Marina as a separate genre of landscape painting finally took shape in Russian art in the 19th century, during the heyday of the work of Ivan Aivazovsky, which is not surprising, since it is still considered one of the greatest marinists in world art. The painting "Rainbow" by Aivazovsky is a vivid example of an amazing seascape.
Marina landscapes in Russian painting
Despite the uniqueness and international recognition, in the early work of Aivazovsky one can feel the influence of the first Russian landscape painters, the founders of the genre - S. Shchedrin and M. Vorobyov , whose rare seascapes combined the classical technique of academic painting with fresh ideas of romanticism.
Aivazovsky's early work is almost entirely devoted to the sea element. The young artist painted romantic landscapes with delight and admiration. One of the reasons for the artist’s romantic emotionality was that Aivazovsky did not consider it possible to paint the sea from nature. All that the painter depicted on his canvases is memories and imagination.
Nevertheless, the seething romanticism in the first paintings of Aivazovsky traces the desire to study the sea element in all its possible forms. On later canvases, the craftsmanship and innate sense of proportion of the creator restrain romantic admiration, and the viewer is presented with the work of an adult, skilled artist who knows his work and his subject matter. The painting "Rainbow" by Aivazovsky represents a new stage not only in the artist’s work, but also in the genre of the Russian seascape. Working on this canvas, the master began to use the usual bright colors in a completely different manner.
Aivazovsky’s work paved the way for the marina genre for landscape painters such as Lagorio, Bogolyubov and Kuindzhi.
Ivan Aivazovsky
The biography of the artist is an almost fabulous plot. Aivazovsky was the son of an impoverished merchant, but with his talent and skill he won recognition among domestic and world painters and became the founder of Marina in Russian fine art.
From early childhood, showing a craving for drawing, Aivazovsky attracted the attention of the architect of his hometown - Feodosia. The future artist received from him not only support and parting words, but also material assistance - art supplies and the first drawing lessons.
After graduating from Simferopol Gymnasium, Aivazovsky entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. In the fourth year of study, he was awarded the gold medal of the Academy, which allowed the young artist to go abroad as a scholarship holder. Aivazovsky spent several years in Italy, where he became famous thanks to his seascapes.
The history of the painting "Rainbow"
It is believed that the best works of Aivazovsky were created in the early period of his work. Such paintings as The Ninth Wave, Moonlit Night and Storm at Sea at Night are considered the peak of a marine painter’s career - the artist created landscapes that are unique in brightness and richness of the storyline.
In the early 70-ies of the XIX century, the artist flew many criticisms regarding the uniformity and far-fetchedness of his paintings. The picture "Rainbow" was a response to criticism. The opinion of contemporaries about Aivazovsky’s painting “Rainbow” is heterogeneous; almost everyone noted the uniqueness of the color scheme and the realism of the canvas, but there were those who continued to blame the artist for the far-fetched nature of his landscapes.
The author always said that it is impossible to write the sea from nature, therefore there is always a share of far-fetchedness in the sea landscapes of Aivazovsky, because paintings are a figment of the artist’s imagination. However, the Rainbow is distinguished by the realism of the color palette and the subtlety of the selected shades that make the sea foam drops almost transparent, thereby making the rainbow almost invisible.
Aivazovsky, "Rainbow" description of the picture and its plot
The plot of "Rainbow" is not new to the work of Aivazovsky. The author chose a familiar, almost battered object of the image - a sea storm for the picture. Like all paintings by the marine painter, the painting "Rainbow" by Aivazovsky depicts a shipwreck "in the first person" - as if the author himself was on a sinking ship.
The picture is filled with fuzzy, hazy outlines. The rocky shore and the ship itself, wrecked, are lost in the waves and high sea foam. In the foreground are a boat with sailors trying to avoid death. People peer into the distance of the ocean, trying to make out a place safe for the berth, however, high waves and gale force the boat and prevent the sailors from identifying and holding direction.
Thanks to the rainbow spectrum, the picture, despite the tragic plot, does not seem heavy and depressing. Aivazovsky’s characteristic play with light on this canvas creates an ideal rainbow circle, which plays a plot role of “a good omen”, promising a safe haven for sailors in distress.
Analysis of Aivazovsky’s painting “Rainbow” and its tint palette
In an attempt to find for himself a new technique for the picturesque depiction of the sea and its various forms, the marine painter switched to a new, brighter and more realistic palette.
The painting "Rainbow" by Aivazovsky is one of a series of paintings made in his new color scheme. The artist uses the inherent bright colors - yellow, purple, lilac and fiery orange, while not losing the realism and transparency of the landscape.
Paintings "Rainbow", "In the Tempest", "Marina", as well as some paintings painted in the 80s of the XIX century, as if embroidered with thin lines of bright colors. Incredible shades dissolve in the salty sea air, while creating clean, light and airy landscapes in which the sea looks extremely real and fabulously bright at the same time.