a month - the first days of work on the painting, Picasso worked for 10-12 hours, and already in the first sketches one could see main idea. This is one of best illustrations the nightmare of fascism, as well as human cruelty and grief.
"Portrait of the Arnolfini couple"
Jan van Eyck. 1434, wood, oil.
London National Gallery, London.
The famous painting is completely filled with symbols, allegories and various references - right down to the signature “Jan van Eyck was here”, which turned the painting not just into a work of art, but into historical document, confirming the reality of the event at which the artist was present.
The portrait supposedly of Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini and his wife is one of the most complex works Western school of painting of the Northern Renaissance.
In Russia, in the last few years, the painting has gained great popularity due to Arnolfini’s portrait resemblance to Vladimir Putin.
"Demon Seated"
Mikhail Vrubel. 1890, oil on canvas.
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
"The hands resist him"
Bill Stoneham. 1972.
This work, of course, cannot be ranked among the masterpieces of world painting, but the fact that it is strange is a fact.
There are legends surrounding the painting with a boy, a doll and his hands pressed against the glass. From “people are dying because of this picture” to “the children in it are alive.” The picture looks really creepy, which gives rise to a lot of fears and speculation among people with weak psyches.
The artist assured that the picture depicts himself at the age of five, that the door is a representation of the dividing line between real world and the world of dreams, and the doll is a guide who can guide the boy through this world. The hands represent alternative lives or possibilities.
The painting gained notoriety in February 2000 when it was put up for sale on eBay with a backstory saying that the painting was “haunted.” “Hands Resist Him” was bought for $1,025 by Kim Smith, who was then simply inundated with letters from creepy stories and demands to burn the painting.
Speaking about the genre of landscape, it is impossible not to refer to the work of great landscape painters. Now it is difficult to imagine that two hundred years ago such a thing as a landscape did not yet exist. Russian traditions landscape painting began to form only in late XVIII centuries. Before this, artists wrote under the influence of Italian and French masters, ennobling nature according to the academic laws of construction, which were considered mandatory in painting of that time.
The Partnership made a huge contribution to the development of Russian landscape traveling exhibitions(Itinerants) under the leadership of I. N. Kramskoy. Artists sang the beauty of discreet Russian nature, simplicity rural landscapes, the vast expanses of Rus'.
The greatest masters of landscape:
- Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov (1830-1897)
- Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817–1900)
Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898)
Art I.I. Shishkina is surprisingly clear and transparent. His paintings are a hymn to living nature and its beauty. He created landscape art with coniferous thickets, with vast expanse, with all the simplicity of the northern landscape.
At the age of 12, at the insistence of his father, he was assigned to the 1st Kazan Gymnasium. Full course never finished. In 1852 he moved to Moscow and entered the School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Here A. N. Mokritsky became Shishkin’s mentor. After completing the course (1856), the talented student was advised to continue his education in St. Petersburg at the Academy of Arts. His training was supervised by S. M. Vorobyov.
The teachers immediately noted Shishkin’s penchant for landscape painting. Already in his first year at the academy, he was awarded a small silver medal for “View in the vicinity of St. Petersburg.” In 1858, the artist received a large silver medal for the painting “View on the Island of Valaam.”
The successes achieved allowed Shishkin to travel abroad as a scholarship holder of the academy. The journey began in Munich (1861), where Ivan Ivanovich visited the workshops of popular animal artists B. and F. Adam. In 1863, Shishkin moved to Zurich, then to Geneva, Prague, and Dusseldorf. Feeling homesick for his fatherland, he returned to St. Petersburg in 1866, before the expiration of his scholarship.
In Russia, the artist was awarded the title of academician (1865). From this time on, the most fruitful period of the painter’s work began. The paintings “Cutting Wood” (1867), “Rye” (1878), “Pine Trees Illuminated by the Sun” (1886), “Morning in pine forest"(1889; bears written by K. A. Savitsky), " Ship Grove"(1898) and many others.
Shishkin worked actively in the open air, often undertaking artistic purpose traveling around Russia. He exhibited his works almost every year - first at the academy, and then, after the Association of Traveling Artists was established art exhibitions(1870), at these expositions.
Ivan Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900)
Born on August 30, 1860 in the Lithuanian town of Kybartai in Jewish family. My father was a minor employee in the city government. Soon after the birth of their youngest son, the family moved to Moscow. At the age of 13, Isaac was accepted into the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, in the class of A.K. Savrasov and V.D. Polenov. From the very beginning of his studies, Levitan made a living by giving lessons and commissioned portraits. He graduated from college with flying colors, but because of his background, he was awarded a diploma as a penmanship teacher.
First big picture « Quiet abode“he wrote after a trip in 1890 to the Russian North. The canvas was purchased by P. M. Tretyakov for his gallery. In 1892, the artist was forced to leave Moscow, since Jews were not allowed to live in the capitals. He settled in a village located along the Vladimirsky tract, along which convicts were driven to Siberia. The artist captured these places in the painting “Vladimirka” (1892). In the 90s Levitan made another trip, this time along the Volga. There the painting “Fresh Wind” was born. Volga" (1891-1895). An exacerbation of tuberculosis caused the artist to leave abroad, to France, then to Italy, although the efforts of friends helped him obtain permission to live in Moscow.
Returning home, in 1898 Levitan began teaching a landscape class at the school from which he graduated. His health was deteriorating, and in 1899 the artist, at the invitation of A.P. Chekhov, left for Yalta. Having returned, he began teaching again, but his health continued to deteriorate, and on August 4, 1900, Levitan died.
The landscapes of the singer of Russian nature are not just photographic image nature - the artist managed to convey her living breath. No wonder the critic V.V. Stasov called Levitan’s paintings emotional poems. At the same time, Levitan was not only a magnificent landscape painter. His creative heritage They also make drawings, watercolors, and book illustrations.
The city of Plyos is associated with the name of Isaac Levitan. Levitan comes to Plyos for three summers in a row, in 1888-1890. There is not a single corner or path in the vicinity of Plyos, no matter where you have been Great master. Inspired by the magical beauties of Plyos, he paints almost 200 paintings and sketches here! Now famous paintings: “Above Eternal Peace”, “After the Rain. Plyos", "Evening. Golden Reach”, “Birch Grove” and many others have become decorations of the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum and many collections in Russia and abroad.
Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov (1844-1927)
Born on June 1, 1844 in the Borok estate (now Polenovo in the Tula region) in the family of archaeologist and bibliographer D. V. Polenov. After receiving secondary education, Vasily entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (1863), and a little later began attending lectures at Faculty of Law in the University.
In 1872, Polenov, who completed both courses with honors, was awarded a trip abroad at the expense of the academy. He visited Vienna, Venice, Florence, Naples, and lived in Paris for a long time. The visit home was short-lived; in 1876 the artist volunteered for the Serbian-Montenegrin-Turkish war.
In subsequent years, he traveled a lot in the Middle East and Greece (1881-1882, 1899, 1909), Italy (1883-1884, 1894-1895). In 1879 he joined the Society of Peredvizhniki artists. In 1882-1895. taught at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
In recognition of his merits, Polenov was elected a full member of the Academy of Arts in 1893. Since 1910 he was involved in the development provincial theaters, becoming three years later the head of a special section at the Moscow Society of People's Universities.
Polenov is known as the author multi-genre works. He addressed historical and religious themes - “Christ and the Sinner” (1886-1887), “On Lake Tiberias” (1888), “Among the Teachers” (1896); in 1877 he created a series of studies of Kremlin cathedrals and palace chambers; V different time made theatrical scenery. According to his sketches, churches were built in Abramtsevo (in collaboration with V.M. Vasnetsov) and in Bekhov near Tarusa (1906). But it was his landscapes that brought Polenov the greatest fame: “Moscow Courtyard” (1878), “Grandmother’s Garden”, “Summer” (both 1879), “Overgrown Pond” (1880), “ Golden autumn"(1893), conveying the poetic charm of the corners of city life and pristine Russian nature.
The artist spent the last years of his life in the Borok estate, where he organized a museum of art and scientific collections. The museum-estate of V. D. Polenov has been operating here since 1927.
Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov (1830 - 1897)
The artist was born on May 12 (24), 1830 in Moscow, in the family of the merchant of the 3rd guild, Kondraty Artemyevich Savrasov. Contrary to the wishes of his father, who dreamed of adapting his son to “commercial affairs,” the boy entered the Moscow School of Painting and Sculpture in 1844, where he studied in the class of landscape painter K.I. Rabus. During his studies, in 1850, he completed the painting “Stone in the Forest near the Spill,” which art critics consider somewhat awkward in composition. In the same year, for the painting “View of the Moscow Kremlin by Moonlight,” he was awarded the title of non-class artist.
Founding member of the Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions (see Peredvizhniki). IN early works S. romantic effects prevail (“View of the Kremlin in inclement weather”, 1851, Tretyakov Gallery).
In the 1850-60s. Savrasov more often moves to calm, narrative images, in some cases marked by a desire for color unity of works ("Losiny Island in Sokolniki", 1869, ibid.), to enhance the emotional sound of chiaroscuro. The result of these searches was the painting “The Rooks Have Arrived” (1871, ibid.), where Savrasov, depicting an outwardly inconspicuous motif and emphasizing the moment of transition in the life of the natural environment (the onset of early spring), managed to show the deep sincerity of his native nature. Savrasov’s subsequent works are also distinguished by their lyrical spontaneity and interest in the plein air (Country Road, 1873; Courtyard, 1870s; Grave over the Volga, 1874, private collection, Moscow).
Alexey Savrasov, one of largest representatives lyrical direction in Russian landscape, had a huge influence on Russian landscape painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A.K. passed away Savrasov September 26, 1897, buried in Moscow, on Vagankovskoe cemetery. The alley where he is buried bears his name. His favorite student was Isaac Levitan
Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi (1841-1910)
Born in January 1841 in Mariupol in the family of a shoemaker of Greek origin. Having been orphaned, he was raised in a family of relatives. He started drawing early and mastered painting mostly on his own.
In 1855, he went on foot to Feodosia to study with I.K. Aivazovsky. Influence famous marine painter on young Kuindzhi there was no doubt. At the end of the 60s. Kuindzhi arrived in St. Petersburg. The artist presented his first works in 1868 at an exhibition at the Academy of Arts and soon firmly established himself as a master of landscape: “Autumn thaw” (1872); "The Forgotten Village" (1874); “Chumatsky tract in Mariupol” (1875), etc.
In 1870 he first visited the island of Valaam, where he subsequently painted a lot. As contemporaries believed, it was the landscapes created there that attracted the attention of viewers.
Painting " Ukrainian night"(1876) simply stunned the audience and determined the author’s special path in art. With her, Kuindzhi began his “pursuit of light” - he sought to achieve the complete illusion of natural lighting. This was manifested to the highest degree in the painting “Night on the Dnieper” (1880) with a sparkling moonlit path in velvet darkness.
The painter revealed the possibilities of the landscape in a new way, transforming, purifying and elevating reality. He achieved extraordinary intensity and brightness of colors, new color solutions. He is characterized by numerous “solar” paintings and sketches (including “ Birch Grove", 1879).
The intense contrast of rich tones, lighting effects - all this was unusual for paintings of the 19th century V. phenomenon. Misunderstanding among his colleagues forced Kuindzhi to refuse to participate in exhibitions at the moment of his greatest success. IN last time he exhibited his work in 1882.
The artist lived as a hermit in Crimea, where he created a series of large canvases and hundreds of sketches, continuing to experiment with paints and color. Among Kuindzhi’s later works, this is his only story picture“Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane” (1901) and “Night” breathing extraordinary harmony (1905-1908)
In 1909, Arkhip Ivanovich founded the Society of Artists (which later received his name), which provided support to people of art. The painter bequeathed his entire fortune and the works in his studio to this Society.
The page presents the most famous paintings by Russian artists of the 19th century with names and descriptions
The diverse painting of Russian artists since the beginning of the 19th century has attracted attention with its originality and versatility in Russian fine art. The masters of painting of that time never ceased to amaze with their unique approach to the subject and reverent attitude towards the feelings of people, to native nature. In the 19th century, portrait compositions with an amazing combination of an emotional image and an epically calm motif were often painted.
The paintings of Russian artists are magnificent in skill and truly beautiful in perception, amazingly accurately reflecting the breath of their time, the unique character of the people and their desire for beauty.
Canvases by Russian painters who are the most popular: Alexander Ivanov is a prominent representative of the biblical pictorial movement, telling us in colors about the episodes of the life of Jesus Christ.
Karl Bryullov - a painter popular in his time, his direction history painting, portrait themes, romantic works.
Marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky, his paintings perfectly and one might say simply unsurpassedly reflect the beauty of the sea with transparent rolling waves, sea sunsets and sailboats.
The works 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 own style painter fairy tales and epics by Viktor Vasnetsov are always rich and bright, romantic paintings, the heroes of which are all of us famous heroes folk tales.
Each artist is unique, for example, the painterly master of fairy tales and epics, Viktor Vasnetsov, unique in his style - these are always rich and bright, romantic canvases, the heroes of which are the heroes of folk tales known to us all. The artist Vasily Surikov’s paintings are very picturesque and large-scale, the description of Russian history is his direction, in which the artist emphasized in paint the episodes of the life path of the Russian people.
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. Such artists as Pavel Fedotov and Vasily Perov decided in this direction
Landscape artists of that time also occupied their niche, among them Isaac Levitan, Alexey Savrasov, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Vasily Polenov, the young artist Fyodor Vasiliev, a picturesque master of the forest, forest glades with pine trees and birch trees 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 the enormous freedom for creativity. Perhaps this is the mystery that the canvases created in the vast expanses of Russia stand out with a certain refined severity, but, at the same time, attract with an understated beauty, from which it is difficult to look away. Or Levitan’s painting Dandelions, which is not at all intricate and rather not flashy, seems to encourage the viewer to think and see the beauty in the simple.
Magnificent works of art by the hands of great masters can surprise even people for whom art means little. This is why world-famous museums are among the most popular attractions, attracting millions of visitors a year.
To stand out from the huge number of paintings written throughout the history of art, the artist needs not just talent, but also the ability to express a unique plot in an unusual and very relevant way for his time.
The paintings below loudly proclaim not only the talent of their authors, but also the numerous cultural trends that have come and gone, and the most important historical events which have always been reflected in art.
"Birth of Venus"
This painting, painted by the great Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli, depicts the moment of the beautiful Venus emerging from the sea foam. One of the most attractive aspects of the painting is the modest pose of the goddess and her simple but beautiful face.
"Dogs Play Poker"
Painted by Cassius Coolidge in 1903, a series of 16 paintings depict dogs gathered around a coffee or gaming table playing poker. Many critics recognize these paintings as the canonical depiction of Americans of the era.
Portrait of Madame Recamier
This portrait, painted by Jacques-Louis David, depicts the glittering socialite in a contrastingly minimalist and simple setting, wearing a simple sleeveless white dress. This - shining example neoclassicism in portrait art.
№5
This famous painting, painted by Jackson Pollock, is his most iconic work, which vividly depicts the chaos that raged in Pollock's soul and mind. This is one of the most expensive work ever sold by an American artist.
"Son of Man"
"Son of Man", written by Rene Magritte, is a kind of self-portrait, depicting the artist himself in a black suit, but with an apple instead of a face.
"Number 1" ("Royal Red and Blue")
This fairly recent piece, painted by Mark Rothko, is nothing more than brushstrokes of three different shades on canvas. self made. The painting is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.
"Massacre of the Innocents"
Based biblical history about the murder of innocent babies in Bethlehem, Peter Paul Rubens created this eerie and cruel painting that touches the emotions of everyone who looks at it.
"Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte"
Created by Georges Seurat, this unique and very popular painting depicts a relaxed weekend atmosphere in big city. This painting is an excellent example of pointillism, which combines many points into one whole.
"Dance"
"The Dance" by Henri Matisse is an example of a style called Fauvism, which is characterized by bright, almost unnatural colors and shapes and high dynamics.
"American Gothic"
"American Gothic" is a work of art that perfectly symbolizes the image of Americans during the Great Depression. In this painting, Grant Wood depicted a strict, probably religious couple standing in front of simple house with Gothic style windows.
"Flower Loader"
This painting by the most popular Mexican painter of the 20th century, Diego Rivera, depicts a man struggling to carry a basket overloaded with bright tropical flowers on his back.
"Whistler's Mother"
Also known as "Arrangement in Gray and Black. The Artist's Mother", this is one of the most famous paintings American artist James Whistler. In this painting, Whistler depicted his mother sitting on a chair against a gray wall. The painting uses only black and gray shades.
"The Persistence of Memory"
This is an iconic work by the no less iconic Salvador Dali, the world-famous Spanish surrealist who brought this movement to the forefront of art.
Portrait of Dora Maar
Pablo Picasso is one of the most popular and influential Spanish painters. He is the founder of a sensational style in his time called cubism, which seeks to fragment any object and convey it with clear geometric forms. This painting is the first portrait in the Cubist style.
"Portrait of an artist without a beard"
This painting by Van Gogh is a self-portrait, and a unique one, since it depicts the artist without the usual beard. In addition, this is one of the few paintings by Van Gogh that were sold to private collections.
"Night cafe terrace"
Painted by Vincent van Gogh, this painting depicts a familiar sight in a completely new way, using amazing bright colors and unusual shapes.
"Composition VIII"
Wassily Kandinsky is recognized as the founder abstract art- a style that uses shapes and symbols instead of familiar objects and people. "Composition VIII" is one of the artist's first paintings made exclusively in this style.
"Kiss"
One of the first works of art In the Art Nouveau style, this painting is almost entirely done in gold tones. Gustav Klimt's painting is one of the most bright works style.
"Ball at the Moulin de la Galette"
The painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir is a vibrant and dynamic depiction of city life. In addition, this is one of the most expensive paintings in the world.
"Olympia"
In the painting "Olympia" Edouard Manet created a real contradiction, almost a scandal, since a naked woman with a gaze is clearly a mistress, not veiled by myths classical period. This is one of the early works in the style of realism.
"Third of May 1808 in Madrid"
In this work, Francisco Goya depicted Napoleon's attack on the Spaniards. This is one of the first spanish paintings that paint the war in a negative light.
"Las Meninas"
Diego Velázquez's most famous painting depicts the five-year-old Infanta Margarita against the background of Velázquez's portrait of her parents.
"Portrait of the Arnolfini couple"
This picture is one of oldest works painting. It was painted by Jan van Eyck and depicts Italian businessman Giovanni Arnolfini and his pregnant wife in their home in Bruges.
"Scream"
A painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch depicts a man's face distorted with fear against a blood-red sky. The landscape in the background adds to the dark charm of this painting. In addition, "The Scream" is one of the first paintings made in the style of expressionism, where realism is minimized to allow more freedom for emotions.
"Water lilies"
"Water Lilies" by Claude Monet is part of a series of 250 paintings depicting elements of the artist's own garden. These paintings are exhibited in various art museums peace.
"Starlight Night"
Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is one of the most famous images V modern culture. It is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
"The Fall of Icarus"
This painting, painted Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel, shows man's indifference to the suffering of his neighbors. Strong social theme shown here quite in a simple way, using the image of Icarus drowning underwater and people ignoring his suffering.
"The Creation of Adam"
The Creation of Adam is one of several magnificent frescoes by Michelangelo that decorate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace. It depicts the creation of Adam. In addition to depicting ideal human forms, the fresco is one of the first attempts in art history to depict God.
"Last Supper"
This fresco by the great Leonardo depicts the last supper of Jesus before his betrayal, arrest and death. In addition to the composition, shapes and colors, discussions of this fresco are replete with theories about hidden symbols and the presence of Mary Magdalene next to Jesus.
"Guernica"
Picasso's Guernica depicts the explosion of the Spanish city of the same name during the Spanish civil war. This - black and white painting, negatively depicting fascism, Nazism and their ideas.
"Girl with a Pearl Earring"
This painting by Johannes Vermeer is often called Dutch Mona Lisa, not only because of her extraordinary popularity, but also because the expression on the girl’s face is difficult to grasp and explain.
"Beheading of John the Baptist"
Caravaggio's painting very realistically depicts the moment of the murder of John the Baptist in prison. The semi-darkness of the painting and the facial expressions of its characters make it a true classical masterpiece.
"The night Watch"
"The Night Watch" is one of Rembrandt's most famous paintings. It depicts group portrait rifle company led by its officers. A unique aspect of the painting is the semi-darkness, which gives the impression of a night scene.
"School of Athens"
Painted by Raphael in his early Roman period, this fresco depicts famous Greek philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Socrates, Pythagoras and others. Many philosophers are depicted as contemporaries of Raphael, for example, Plato - Leonardo da Vinci, Heraclitus - Michelangelo, Euclid - Bramante.
"Mona Lisa"
Probably the most famous painting in the world is "La Gioconda" by Leonardo da Vinci, better known as the "Mona Lisa". This canvas is a portrait of Mrs. Gherardini, attracting attention with a mysterious expression on her face.
