The name of the great artist Ilya Repin is familiar to almost everyone. Many museums, streets and galleries are named after him. Special attention deserves a short biography of Repin. It most clearly and vividly describes the most important events in the life of the great master.
Childhood and youth
Repin Ilya Efimovich was born on August 5, 1844 in the territory of modern Ukraine. The future artist was born in the small town of Chuguev in the Kharkov region. The father of Ilya Repin was a military settler.
The boy began to get involved in art early. Already at the age of thirteen, he took up painting. Repin's mentor was icon painter and portrait painter Ivan Mikhailovich Bunakov, who also lived in Chuguev. As the artist himself later admitted, the teacher had a tremendous influence on the formation of his style. Repin repeatedly called Bunakov the best of the Chuguev masters. Ilya Efimovich is even credited with the following words: "Ivan Mikhailovich was a truly incredible artist and took a place alongside Holbein."
From the very beginning of his creative activity, Repin receives good reviews about his work. His paintings are very popular in his native district. Wanting to develop further, the young painter makes an important decision in life to try his luck in St. Petersburg. In this glorious city on the Neva and has a continuation of a short biography of Repin.
Study and recognition
After moving to St. Petersburg, the artist continues to study at the Drawing School. There, fate brings the master with Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy. Subsequently, he becomes a teacher of young Repin.
In 1863, luck smiles on a talented artist, and Ilya Efimovich enters the Academy of Arts. There, the master shows remarkable creative abilities, thereby gaining the respect of colleagues and mentors. Among the famous teachers of Repin was Rudolf Kazimirovich Zhukovsky.
After only a short six years, the young artist receives his first award, which is what Repin's short biography means. It was a Small Gold Medal for his painting "Job and His Friends."
Searches for creativity
Since 1870, Repin embarked on a ship down the Volga River. The time allotted for this journey, the artist uses for the benefit of creativity. During the trip, the master’s piggy bank is replenished with numerous sketches and sketches. Later, some of them formed the basis of one of the most important paintings in the work of the master - "Barge Haulers on the Volga". This canvas was written for three years and has acquired great importance for the then cultural and political life. It is worth noting that its creation was carried out on the order of Prince V. Alexandrovich himself. However, not only him, this picture caused genuine emotions. Critics spoke well of the work done. After all, the picture is simply amazing with its genuine sincerity, careful technical study of the smallest details and the laborious drawing of all the actors.
Soon, Repin receives the next important award for him. In 1870, the artist was awarded the Big Gold Medal. This time, the critics 'choice fell on a large canvas called "The Resurrection of Jairus' Daughter." This work became a landmark for the master, because, in addition to recognition in his homeland, he got the opportunity to try his hand at learning and creating in the vastness of Europe. Sunny Italy and France were already waiting for him, where Repin went. The artist continues to improve his skills.
Cultural heritage
One of the most striking works in Repin's work was the painting "Cossacks writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan." The master made the first drafts in 1878. Ilya Efimovich worked on the canvas for a long ten years.
It is worth noting that, in addition to creative activity, Repin successfully engaged in pedagogical. So, since 1893 he took a place of honor at the Academy of Fine Arts. Later, the master led the workshop. The peak of his teaching career was the rector of the Academy.
Interestingly, the artist was twice married. With his second lawful wife, the master lived in his own estate in Finland until the end of his life.
This concludes Repin's short biography, but everyone can find something new for himself in his work.