K.P. Bryullov and A.S. Pushkin. Portrait of an Unknown Author

Bryullov and Pushkin met in Moscow, in the autumn of 1836 they often met in St. Petersburg. Their relationship, personal and creative, did not last long, less than a year, but it was a fruitful friendship, which broke the death of the poet. After the death of Pushkin, Bryullov made a sketch of his monument, thought to take part in the publication of essays and drew many sketches of the frontispiece, and in 1849 - a picture based on the Bakhchisarai Fountain.

The history of a small portrait of A. S. Pushkin

In 1880, in Moscow, at the Pushkin Exhibition, the attention of visitors was attracted by one small picture - “A. S. Pushkin. " The portrait, painted in oil on cardboard (12.0 x 8.5 cm), was listed as the work of K. Bryullov, because on it along the shoulder of the character was visible the artist's name painted in red paint. This picture was also reproduced in the released album.

19 years later, when “A. S. Pushkin ”, a portrait of the work of O. A. Kiprensky, previously kept by the poet’s son, there was already a question mark against the author’s surname in a small work . There was an opinion that the signature "K. Bryullov ”is a crudely made fake and does not copy the artist’s autograph, but the signature under a certain lithograph from one of the master’s works.

Subsequently, on the basis of documentary data, the Pushkin scholars, in particular N.O. Lerner, who published the article “False Bryullovsky Portrait of A.S. Pushkin” in 1914, proved that Bryullov never painted a portrait of Pushkin, although he intended to. Since then, a derogatory name has been assigned to a small work of art, and gradually it has been completely forgotten. For a long time he stayed in a private collection, and then it was acquired by the Literary Museum in Moscow. In 1959, the "False Bryullovsky" portrait was transferred to the newly created Metropolitan Museum of Alexander S. Pushkin.

Small portrait - study for a picture of Kiprensky (?)

But if not Bryullov, then who wrote Pushkin? The portrait, called "Pseudo Bryullovsky," has long been considered to belong to the pen of an unknown artist. After many years, an attempt was made to prove the authorship of O. Kiprensky.

Comparing the documentary evidence, the manner of writing and other details, the adherents of this version came to the conclusion that this is a sketch of his famous painting - “A. S. Pushkin ”(portrait, 1827).

There are understandable differences between the two works. An etude is a moment of life captured by an artist. Pushkin is different here - a different mood and facial expression. There are differences in the writing of individual details, but the peculiarity of the pictorial manner and the generality of the composition prove that the author of the portrait of Pushkin (sketch) is O. A. Kiprensky.

Comparing historical facts supported by documentary evidence, it can be assumed that the work could be done by the artist from May 26 to July 15, 1827.

Why didn't Bryullov paint a portrait of Pushkin?

It seems strange why the famous painter and portrait painter, who personally knew Pushkin, did not paint a portrait of his peer, a brilliant poet.

Bryullov created many paintings on which he captured his contemporaries: Russian writers, artists, architects, public figures. But Pushkin is not among them. The remaining evidence of friends and students of the artist suggests that he was going to paint a portrait of the poet, but did not have time to do it.

However, some researchers of the work of K.P. Bryullov believe that Pushkin was not his hero. The painter was known as the master of the life-affirming “happy portrait” and painted people in moments of their inspiration or joyful excitement. The poet’s drama did not fit into the concept of Bryullov’s creativity, therefore he “didn’t have time” to paint a picture. This is just one of the assumptions, which has no direct evidence.

Afterword

It would be unfair not to mention that the version presented here about the authorship of a small portrait of A.S. Pushkin is only one of many. For example, art critic E. Pavlova is of the opinion that the portrait was nevertheless painted by Bryullov, and gives his own, no less interesting arguments in defense of this. Research continues, and many more unsolved secrets remain. Future generations may be more fortunate.