The great Russian artist Valentin Serov became famous as a master of portraits. He wanted and wrote, in his own words, only joyful or "encouraging." Despite the short life (46 years), the artist painted a huge number of portraits, landscapes, sketches. The works of Valentin Serov are currently kept in 25 Russian museums, 4 museums in foreign countries and private collections.
The uniqueness of the artist is not in doubt, the hallmark of his character was truthfulness. He was unfamiliar with the deal with conscience, as Repin said, and Korovin called Serov a seeker of truth. Also, the artist’s paintings are filled with truthfulness, nobility and sincerity, according to A.N. Benois. Among the many paintings and drawings you can find portraits of the Romanov family. They are stored in the State Russian Museum and in the Tretyakov Gallery.
In the article, we will consider Serov’s painting “Portrait of Nicholas 2,” where the sovereign is depicted in the colonel’s uniform.
Emperor's order
The sovereign decided to make a present to his wife Alexandra Fedorovna and ordered his portrait. Oddly enough, but from the very beginning Serov did not work. The upset emperor sat down at the table and folded his arms. At that moment, his gaze and figure adopted the expression Serov needed.
During the 1917 revolution, workers who burst into the palace with bayonets broke the portrait of Nicholas II, but Serov (for good luck!), Immediately after the original, wrote a copy of the portrait. Today, the canvas is stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
The first year of the beginning of the XX century
"Portrait of Nicholas 2" by Serov was painted at the very beginning, in 1900, a difficult and eventful twentieth century. The artist did not manage to capture the image of the Tsar, because in front of him was not a simple man with outstanding abilities, but a Person with a capital letter, on which lay responsibility for the Russian people. The behavior of the last emperor of Russia also depended on the state of affairs throughout the world.
The picture shows that the last emperor of Russia is an outstanding person. Valentin Serov “Portrait of Nicholas 2” decided not to write for special occasions. On the canvas, the emperor is depicted somewhat tired after a hard day. The eyes glow with mind, calm and sadness. Apparently, he foresaw the fate of the country and his family.
It is known that the artist himself was a heavy man. The empress, present during the sessions, dared to give the portrait painter tips on how to write the emperor's face. The artist silently handed her paints. The gesture was expressive, the empress left the room. This incident did not have the best effect on the relationship between the artist and the imperial family.
Nikolai Alexandrovich tried in every possible way to establish relations with the artist, but the latter, according to information, no longer made contact. It is known that many models for this reason were afraid of the artist and did not always agree to pose for him.
Description of the portrait of Nicholas 2
Serov used wide free strokes without transitions from one tone to another. Details in the picture are not worked out.
There is nothing in the background, an ordinary wall. There are no attributes commonly used in writing royal persons. There are no solemn interiors, royal clothes. The painting itself is a canvas measuring 71 x 58.8 cm. The writing style is impressionism, the artist used oil paints.
On the canvas, Nicholas 2 is presented in the form of an officer of the Preobrazhensky regiment. He sits with his hands folded in front of him, which gives the appearance hardness and determination. There were many rumors about the personality of the emperor. Some considered him too mild and melancholy and perceived the abdication as a betrayal, but we should not forget that the emperor abdicated in favor of his younger brother Michael, and then, together with his family and devoted servants, suffered a painful death.
There are many portraits of the last emperor, but despite everything, the portrait of Nicholas 2 Serov is considered the most successful. The artist painted the young king, emphasizing this in a light tone. Brown, gray and black colors easily set off the oval of the face, especially its attentive eyes. The manner of writing is similar to a sketch, but a well-thought-out sketch.
Icons of royal martyrs
Today, in every Orthodox church and in almost every house, an icon of the last Russian emperor hangs. There is an image where he, the empress and the children stand holding crosses in their hands, and there are icons where the imperial family is depicted together with the servants.
Valentin Serov brilliantly depicted the appearance of the emperor. Looking at his portrait and knowing the further tragic fate of this man, it is impossible to remain indifferent. "Portrait of Emperor Nicholas 2" Serov is rightfully considered the best image of the sovereign.