Painting conveys visual images of events and phenomena by applying paint on a flexible or solid basis. Historical painting is a popular art genre that is dedicated to various historical figures and events, as well as important phenomena in the life of entire states. Sometimes some pictures can distort the real face of time, while violating various principles of realism.
Very often, historical painting can be represented by works in which various genres of this art are intertwined. So, for example, in such paintings historical and everyday scenes (everyday genre) may be present, figures of past centuries, portrait compositional subjects (portrait genre) may be depicted. Often in historical painting you can see landscapes of the past. Painting is very closely connected with the battle genre (historical military events are depicted). Any of these areas is unique and can occupy a special place in the visual arts.
Over time, there was an evolution of this genre, which was due to the formation of a scientific view of history.
Historical painting began to develop in the Renaissance and included various subjects on mythological and biblical themes. Such canvases depicted important events of past centuries.
The most famous representative of the historical genre is considered A.P. Losenko (1737–1773). He created the first canvas on the national theme of “Vladimir and Rogneda” (18th century). The creation of any picture of this genre is preceded by the elaboration of the plot canvas, history, as well as the binding of the work on historical subjects to various facts and events.
Any picture of this genre is considered a fantasy of the artist about the historical past. Events displayed on the canvas can be fictitious. Very often, artists take as a basis a historical fact and supplement it with their imagination. Different authors may have opposing views on the same event, so you cannot study history from paintings by artists. To do this, you need to read specialized literature.
At its core, historical painting prefers drawing. In the sketches of paintings there is a vibrant color. Three-dimensional figures are created by means of chiaroscuro. The uniqueness of works of a historical nature gives the feature of coloring.
In painting of this genre, an internal gradation of color is developed. Sculptural tangibility in the paintings is attached to almost all bodies. This technique is carried out using a mixture of olive, dark brown and gray colors, which allow you to recreate the most realistic images.
Depending on what subject needs to be captured on the canvas, different genres of paintings are distinguished. In the visual arts there is a distinction between high and low genres. The former include battle, religious, allegorical, mythological historical genres. Low display various pictures of everyday life, for example, still life, portrait, animalism, landscape.
The most common in historical painting is the battle genre, in which there are scenes of hostilities. It displays military campaigns, battles, the triumph of victory, the glorification of military valor, etc.
The mythological genre in painting, which tells about various myths and legends of ancient peoples, is also particularly popular. The religious genre is based on plots and small episodes from the Bible.
Special attention should be paid to Russian historical painting, which includes a huge number of paintings by great artists who have shown increased attention to the heroic deeds of ordinary people and the fate of the people. Surikova V.I., whose works rightfully belong to the immortal classical paintings, can be considered a bright representative of this genre.
Historical painting is considered the golden fund of culture and history.