The biography of Surikov Vasily Ivanovich, an artist who painted on the themes of Russian history, is well known not only to domestic art critics. His multi-figured paintings combine history, romance and picturesque innovation.
Krasnoyarsk
The boy was born in Krasnoyarsk in the winter of 1848 in a family that came from a Cossack family developing Siberia. Surikov's father was a provincial employee. The child constantly peered into the faces of people, considering how the face is arranged, how the eyes are located, sat for hours and copied ancient icons. So began an independent biography of Surikov.
At eight years old the boy began to study at a parish school. His drawing abilities were noticed by a teacher who began to study with him separately. And the child believed that he could become an artist. When his father died, the family healed poorly. Vasily Surikov at the age of eleven already gave watercolor lessons in the governor's family. In this house, Surikov was introduced to a gold miner who decided to help a gifted teenager. He was given money and sent to the northern capital. Thus, the biography of Surikov began with an unexpected turn, with departure to a distant city.
Petersburg
It was not possible to immediately enter the Academy of Arts, since there was not enough skill, but, after studying for a short time in drawing courses, Surikov still entered (1869 - 1875). But when the training ended, the young artist did not receive a big gold medal for his work. But he had the opportunity to move to Moscow and begin work on painting on biblical themes for the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which was then being built. So the biography of Surikov made a new turn.
Moscow
Surikov suddenly fell in love with Moscow with all his heart. He could walk for hours on it, especially under the walls of the Kremlin, and admire her. In these walks in the evening of Moscow, he suddenly burned with a desire to paint a picture on the subject of the execution of execution.
At this time, the artist lived very modestly. He did not have his own workshop, and he painted paintings at home. He wrote the execution of archers on the frontal place of Red Square, where the carts stood. Sagittarius in white shirts with candles. And around all their native women: mothers, wives, children.
Away from the bluish fog grows a huge Cathedral of
St. Basil. In 1881, the painting was completed and was presented to the public. This painting was immediately bought by the Tretyakovs. Therefore, the artist was able to proceed to the next work.
Surikov pondered the “Boyar Morozova” for a long time, and meanwhile wrote a small, as he believed, work “Menshikov in Berezovo”. Both the wife and acquaintances posed for the picture. Surikov's biography was included in his canvas. Now we know what his beloved wife looked like, which he depicted in the form of Menshikov’s daughter, Maria. Pavel Tretyakov immediately saw the brilliant coloring of the picture, but he is really perfect, and bought it immediately. With this money Surikov and his family went to France and Italy through Germany. So the biography of Surikov made a new round.
Moscow period
Having returned, Surikov sets to work on "Boyar Morozova". Archpriest Habakkuk and the noblewoman, his ardent supporter, went against the innovations of Peter, for which they paid.
On a miserable sledge in the snow they take away to the
Borovsky monastery a fanatical defender of the old faith, who raised a thin hand and overshadowed everyone with a cross with two fingers. And around are people who look at it differently. The artist has depicted all possible gamut of feelings. It was very difficult for the artist to give the face of the noblewoman, and he also wanted to portray that the sled was not standing, but riding. In the end, everything worked out. There are people on both sides of the sled: on the one hand are the defenders of the old faith, on the other - the new. The painting is a great achievement of the artist as a colorist. Directly from the exhibition of the Wanderers, Tretyakov buys it for his gallery.
In Krasnoyarsk
After such a large and complex work, the artist travels to his homeland, gaining new strength. But this trip worsened his wife’s poor health, and she dies in 1888. A short biography of Surikov says that this was a severe blow for the artist. At this time, he reads the Bible a lot and ponders.
Krasnoyarsk and Siberia
In the winter of 1890, the artist again returned to his hometown and began work on the painting “Taking the Snowy Town”. On Shrovetide amusements, it was customary to build a snow fortress drenched in water and iced, and a rider on a horse should break through it. This scope and dare of the people, his game and general fun wanted to convey the painter.
Delicate shades of snow and sky contrast sharply with a smart colorful carpet. He is thrown over the back of a sled. Thus, a new theme arises of the broad soul of a Russian person.
The artist visits various Siberian cities and writes sketches everywhere. He collects material for a new picture, makes sketches for a new picture, paints portraits of Khakasses, kungurs. The sketches for the composition gives the arrangement and rotation of the figures. A short biography of Surikov speaks of the tireless work of his all mental forces.
Moscow
The conquest of Siberia by Ermak was not a war of conquest for Russia, but only defensive from the raids of the peoples inhabiting Siberia. The result is an epic canvas, surprisingly harmonious and courageous.
All Cossacks are calm. They are doing the right thing. Other troubling and turbulent situations depict the tribes who are now about to enter the battle. On the left side of the picture, the figures of the Cossacks and Ermak are illuminated so that they appear to be relief, acting against the general background. The biography of Vasily Surikov confirms that the ancestors of the artist participated in these battles.
The last major historical picture is “Stepan Razin” (1906-1910). The artist thought over her composition for a long time, until he refused the image of the Persian princess at all.
The main concern of the artist was to convey the thoughts of Razin, who is sitting in a plow on the background of the boundless boundless Volga, listening to the musician. A golden sunset illuminates the evening sky. The faces of the Cossacks are courageous and beautiful. But they were not given to understand what their chieftain was thinking about.
The artist of rare talent died in 1916. He embodied his plan in huge compositions with amazing solutions in color and rhythm. This is a short biography of Vasily Surikov.