The artist who created his name as a new genre in Russian art - the genre of urban landscape. The amazing talent and the general style of his paintings are one of the best in world painting. The name of an amazing artist is Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich.
Biography
Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich was born in 1754 (the exact date of birth is missing in historical sources) in a poor family. In 1766, his father applied for his son's admission to the Academy of Arts, and his request was granted. Fedor Alekseev begins his studies in the class of painting flowers and fruits, after which he is transferred to the landscape class, and in 1773 he successfully graduated from the Academy. For the best writing of the landscape, he is awarded a gold medal. To continue training a talented young man sent to Venice to specialize in decorative painting. This is a special kind of scenery for the theater. During his studies, Fedor Alekseev, in addition to the main lesson, enthusiastically studies Venetian artists depicting the landscape, such as Canale, Guardi, engravings of Piranesi, who at that time lived in Rome. But with his thirst for new knowledge, the artist displeases the academic authorities.
Road to art
After completing his specialization in Venice, artist Fedor Alekseev returned to St. Petersburg and arranged to work as a painter at the theater school. The approximate dates of this period of his life are 1779-1786. Due to his enthusiasm for landscapes, in addition to theatrical scenery, Fedor Alekseev was greeted rather cool in his homeland and refused further training to receive the title of academician. But the artist sets himself the goal of showing the Academy what he is capable of, and together with this work the artist combines copying the landscapes of Canaletto, Bellotto, Robert and Berne in the opening Hermitage.
Thanks to his successful work in the Hermitage, he leaves the service at the school. His creative reproduction of the originals so beautifully repeated their picturesque system that the work won great success. Successful work brought Fyodor Alekseev fame, the nickname "Russian Canaletto", for which the Academy gives the artist the opportunity to independently write his paintings. Of course, they became landscapes.
Originality of the work of the artist Fedor Alekseev
Having proved his ability to paint independently, the artist paints a number of famous paintings with views of St. Petersburg. One of the most significant: "View of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Palace Embankment" (1793) and "View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress" (1794).
Using the knowledge acquired in Venice, Fedor Alekseev creates his image of a solemn and at the same time vibrant city. At the same time, in his paintings, he retains the laws of classicism, important in the 18th century, and combines the ideal and the real. For his works in 1794, the artist Fedor Alekseev was given the title of academician of promising painting.
Creative way
After receiving the honorary title, Fedor Alekseev receives the task of drawing the places where Empress Catherine II was in 1787. The artist recreates on his canvases the beauty of such southern cities as Nikolaev, Kherson, Bakhchisaray.
And in 1800, Emperor Paul I himself instructed Fedor Alekseev to write Moscow. During the time that the artist spent in this city (a little over a year), he brings several paintings and a large number of watercolors, which depict views of Moscow streets, monasteries, suburbs. But the most important thing is the unique images of the Kremlin. The most popular among them were Red Square in Moscow and Boyarskaya Ploshchad, or Bed Porch and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior behind the Golden Bars in the Moscow Kremlin.
Moscow works are so distinguished by their accuracy and documentary that they attract new buyers of paintings to the artist. Among them are famous people and members of the imperial family.
The fame of the artist as a landscape painter
Since the 1800s Fedor Yakovlevich becomes the head of the class of promising painting at the Academy of Arts and again draws on his favorite topic - St. Petersburg. At the same time, the artist travels a lot in Russia and captures the views of provincial cities.
More life appears in his paintings, it seems that now the images will come to life. They become like documentary historical photographs. More and more artist depicts people. They come to the fore of paintings with palaces, embankments and streets. People with their daily affairs, wagons, workers. The details are written even more distinctly, heavier, the color scheme looks warmer, and the painting becomes particularly saturated. The works of that time included "View of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg", "" View of the Promenade des Anglais from the Vasilyevsky Island "and others. In a warm range, with a fine drawing of the smallest details.
The paintings of Fedor Alekseev are distinguished by a special “warm” light and movement. The sky takes on a gentle azure hue, and the clouds become the pinkishness of the setting sun.
The last years of the artist’s life
No one is eternal, and over time, the fame of Alekseev Fyodor Yakovlevich begins to fade, and the public forgets him. The famous landscape painter dies in 1824 in great poverty. After him, his wife and children remain, and the Academy of Arts provides financial assistance for the organization of the funeral and for the continued existence of the family.
Despite the sad end of his life, artist Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich is one of the most famous creators of the genre of urban landscape. His paintings are lined up in the Tretyakov Gallery, the State Hermitage Museum, and the Russian Museum. His works are studied in educational institutions. He is remembered, and in the world of painting, his name is highly valued, and the biography of Fedor Alekseev is an example of the fact that you need to follow your vocation, no matter what.