- Natalia, the question arises by itself: are you going to write Benedict XVI, who was elected a month ago?
The idea is already in the air. They talk about it in the Vatican. And I really want it myself. To paint a portrait of the new Pope is insanely interesting. Benedict XVI has an unusually expressive face, and what are his eyes worth ... Only now it's too early to do it. In order for the portrait to succeed, I need to properly study the person, penetrate into his world.
- Wait. Weren't you acquainted with the Pontifex when he was Cardinal Ratzinger?
“I knew Cardinal Ratzinger very well. However, the Pope is a special hypostasis, it leads to tremendous internal changes. This is not my discovery. The mysterious, in many ways mystical restructuring of the personality that occurs after the election has been known since ancient times.
- It seems to me that it is generally difficult to be Pope after John Paul II who is about to be canonized as a saint.
– John Paul II was very humane, this is his strength. I will probably never fully realize that he is no more. AT last time I saw my dad before catholic christmas. He received me in his personal library, where he met with many of his guests, including Vladimir Putin. I brought the painting “The Mother of God of Light” to be shown, and talked about it for a long time. Dad could hardly speak anymore, but he listened very carefully and answered with his eyes. I understood him well. Dad left my picture in the library. In doing so, he did me a great honor. The next day, I was interviewed in St. Peter's Square, and the Italian journalists asked me to wish the Pope a Merry Christmas on their mother tongue. They told me later that Papa watched the program and was very happy that I turned to him in Russian.
– Did he know Russian?
- I understood well. Once, before meeting with the Pope, his secretary asked me to address him exclusively in Russian: John Paul II liked the sound of our language, and in general he was interested in Russia. Sometimes he uttered whole phrases in Russian. For example, during our first conversation, he said goodbye: “Long live Russian art!»
- They say the late head catholic church made a great impression on people.
– There are many cases when, upon seeing John Paul II for the first time, someone began to cry or even lost consciousness. What can I say... When the body of the Pope was put up for parting, people were willing to spend sixteen hours on their feet for the sake of some minutes, or rather, seconds next to him.
- Were you in this queue?
- Not. I was admitted out of turn, and not just for farewell. I drew it.
– Right there? Is the drawing finished?
“It was finished at the Pope's deathbed. I will not add anything, any detail created later will look unnatural.
– Will you give this unique drawing to the Vatican Museum? Sell? Leave a memory?
- There are several drawings. I will give them former secretary Pope, Archbishop Stanisław Dziwisz, who devoted himself to the service of John Paul II.
- I saw a picture in which you are standing next to John Paul II, showing him a portrait. At the same time, the Pope said something to you. What if it's not a secret?
“Of course, I was very worried before his arrival. What will he say about my work? After all, there were a lot of portraits of the Pope. No one is forbidden to write a pontiff. On average, he was brought two paintings a week. Of course, this was different. I didn't write to the Pope own initiative, it was the official order of the Vatican. I was curious what he would say about me.
- Well?
“Expressive,” Papa remarked. - I like". And then ... A number of cardinals and two secretaries of John Paul II were present during our conversation. They began to show me signs so that I would reveal to the Pope the riddle of the painting. They already knew about it, but they decided not to dedicate the Pope ahead of time, preserving the effect of surprise. On the glittering handle of the Pope's staff, a reflection appears with Jesus in his arms. The Virgin Mary was the patroness of the Pope, it was from her that the prophecies that accompanied him in life came.
Was dad surprised?
- He was shocked. In Italian newspapers later they wrote that I foresaw the third secret of Our Lady.
- The secret of the Mother of God?
– In Italy, this story is known to everyone. In Russia, they may not have heard of her. In 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three Portuguese teenagers, and from her they heard three predictions: about the revolution in Russia, about the Second World War. But the third prophecy remained a secret. The girl, one of these children, took a vow of silence and kept her secret until her death. This prediction became known relatively recently. It was about the fact that "a man in white robes will fall as if dead."
“An assassination attempt on the pontiff?
– Your “Last Supper” was posted next to “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. It seems to me that one must be a very courageous person to decide to write it after a genius.
“It took me a long time to gather courage. I bought a canvas, and it stood clean in the workshop for a year. And then came the revelation. I figured out how to write it. And nowadays you can contact famous topics. But the question is interpretation. My painting was called The Last Supper of the Third Millennium. Do you know why? In today's world, Christ can no longer look at the bread and wine, he can't look at the sky. I have the Son of God sitting at the table, with his back to us, and turns over his shoulder. He seems to ask: “People, what are you doing? Come to your senses!"
- As far as I know, you have a dream to show the picture in Russia, but the sponsor has not yet been found.
- The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Alexander Sokolov was in my studio. He liked The Last Supper, and it is possible that the issue of her trip to Russia will be resolved at the government level. I think that my "Evening" must definitely visit Russia, because it was written in Russian.
News from the art world
Little secret, 1995. Oil, Rome, artist's collection
The name "Little Secret" refers to the riddle or mystery hidden in this painting. What is the secret of Natalia Tsarkova? In hours, symbolizing the transience of time? In a chess game that embodies the struggle between light and darkness? In the figures of the two characters of the Commedia dell'arte, Pierrot and Pulcinella, or in a golden cage in which a beautiful bird is imprisoned?
Ministry of Culture Russian Federation invited the artist Natalya Tsarkova to hold personal exhibition in the State historical museum. The artist plans to implement this project soon. Natalia Tsarkova is known as the only woman in the world who painted portraits of four Popes. She has been the official portrait painter of the Vatican since the late 1990s. Her works hang in Vatican palaces, temples and museums. different countries peace. At an exhibition of portraits of popes in Washington, arranged in 2005, Tsarkova's portraits turned out to be the only works living artist - other canvases belonged to the brush of Raphael, Caravaggio and Velazquez.
Natalia Tsarkova was born in Moscow in 1967. She studied painting at the Krasnopresnenskaya Art School, then at the Moscow Secondary Art School at the Institute. Surikov. At the same time, she entered the newly opened Ilya Glazunov Academy. On the course at Glazunov, she was the only girl who was the best in the portrait class. It was thanks to Glazunov that she first came to Italy. And soon she returned there to arrange an exhibition of her works in 1994. The paintings were successfully sold. She decided to stay for a few months, but received one order after another and postponed her departure. At first she became a portrait painter for a number of aristocratic families, and then she was invited to work in the Vatican. Her first work was a portrait of John Paul II.
This Pope, despite being on the Holy See for 21 years, has not yet had an official image. Later this portrait was printed on the official documents of the synod. Roman Catholic Church. Tsarkova wrote to total three portraits of Pope Wojtyla. The first portrait is exhibited in the Vatican Museums, the second was commissioned cultural center named after John Paul II in Washington, and the third is located in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo.
The portraits by Tsarkova are realistic, and their details point to the works and personal characteristics heroes. In the portrait of Francis I, the pontiff is depicted with a wounded, but already bandaged lamb in his hands - a symbol of mercy, in addition, this is a reference to the parable of the lost sheep.
Left - "Merciful Shepherd", 2013. Oil, artist's collection. Right - "Saint John Paul II", Vatican Museum
Portrait of Benedict XVI exhibited in the Vatican Museums. There are a lot of symbols in this portrait. First of all, this is the throne of Pope Leo XIII, which depicts Benedict XVI. The red color of the mantle symbolizes faith and love, and the red folder with the Pope's speech is dialogue as the only way to come to peace.
The studio of Natalia Tsarkova is located in one of the most "Russian" quarters of Rome, near Piazza Barberini. Two steps away is the house where Gogol lived and wrote " Dead Souls"Opposite, across the street, at the" four fountains ", was the apartment of Karl Bryullov, who wrote The Last Day of Pompeii in Rome. Alexander Ivanov and Orest Kiprensky lived not far from the Barberini. The central place in the studio, completely hung with paintings, is reserved for The Last Supper ".
Natalia wrote her own version of The Last Supper. Unlike traditional iconography, Jesus Christ is depicted in a half-turn, and his gaze is fixed directly on the viewer. He looks with reproach, but at the same time with love. The painting by the Russian artist was given a special honor: her first show took place in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, next to famous masterpiece"The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The Last Supper, 2002. Oil, artist's collection
Once upon a time, Russian artists were specially sent to Italy to learn from local masters, and this led to brilliant results. Russian painting has taken its rightful place in world art. A unique national school classical and realistic painting. And now painters from Russia also come to Italy, but not for experience, but for success.
Interestingly, Russian contemporary realist artists are in demand and successful in the world. According to the West, the classical art school, which implies work, study, patience, has already been lost in Western Europe. There is not even a hint of the level that is still maintained in Russia. And the European aristocracy prefers to have their images for posterity in a classic recognizable manner.
Apparently, therefore, among the court artists of our time there are many Russian names. You can name the St. Petersburg artist Ivan Slavinsky, who made a name for himself in France, and for 10 years worked on contracts with European galleries. Georgy Shishkin - the artist of Monaco, the Prince of Monaco wrote about him: "I am glad that this artist great talent chose the principality for his art." The name of the Russian artist Sergei Pavlenko, a graduate of the St. Petersburg art academy, is known to the British for a very good reason - he is the author of the ceremonial portrait of Elizabeth II and other portraits of the royal family.
Information published in the Italian magazine AVRVM.
Once upon a time, Russian artists were specially sent to Italy to learn from the relevant masters.
It can be said that it was Government program which led to brilliant results. Russian painting has taken its rightful place in world art.
Natalia Tsarkova (1967) is a young Russian artist, a graduate of I. Glazunov's studio and the Surikov School, who has been living and working in Rome since 1994. When she first came to Italy to visit a friend, no one knew her name. Several paintings that she took with her quickly attracted the attention of the Italians and instantly dispersed to private collections. Soon orders for portraits from aristocrats, politicians, artists and just wealthy Italians began to appear. But real fame and the career took off after painting two portraits of Pope John Paul II,
which the Vatican recognized as official images of the Roman pontiff.
So the Russian artist, Muscovite Natalya Tsarkova became the only
in the world of painting, which managed to paint portraits three Roman
Pope: John Paul I (succeeded to the throne in 1978 and died later
33 days), John Paul II and Benedict XVI, became the official
Vatican artist.
Portraits of dads Tsarkova writes from photographs, since dad
not allowed to pose.
By an amazing coincidence, the studio of Natalia Tsarkova is located in
one of the most "Russian" quarters of Rome, near Piazza Barberini.
Two steps away is the house where Gogol lived and wrote Dead Souls.
Opposite, across the road, at the "four fountains", there was an apartment
Karl Bryullov, who wrote "The Last Day of Pompeii" in Rome.
Alexander Ivanov and Orest Kiprensky lived not far from the Barberini.
Her work schedule includes meetings with dukes and lords. European
nobility lines up to order a portrait from Natalia.
The central place in the studio, completely hung with paintings, is reserved for
"The Last Supper" - Natalya does not want to part with this work yet,
despite numerous offers from private collectors
and museums. Tsarkova's monumental painting "The Last Supper" became
another notable milestone in her work. The picture is striking
unexpected perspective and artistic decision one of the most
famous religious stories. The painting by the Russian artist was
given a special honor: her first show took place in the refectory of Santa
Maria Della Grazie in Milan next to the famous masterpiece
"The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci.
For the first time, the picture of Tsarkova was shown before Easter in Rome, and as
the message of peace was blessed by Pope John Paul II himself.
At a ceremony in Milan, together with the artist, the purple veil was pulled off the canvas by the custodian of the archives and library of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal George Maria Meia, who had come from the Vatican and later spoke very flatteringly about the merits of the painting and even traced the spiritual connection between the authors of the versions of The Secret Supper" -
from the great Leonardo to this petite Russian woman...
"In fact, I did not change anything in this well-known evangelical story, I just "went in" with reverse side. Jesus sits at a table opposite the apostles and looks half-turned from the back directly at the viewer. In the corner of the canvas, in the form of a maid, I depicted myself looking through the ajar door. This is also incompatible with the traditional canons of the Supper, but in this way I wanted to emphasize the connection with today. This is a view from the 3rd millennium.
A large white canvas lay in my studio whole year,
before the decision of the picture arose. Ideas came spontaneously
like insights, in the process of work. Many of the details I redid several times. And in the role of the apostles, I decided to portray my Italian friends and acquaintances. For example, the person who posed Christ for me is Count Pippi Morja, a light designer by profession.
It was he who recently created the lighting for the Roman Trevi Fountain and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, and about fifteen years ago he organized Russian tours Italian singers, in particular Toto Cutugno.
Natalya Tsarkova presented Benedict XVI with a special gift for his 85th birthday - a children's book "The Secret of a Small Pond", in which the pontiff is one of the main characters.
"The Secret of the Little Pond" is the story of a small red fish swimming during the summer in the pond of the gardens of Castel Gandolfo. Rybka is imbued with sympathy for Benedict XVI, who, while reading prayers on the rosary, comes to her every day and feeds her.
The book is decorated with illustrations in the style of a medieval miniature. The Vatican publishing house plans to release the book in Spanish, English, German, Russian and Italian.
Her work was admired by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now
the artist began to work on a portrait of the new Pope Francis.
Born in Moscow in 1967. She studied painting at the Krasnopresnenskaya Art School, then at the Moscow Art School at the Institute. Surikov. At the same time, she entered the newly opened Ilya Glazunov Academy. On the course at Glazunov, she was the only girl who was the best in the portrait class. And for eight years now she has been living and working in Rome, where she was recognized as a portrait painter of Pope John Paul II, accepted as a Ladies of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. She came to visit an Italian friend and stayed late. Then she painted two official portraits of the pope, one of which was printed on the documents of the last synod.
The author's copy was made by order for the cathedral in Washington.
For the first time, the picture of Tsarkova was shown before Easter in Rome, and Pope John Paul II himself blessed it as a message of peace. At a ceremony in Milan, together with the artist, the purple veil was pulled off the canvas by the custodian of the archives and library of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal George Maria Meia, who had come from the Vatican and later spoke very flatteringly about the merits of the painting and even traced the spiritual connection between the authors of the versions of The Secret Supper" - from the great Leonardo to this miniature Russian woman...
- Why "The Last Supper" and September 11? I asked Dr. Paolo Biscottini, director of the Diocesan Museum of Milan.
Humanistic Western culture emerged from the European Renaissance, of which Leonardo was the shining star. This Western culture, its values were challenged on September 11 last year. The fact that the picture was painted by a Russian artist is a certain encouraging sign of the indivisibility of the Christian world.
- Natasha, don't you worry when you see such a neighborhood: Leonardo and you?
Of course I'm shy. This is by no means a comparison with Leonardo, but only one of the stages of the painting's journey. After Milan, it will be exhibited in Rome, in the church of Santa Maria delle Angeli e dei Martiri, built according to the design of Michelangelo. Then he will go to Moscow for Easter and maybe to New York by September 11, 2003.
In Italy, my painting was called "The Last Supper of the Third Millennium." Because it was only on September 11, 2001 that the third millennium began. Before that, everything in the world seemed to have already settled down, everyone calmed down. But no. Again, the terrible, the new, the unexpected is piling up. There is new uncertainty about the future. On the fresco by Leonardo da Vinci, Christ looks at the bread, in other authors - at the sky. But then the New York tragedy happened, and the world changed. It's like everyone is awake. In my picture, Christ turned and looks at the world with a tragic look, with reproach and at the same time with love and understanding. Looks at each of us. In the soul.
The Last Supper has so far only been painted by male artists. There were no women among the characters either. Apostles though. A woman appeared on Tsarkova's canvas. Far, in the background, a curious rustic female head from behind a curtain: Natasha's self-portrait.
- What does this innovation mean?
It's like a look from the third millennium. Mine and my peers.
- Are you a religious person?
Yes, religious, but it's very relative. First, because I lead special life. This is a separate issue, complex and very personal. Secondly, the state of mind. It is not necessary to write only religious objects in order to belong to a religion.
For a presentation in Milan, Natasha called the people who posed for her for The Last Supper. The composition of the company reveals some of the secrets of the artist's success.
At a banquet over a glass of champagne, she introduced me to "Christ" - Count Pepi Morgia, architect, author of the project for the reconstruction of the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome; with his friend "Judas" - "cool" Milan fashion stylist Gilermo Mariotto; with the brilliant Roman lawyer Vittore Cordella, whose noble profile and thick mop of long graying hair represent St. Andrew the First-Called. St. John Natasha wrote from Count Andrea Marini, Philippe - from the professor of architecture Count Dario del Bufalo. And the models for the images of Simon, Thaddeus and Thomas were, respectively, the Grand Prior of the Order of Malta Franz von Lobstein, Count Romano del Forno and Prince Nicolo Borghese.
That is, the Italian and Catholic aristocracy, people whom Natasha writes on orders. She included fragments of past or future portraits in her canvas. The desire of aristocrats to replenish family galleries not only family photos, but also with solid, similar to the original and carefully executed in a traditional manner, portraits attracted them to the Russian artist. The aristocrats took her to the Maltese, and after the portrait of the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Sir Andrew Bertis, she was noticed in the Vatican and ordered a portrait of the pope.
- Probably, the Pope is not an ordinary model?
He does not pose for artists at all. Even if he wanted to, church rules do not allow it. She worked for nine months instead of the usual two. They brought me his photographs, a staff, clothes, a ring. Do you know that the ring, which should be kissed by all believers when meeting with him, is individual and exists only during the life of each particular pope? Then it is destroyed by fire, melted down.
- And did dad like that first portrait?
Yes, and he granted me a private audience. I told you how I worked. He was touched by the fact that the portrait reflects secrets that not everyone will notice. The staff reflects the Madonna and Child. It is believed that the Madonna saved the pope from death during an assassination attempt. He always keeps her image in front of him. In the Vatican, they said that I guessed the "third secret of Fatima", who predicted that the Madonna would save the "man in white."
- Russian people working in the West are forced to establish themselves, overcoming sometimes fierce competition. Does this problem exist for you?
Thank God that there are enough artists, otherwise I would die from orders. There are millions of portraits of the Pope. By itself, the portrait of the pope is far from uncommon. But mine was commissioned by the Vatican because they had seen my previous paintings and they liked them.
- Is it better to work here than in Russia?
I don't know how artists work in Russia now. It just so happens that I'm here and things are going well. I feel needed here. There are people who are waiting for my paintings, standing in line for years. As a rule, customers from the aristocracy. What is an aristocracy? These are the people who follow family tradition, know the history of their kind for centuries. Among the clients there are representatives of families known from the 11th-13th centuries. I see a certain symbol in the fact that in The Last Supper I collected portraits of aristocrats. It is important for them to have artistic image for posterity. For the Italian, European and even American nobility, this is not vanity at all, but a matter of continuity. I painted a portrait of Prince Ludovisi. There were five popes from this family. Among them is Gregory XIII, who reformed the calendar in 1582 (this is when Orthodox Church remained under Julian).
- Who do you feel like - Italian, Russian, Orthodox, Catholic? Religions, unfortunately, often do not unite, but divide people.
Of course, Russian, Orthodox. But this does not mean - a stranger in this environment. First time Russian orthodox artist, moreover, an artist, recognized as the official portrait painter of the pope. It is very useful, very necessary. it small step on the way to peace. Not for reconciliation, but for peace.
- I do not doubt your personal qualities and charm. But it probably played a role Russian school the painting you brought?
Still would. It is most important. They don't have a school here. The art school in Western Europe is dead. There is not even a hint of the level that is still maintained in Russia. Our country is young compared to Italy. And that's okay. endangered European nation maintained thanks to the foreigners who come here. It's the same with art. People have seen a lot, experienced and live in the past. Russia held out for an extra hundred years thanks to " iron curtain». classical school means work, study, patience. Qualities immanent for totalitarianism. And I am a Russian artist.
- Well, in this sense, we are threatened with the fate of Italy and lagging behind China?
I graduated art school in 1985. And then the decomposition began. In a hundred years, perhaps, there will be no genre of painting at all.
On this optimistic note, we said goodbye to Natasha, for whose lifetime there will be enough aristocrats in Europe.
Once upon a time, Russian artists were specially sent to Italy to learn from the relevant masters.
We can say that it was a state program that led to brilliant results. Russian painting has taken its rightful place in world art.
Natalia Tsarkova (1967) is a young Russian artist, a graduate of I. Glazunov's studio and the Surikov School, who has been living and working in Rome since 1994. When she first came to Italy to visit a friend, no one knew her name. Several paintings that she took with her quickly attracted the attention of the Italians and instantly dispersed to private collections. Soon orders for portraits from aristocrats, politicians, artists and just wealthy Italians began to appear. But the real fame and rise in his career came after painting two portraits of Pope John Paul II,
which the Vatican recognized as official images of the Roman pontiff.
So the Russian artist, Muscovite Natalya Tsarkova became the only
in the world of painting, which managed to paint portraits of three Roman
Pope: John Paul I (succeeded to the throne in 1978 and died later
33 days), John Paul II and Benedict XVI, became the official
Vatican artist.
Portraits of dads Tsarkova writes from photographs, since dad
not allowed to pose.
By an amazing coincidence, the studio of Natalia Tsarkova is located in
one of the most "Russian" quarters of Rome, near Piazza Barberini.
Two steps away is the house where Gogol lived and wrote Dead Souls.
Opposite, across the road, at the "four fountains", there was an apartment
Karl Bryullov, who wrote "The Last Day of Pompeii" in Rome.
Alexander Ivanov and Orest Kiprensky lived not far from the Barberini.
Her work schedule includes meetings with dukes and lords. European
nobility lines up to order a portrait from Natalia.
The central place in the studio, completely hung with paintings, is reserved for
"The Last Supper" - Natalya does not want to part with this work yet,
despite numerous offers from private collectors
and museums. Tsarkova's monumental painting "The Last Supper" became
another notable milestone in her work. The picture is striking
unexpected angle and artistic solution of one of the most
famous religious stories. The painting by the Russian artist was
given a special honor: her first show took place in the refectory of Santa
Maria Della Grazie in Milan next to the famous masterpiece
"The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Last Supper
For the first time, the picture of Tsarkova was shown before Easter in Rome, and as
the message of peace was blessed by Pope John Paul II himself.
At a ceremony in Milan, together with the artist, the purple veil was pulled off the canvas by the custodian of the archives and library of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal George Maria Meia, who had come from the Vatican and later spoke very flatteringly about the merits of the painting and even traced the spiritual connection between the authors of the versions of The Secret Supper" -
from the great Leonardo to this petite Russian woman...
“In fact, I didn’t change anything in this well-known evangelical story, I just “came in” from the back side. Jesus is sitting at the table opposite the apostles and half-turned from the back looks straight at the viewer. In the corner of the canvas in the form of a servant, I depicted myself looking through door This is also inconsistent with the traditional canons of the "Supper", but in this way I wanted to emphasize the connection with today.This is a view from the 3rd millennium.
A large white canvas lay in my studio for a year,
before the decision of the picture arose. Ideas came spontaneously
like insights, in the process of work. Many of the details I redid several times. And in the role of the apostles, I decided to portray my Italian friends and acquaintances. For example, the person who posed Christ for me is Count Pippi Morja, a light designer by profession.
It was he who recently created the lighting for the Roman Trevi Fountain and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, and about fifteen years ago he organized Russian tours of Italian singers, in particular Toto Cutugno.
Natalya Tsarkova presented Benedict XVI with a special gift for his 85th birthday - a children's book "The Secret of a Small Pond", in which the pontiff is one of the main characters.
"The Secret of the Little Pond" is the story of a small red fish swimming during the summer in the pond of the gardens of Castel Gandolfo. Rybka is imbued with sympathy for Benedict XVI, who, while reading prayers on the rosary, comes to her every day and feeds her.
The book is decorated with illustrations in the style of a medieval miniature. The Vatican publishing house plans to release the book in Spanish, English, German, Russian and Italian.
Her work was admired by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now
the artist began to work on a portrait of the new Pope Francis.
