A special flowering of Russian fine art was observed in the 19th century and was characterized by the development of many genres and styles. Exactly domestic artists of this century gave the world real masterpieces, for which Russian painting is now famous. While modern paintings often do not attract the attention of the viewer at all, the works of past eras invariably amaze and impress with their depth and skill. ABOUT the best masterpieces Russian painting 19th century we will tell further.
"The Ninth Wave" (1850)
One of the main masterpieces for which Russian painting is famous is painted by the famous Russian marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky. The work is in St. Petersburg, in the State Russian Museum. It was based on the once popular belief among sailors that every ninth wave is stronger and higher than others and carries a mortal danger.
What picture do we see on the canvas: the raging sea is illuminated rising sun, exhausted people grab onto the wreckage of a ship that did not survive the storm, and that same formidable ninth wave is about to fall on them. The greatness of the raging sea and the splendor of dawn are depicted by the artist with inimitable skill. But looking at these bright colors and shimmering waves, it does not seem that everything will end tragically, and faith in human resilience and courage is only getting stronger.
"Morning in a Pine Forest" (1889)
One of the most famous paintings that covers Russian painting, and perhaps the most replicated work of the great Russian landscape painter Ivan Shishkin, which even got on the wrapper of sweets during the Soviet era.
The artist chose one of his favorite motifs: dense Pine forest, adding to it an element unusual for his paintings in the form of animals - a family of bears. The forest thicket, still partially covered in fog, is flooded with the first rays of the sun, and on the trees broken by a recent storm, three amusing bear cubs frolic under the vigilant supervision of a mother bear. And we, the audience, as if secretly, so as not to frighten us, spy on this curious family.
An interesting fact: in fact, the picture was created in collaboration with the artist Konstantin Savitsky: he is the one who painted the cubs. However, Shishkin had to remove Savitsky's signature from the painting at the request of the collector Pavel Tretyakov, who wanted to purchase the work. The original is now among the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
"Barge haulers on the Volga" (1873)
Another one lovely picture, for which Russian painting is famous, was written by Ilya Repin. The theme of the picture was cruel oppression. ordinary people and the poor, the censure of a society that makes slaves out of people. The canvas seems to serve as a call for mercy.
On the canvas, we see a string of barge haulers - people who are dragging a river vessel filled with cargo along the river against the current. They are the main focus of the work, and the background - the river, land, the ship - we almost do not notice. It is amazing how the artist managed to depict each of the people in the picture differently, vividly and colorfully, even though at first glance they seem to be a faceless mass.
The painting became the bronze medalist of the Vienna art exhibition 1873, and bought it for three thousand rubles Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich. You can look at it in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
"Heroes" (1898)
The famous artist Viktor Vasnetsov worked on this work for about thirty years. And although many of his paintings are devoted to the Russian epic epic, it was this work that became the apogee of the artist's work, which Russian painting can be proud of.
The picture was based on a Russian folk epic about three heroes (from left to right): Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets and Alyosha Popovich - reliable defenders and support of the Russian land. They are ready to stand against the most skillful enemy, because each of the heroes is depicted with different weapons.
Likewise, the picture itself is a symbol of the power, strength and wisdom of the Russian people. And you can see this work at the present time in the Tretyakov Gallery.
"Morning of the Streltsy Execution" (1881)
Russian painting XIX century is also widely represented by the works of Vasily Surikov. The first picture of the painter, which is dedicated to a theme from Russian history, was sheltered within its walls by the Tretyakov Gallery. It was based on the real execution of archers as a result of the failed uprising of 1698.
We see in the picture men in white shirts who are led to their death. One of them, red-haired, angrily glances at Tsar Peter I, who is sitting on a horse and watching the procession. The faces of women around are full of grief, sadness and fear.
The tragedy of the situation is emphasized by the dark, gloomy tones in which the work is done. The area is still poorly lit only by the waking sun, therefore, the white attire of archers and red, like blood, clothing elements of people from the crowd stand out especially well against the general background.
"Girl with Peaches" (1887)
It was this picture that glorified the artist Valentin Serov; it is impossible not to remember her, thinking about the works that Russian painting of the 19th century can boast of. The 12-year-old Vera, the daughter of the famous Russian philanthropist Savva Mamontov, posed for the artist's painting. You can see this picture in the Tretyakov Gallery.
The portrait is immediately remembered by the mischievous look of the heroine of the portrait, who, it would seem, is sitting calmly at the table, but is clearly up to something tricky. Bright blouse Pink colour combined with the blush on the girlish cheeks and stands out against the background of a strictly classic interior rooms. White walls and a tablecloth create a contrast with the girl's tanned skin, while shades of peach and foliage outside the window add freshness and lightness to the portrait.
"The Last Day of Pompeii" (1833)
Russian painting survived the era of romanticism in the first half of the 19th century, a characteristic work for which is the famous painting by Karl Bryullov, which can be seen in the Russian Museum.
It depicts a story from ancient history: terrified residents of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, at the moment before being buried in the hot ash of the volcano Vesuvius. Someone scatters to the sides, and someone in fear cannot budge, someone tries to save loved ones or takes away valuables in a hurry.
This work is characterized by the most complex spatial and light-shadow construction. The combination of deep bright colors, the play of light, ancient architecture and emotional faces looks solemn, majestic and somewhat theatrical, even with all the tragedy of the situation; the work is permeated through and through with pathos. During the period of writing the picture, Bryullov lived in Rome, and when it was completed, the Italian public was incredibly delighted.
"The Appearance of Christ to the People" (1857)
Russian painter Alexander Ivanov based this work on the third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. He sought to capture humanity at that fundamental moment that changed its fate. The artist painted the picture for about twenty years and died suddenly after it was completed. Russian painting, presented in the Tretyakov Gallery, contains this picture as well.
In addition to the fact that Jesus appears separately from the crowd, sent as if from nowhere, Ivanov additionally visually distinguished him from other people in this story by dressing him in blue and red clothes, the darkest and most saturated in comparison with the rest of the characters. But at the same time, the main focus of the work is on ordinary people, the image of their faces, emotions, when they see the appearance of Christ.
The structure of the composition of the work is simple at first glance, but in fact it is rational: the foreground is built in such a way that no matter what person we look at, our eyes will certainly take us to the figure of Jesus or John.
"The Rooks Have Arrived" (1871)
Alexei Savrasov is considered the founder of the "lyrical landscape style". “The Rooks Have Arrived” is truly symbolic and the most famous work the artist, which is a wonderful elegy to spring, marked by the return of the rooks. The canvas was purchased by Pavel Tretyakov.
Despite the ordinary landscape and the snow-covered ground, looking more closely, we understand that it is spring before us: through the clouds you can see a patch of tender blue sky, and here the snow is melting, forming deep puddles. And, of course, the arrival of spring seems to be trumpeted by rooks flying to high curved birch trees.
The sketches for this painting were captured by the artist in a village called Molvitino, the work itself was completed already in Moscow - so Russian painting was replenished with a new trend in the landscape genre. The picture immediately won the recognition of the public. Pavel Tretyakov immediately acquired the piece for his collection. It became so popular that subsequently Savrasov repeatedly painted repetitions of the painting that made him famous.
"Over Eternal Rest" (1894)
The artist Isaac Levitan painted this picture while listening to funeral march Beethoven - this is probably one of the reasons that it turned out to be one of the darkest in the artist's work. One of Levitan's friends described this work as "a requiem for himself."
The work breathes with heaviness: the sky is covered with huge gray lead clouds, which is why the reservoir seems to be frozen in place, and only upon careful examination will it be given out by small ripples. There is not a single bird in the sky, as if nothing can disturb this disturbing dullness of space. In the foreground we see an abandoned church, a cemetery with tilted crosses and forgotten graves, and trees bending under the pressure of the wind.
Levitan was unspeakably glad that this picture would end up in Tretyakov's collection, as he believed that it was the most successful painting that fully reveals his attitude and conveys difficult experiences.
Great art takes a long time. All the works listed below are the painstaking work of great artists from around the world in different periods human existence. Greatest Works the arts are put together in the top 10.
10. Disco thrower
Popular Greek sculpture was created in 460-450 BC. The author of the work is the sculptor Miron. The original bronze statue has been lost. However, many copies have survived, mostly made of marble or a small layer of bronze.
Painted in 1931 by Spanish artist Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory is one of the most recognizable works of art. This work encourages people to think about their lifestyle, about how our time is spent. It is known that the artist was inspired by Einstein's Theory of Relativity when painting the picture.
Ancient greek statue was created between 130 and 100 BC. It is believed that the statue depicts Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. marble statue 203 cm high was created by Alexandrius of Antinoy, although there are other versions of the creation of the sculpture. Hands were lost over time. Now this work of art can be viewed in the Louvre in Paris.
7. Scream
Most popular work Edvard Munch was painted in 1893. This picture was written with the help of oil and pastels on cardboard. This terrifying painting is in the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway.
6. Starlight Night
Starry Night was painted in 1889 by the famous Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. This work is one of the most famous contemporary culture. The picture is part permanent collection Museum of Modern Art in New York. The piece was the inspiration for Don McLean's song Vincent, also known as Starry Starry Night.
5. Thinker
This bronze sculpture Auguste Rodin depicts a naked man, whose dimensions are similar to human ones. He sits on a stone with his hand to his chin and thinks about something. Naturally, this picture represents a philosophical trend. In total, about 28 full-size copies were poured, in which the height of a man is about 183 cm.
4. Creation of Adam
This grandiose work is located on the ceiling Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Italy. Michelangelo painted the Creation of Adam between 1508 and 1512. This is just one of nine scenes from the book of Genesis, which are all painted in the center of the chapel's ceiling.
3. David
Another masterpiece from the Renaissance, created by the Italian artist Michelangelo. The David sculpture was created between 1501 and 1504. This 5-meter marble statue shows the naked biblical hero David. Since 1873, the statue has been in Florence in the Accademia Gallery.
This world masterpiece does not decorate a museum, but the wall of the dining room in the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent in Milan, Italy. It was written at the end of the 15th century by the most famous artist of all time - Leonardo da Vinci. The painting depicts the scene of the last supper of Jesus with his disciples. This masterpiece is one of the main attractions of Milan.
“Every portrait painted with feeling is, in essence, a portrait of the artist, and not of the one who posed for him” Oscar Wilde
What does it take to be an artist? Mere imitation of work cannot be considered art. Art is something that comes from within. The author's idea, excitement, searches, desires and sorrows, which are embodied on the artist's canvas. Throughout the history of mankind, hundreds of thousands, and perhaps millions of paintings have been written. Some of them are truly masterpieces, known all over the world, even people who are not related to art know them. Is it possible to single out 25 of the most outstanding among such paintings? The task is very difficult, but we tried ...
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25The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali
Thanks to this painting, Dali became famous at a fairly young age, he was 28 years old. The picture has several other names - " soft watch”, “The hardness of memory”. This masterpiece has attracted the attention of many art historians. Basically, they were interested in the interpretation of the picture. It is said that the idea of Dali's canvas is connected with Einstein's theory of relativity.
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24"Dance", Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was not always an artist. He discovered his love for painting after receiving a degree in law in Paris. He studied art so zealously that he became one of the the greatest artists in the world. This picture has very little negative criticism of art critics. It reflects a combination of pagan rituals, dance and music. People are dancing in a trance. Three colors - green, blue and red - symbolize the Earth, Sky and Humanity.
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23The Kiss, Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt has often been criticized for being nude in his paintings. "The Kiss" was noticed by critics, as it merged all forms of art. The painting could be an image of the artist himself and his lover, Emilia. Klimt painted this canvas under the influence Byzantine mosaic. The Byzantines used gold in their paintings. Similarly, Gustav Klimt mixed gold in his paints to create his own style painting.
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22Sleeping Gypsy, Henri Rousseau
No one but Rousseau himself could describe this picture better. Here is his description - “a nomadic gypsy who sings her songs to a mandolin, sleeps on the ground from fatigue, her jug of drinking water lies nearby. A lion passing by came up to sniff her, but did not touch her. Everything is flooded moonlight very poetic atmosphere. It is noteworthy that Henri Rousseau is self-taught.
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21"The Last Judgment", Hieronymus Bosch
Without further ado - the picture is simply magnificent. This triptych is the largest of Bosch's surviving paintings. The left wing shows the story of Adam and Eve. The central part is doomsday» on the part of Jesus - who should go to heaven and who should go to hell. The earth we see here is on fire. On right wing depicts a hideous image of hell.
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20
Everyone knows Narcissus from Greek mythology- a man who was obsessed with his appearance. Dali wrote his own interpretation of Narcissus.
The story is like this. The beautiful young man Narcissus easily broke the hearts of many girls. The gods intervened and, to punish him, showed him his reflection in the water. Narcissus fell in love with himself and ended up dying because he couldn't hug himself. Then the Gods regretted that they had done this to him, and decided to immortalize him in the form of a narcissus flower.
On the left side of the picture is Narcissus looking at his reflection. Then he fell in love with himself. The right panel shows the events that unfolded after, including the resulting flower, the daffodil.
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19
The plot of the picture is based on the biblical beating of the babies in Bethlehem. After the birth of Christ became known from the Magi, King Herod instructed to kill all the small male children and babies in Bethlehem. In the picture, the carnage is at its peak, the last few children taken from their mothers are waiting for their merciless death. Also visible are the corpses of children for whom everything is behind them.
Through the use of rich colors, the painting by Rubens has become a world-famous masterpiece.
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18
Pollock's work is very different from other artists. He placed his canvas on the ground and moved around the canvas and walked on it, dripping paint from above onto the canvas with sticks, brushes and syringes. Thanks to this unique technique he was nicknamed "Sprinkler Jack" in artistic circles. For some time this painting held the title of the most expensive painting in the world.
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17
Also known as "Dancing at Les Moulins de la Galette". This painting is considered one of the most joyful pictures Renoir. The idea of the picture is to show the audience a fun side. Parisian life. With a detailed study of the picture, you can see that Renoir placed several of his friends on the canvas. Because the painting appears slightly washed out, it was initially criticized by Renoir's contemporaries.
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16
The story is taken from the Bible. In the picture " The Last Supper” depicts the last supper of Christ before his arrest. He had just spoken to his apostles and told them that one of them would betray him. All the apostles are saddened and tell him that it is certainly not them. It was this moment that da Vinci beautifully portrayed with his lively image. It took the great Leonardo four years to complete this painting.
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15
Monet's "Water Lilies" can be found everywhere. You've probably seen them on wallpapers, posters, and art magazine covers. The fact is that Monet was obsessed with lilies. Before he started painting them, he had grown countless of these flowers. Monet built a bridge in Japanese style in his garden over a lily pond. He was so pleased with what he did that he drew this story seventeen times in one year.
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14
There is something sinister and mysterious in this picture, there is an aura of fear around it. Only such a master as Munch was able to portray fear on paper. Munch made four versions of The Scream in oils and pastels. According to Munch's diary entries, it is pretty clear that he himself believed in death and spirits. In the painting “The Scream”, he depicted himself at the moment when one day, walking with friends, he felt fear and excitement, which he wanted to paint.
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13
The painting, which is usually referred to as a symbol of motherhood, should not have become one. It is said that Whistler's model, who was supposed to pose for the painting, did not show up, and he decided to paint his mother instead. It can be said that here sad life the artist's mother. This mood is due to the dark colors that are used in this painting.
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12
Picasso met Dora Maar in Paris. It is said that she was intellectually closer to Picasso than all his previous mistresses. Using cubism, Picasso was able to convey movement in his work. It seems that Maar's face is turning to the right, towards the face of Picasso. The artist made the woman's presence almost real. Maybe he wanted to feel that she was there, always.
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11
Van Gogh painted Starry Night while in treatment, where he was only allowed to paint when his condition improved. Earlier in the same year, he cut off his left earlobe. Many considered the artist insane. Of Van Gogh's entire collection of works, Starry Night is the most famous, perhaps due to the unusual spherical light around the stars.
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10
In this painting, Manet recreated Titian's Venus of Urbino. The artist had a bad reputation for depicting prostitutes. Although the gentlemen at that time visited the courtesans quite often, they did not think that it would occur to someone to draw them. Then it was preferable for artists to paint pictures on historical, mythical or biblical themes. However, Manet, contrary to criticism, showed the audience their contemporary.
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9
This painting - historical painting, which depicts Napoleon's conquest of Spain.
Having received an order for paintings depicting the struggle of the people of Spain with Napoleon, the artist did not paint heroic and pathetic canvases. He chose the moment of execution of the Spanish rebels French soldiers. Each of the Spaniards is experiencing this moment in his own way, someone has already reconciled, but for someone the main battle has just come. War, blood and death, that's what Goya actually portrayed.
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8
It is believed that the depicted girl is the eldest daughter of Vermeer, Maria. Her features are present in many of his works, but it is difficult to compare them. A book with the same title was written by Tracey Chevalier. But Tracy's version of who is depicted in this picture is completely different. She claims that she took this topic because there is very little information about Vermeer and his paintings, and this particular painting has a mysterious atmosphere. Later, a film was made based on her novel.
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7
The exact name of the painting is “The performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenbürg.” The rifle society was a civilian militia that was called upon to defend the city. In addition to the militias, Rembrandt added several extra people. Considering that he bought an expensive house at the time of this painting, it may well be true that he received a huge fee for " The night Watch».
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6
Although the painting contains an image of Velázquez himself, it is not a self-portrait. main character canvases - Infanta Margarita, daughter of King Philip IV. It depicts the moment when Velazquez, working on a portrait of the king and queen, is forced to stop and look at the Infanta Margherita, who has just entered the room with her retinue. The picture looks almost alive, awakening curiosity in the audience.
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5
This is the only painting by Brueghel that was painted in oils and not in tempera. There are still doubts about the authenticity of the painting, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, he did not paint in oils, and secondly, recent studies have shown that under the layer of painting contains schematic drawing Bad quality, which is not due to Brueghel.
The painting depicts the history of Icarus and the moment of his fall. According to the myth, Icarus' feathers were attached with wax, and as Icarus rose very close to the sun, the wax melted and he fell into the water. This landscape inspired Wystan Hugh Auden to write his own famous poem on the same topic.
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4
The "School of Athens" is perhaps the most famous fresco Italian artist Renaissance, Raphael.
On this fresco the school of Athens all the great mathematicians, philosophers and scientists have gathered under one roof, they share their theories and learn from each other. All heroes lived in different time, but Rafael placed them all in one room. Some of the figures are Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoras and Ptolemy. A closer look shows that there is a self-portrait of Raphael himself in this picture. Every artist would like to leave their mark, the only difference is the form. Although maybe he considered himself one of these great figures?
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3
Michelangelo never considered himself an artist, he always thought of himself more as a sculptor. But, he managed to create an amazing exquisite fresco, before which the whole world reveres. This masterpiece is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint some bible stories, one of which is the creation of Adam. In this picture, the sculptor in Michelangelo is just visible. Human body Adama is conveyed with incredible accuracy with the help of bright colors and precise muscular form. So, one can agree with the author, after all, he is more of a sculptor.
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2"Mona Lisa", Leonardo da Vinci
Although it is the most studied painting, the Mona Lisa is still the most mysterious. Leonardo said that he never stopped working on it. Only his death is said to have completed the painting. "Mona Lisa" is the first Italian portrait in which the model is shown to the waist. Mona Lisa's skin seems to glow due to the use of several layers of transparent oils. Being scientist Leonardo da Vinci applied all his knowledge to make the image of the Mona Lisa realistic. As for who exactly is depicted in the painting, it still remains a mystery.
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1
The painting depicts Venus, the goddess of love, floating on a shell in the wind, which is blown by Zephyr, the god of the west wind. On the shore, Ora, the goddess of the seasons, meets her, she is ready to dress the newborn deity. The model for Venus is Simonetta Cattaneo de Vespucci. Simonetta Cattaneo died at 22, and Botticelli wished to be buried next to her. Connected him with her unrequited love. This picture is the most exquisite work art ever created.
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Conclusion
It was an article TOP 25 most famous paintings in the world. Thank you for your attention!
The world history of fine arts remembers many amazing cases related to the creation and further adventures famous paintings. This is because for real artists, life and work are too closely connected.
The Scream by Edvard Munch
Year of creation: 1893
Materials: cardboard, oil, tempera, pastel
Where is: National Gallery,
famous painting The Scream by the Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch is a favorite subject of discussion for mystics around the world. It seems to some that the canvas predicted terrible events XX century with its wars, environmental disasters and the Holocaust. Others are sure that the picture brings misfortune and illness to its offenders.
The life of Munch himself can hardly be called prosperous: he lost many relatives, was repeatedly treated in a psychiatric clinic, and was never married.
By the way, the artist reproduced the painting “The Scream” four times.
There is an opinion that she is the result of a manic-depressive psychosis from which Munch suffered. Somehow, the sight of a desperate man with a big head, open mouth and hands attached to the face, and today shocks everyone who examines the canvas.
"The Great Masturbator" Salvador Dali
Year of establishment: 1929
Materials: oil, canvas
Location: Reina Sofia Center for the Arts,
The general public saw the painting “The Great Masturbator” only after the death of the shocking master and the most famous surrealist Salvador Dali. The artist kept it in own collection at the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. It is believed that an unusual canvas can tell a lot about the personality of the author, in particular about his painful attitude towards sex. However, we can only guess what motives are actually hidden in the picture.
This is akin to solving a rebus: in the center of the picture there is an angular profile looking down, similar either to Dali himself or to a rock on the coast of a Catalan city, and a naked female figure rises in the lower part of the head - a copy of the artist's mistress Gala. The picture also contains locusts, which caused Dali an inexplicable fear, and ants - a symbol of decomposition.
"Family" by Egon Schiele
Year of creation: 1918
Materials: oil, canvas
Location: Belvedere Gallery,
At one time a fine painting Austrian artist Egon Schiele was called pornography, and the artist was imprisoned for allegedly seducing a minor.
At such a price he was given the love of the model of his teacher. Schiele's paintings are one of best examples expressionism, while they are naturalistic and full of frightening despair.
Schiele's models were often teenagers and prostitutes. In addition, the artist was fascinated by himself - his legacy includes a wide variety of self-portraits. The canvas "Family" Schiele wrote three days before own death, depicting his pregnant wife who died of the flu and their unborn child. Perhaps this is far from the strangest, but definitely the most tragic work of the painter.
"Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer" by Gustav Klimt
Year of creation: 1907
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is: New gallery,
History of creation famous painting Austrian artist Gustav Klimt's "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer" can rightfully be called shocking. The wife of the Austrian sugar magnate Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer became the artist's muse and mistress. Wanting to take revenge on both of them, the wounded husband decided to resort to an original method: he ordered a portrait of his wife from Klimt and harassed him with endless nit-picking, forcing him to make hundreds of sketches. In the end, this led to the fact that Klimt lost his former interest in his model.
Work on the painting lasted several years, and Adele watched her lover's feelings fade away. Ferdinand's insidious plan was never revealed. Today " Austrian mona Lisa" is considered a national treasure of Austria.
Black Supermatic Square by Kazimir Malevich
Year of creation: 1915
Materials: oil, canvas
Location: State Tretyakov Gallery,
Almost a hundred years have passed since the Russian avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich created his famous creation, and disputes and discussions do not stop until now. Appearing in 1915 at the futuristic exhibition "0.10" in the "red corner" of the hall intended for the icon, the picture shocked the public and forever glorified the artist. True, today few people know that supermatic paintings are non-objective painting, in which color rules the ball, and the “Black Square” is actually not black and not at all square.
By the way, one of the versions of the history of the creation of the canvas says: the artist did not have time to finish the work on the painting, so he was forced to cover the work with black paint, at that moment his friend came into the workshop and exclaimed: “Brilliant!”.
"The Origin of the World" by Gustave Courbet
Year of creation: 1866
Materials: oil, canvas
Location: Musee d'Orsay,
The painting by the French realist painter Gustave Courbet was considered extremely provocative for a very long time and was not known to the general public for more than 120 years. A naked woman lying on a bed with outstretched legs, and today causes an ambiguous reaction from the audience. For this reason, in the Musee d'Orsay, one of the employees guards the painting.
In 2013, a French collector announced that he had stumbled upon the part of the painting in which the head of the model is visible in one of the antique shops in Paris. Experts confirmed the assumption that Joanna Hiffernan (Joe) posed for the artist. While working on the picture, she was in love affair with Courbet's student, artist James Whistler. The picture provoked their separation.
"Man and woman in front of a pile of excrement" by Joan Miro
Year of creation: 1935
Materials: oil, copper
Location: Joan Miro Foundation,
A rare viewer when looking at a picture Spanish artist and the sculptor Joan Miro would have been associated with horror civil war. But it was precisely the period of pre-war unrest in 1935 in Spain that served as the subject of the picture with the promising title "Man and Woman in front of a pile of excrement." This picture is a premonition.
It depicts a ridiculous "cave" couple who are drawn to each other, but cannot budge. Enlarged genitals, poisonous colors, scattered figures on a dark background - all this predicted, according to the artist, approaching tragic events.
Most of Joan Miro's paintings are abstract and surrealist works, and the mood they convey is joyful.
"Water Lilies" by Claude Monet
Year of creation: 1906
Materials: oil, canvas
Location: private collections
iconic painting french impressionist Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" has a bad reputation - it is no coincidence that it is called "fire hazardous." This string of suspicious coincidences continues to surprise many skeptics. The first case happened right in the artist's studio: Monet and his friends were celebrating the end of work on the painting, when a small fire suddenly broke out.
The picture was saved, and soon the owners of the cabaret in Montmartre bought it, but less than a month later, the institution also suffered from a strong fire. The next “victim” of the canvas was the Parisian philanthropist Oscar Schmitz, whose office caught fire a year after the “Water Lilies” were hung there. And again the picture managed to survive. This year private collector purchased the Water Lilies for $54 million.
Girls of Avignon by Pablo Picasso
Year of creation: 1907
Materials: oil, canvas
Location: Museum of Modern Art,
“It feels like you wanted to feed us tow or give us gasoline to drink,” said Georges Braque, a friend of Picasso, about the painting “The Girls of Avignon”. The canvas really became scandalous: the public adored the old, tender and sad, works of the artist, and a sharp transition to cubism caused alienation.
Female figures with rough male faces and angular arms and legs were too far from the graceful "Girl on the ball."
Friends turned away from Picasso, Matisse was extremely dissatisfied with the picture. However, it was the “Girls of Avignon” that determined not only the direction of development of Picasso’s work, but the future of fine art in general. original name canvases - "Philosophical brothel".
"Portrait of the Artist's Son" by Mikhail Vrubel
Year of creation: 1902
Materials: watercolor, gouache, graphite pencil, paper
Location: State Russian Museum,
The brilliant Russian artist of the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, Mikhail Vrubel, succeeded in almost all types of fine arts. His first-born Savva was born with a "cleft lip", which deeply upset the artist. Vrubel portrayed the boy on one of his canvases frankly, not trying to hide his congenital deformity.
The gentle tones of the portrait do not make it serene - shock is read in it. The baby himself is depicted with a strikingly wise, unchildish look. Shortly after the completion of the painting, the child died. From that moment in the life of the artist, who was having a hard time with the tragedy, a "black" period of illness and insanity began.
Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com
