“I didn’t have time to do more significant things,” wrote Vasily Polenov, organizer of the exhibition of Wanderers, Ivan Kramskoy, sending his painting “Moscow Courtyard” to St. Petersburg for an exhibition. Polenov by that time was known as a master of historical painting. He wrote biblical scenes, worked on sketches of scenery for theatrical productions, and suddenly - an ordinary, unremarkable modest courtyard in the middle of Moscow, which there were many in the old capital. However, it was this painting that caused great success, was credited to the rank of masterpieces and became forever the hallmark of Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov. What is the mystery of this wonderful picture?
Holiday of being
The entire space of the canvas shines with soft and jubilant colors, half of it is occupied by a serene sky with clouds melting like cotton candy and triumphantly sparkling poppies of the temple. Here, as if angels were playing hide and seek with sun glare reflected from golden onions with Orthodox crosses. The other half of the canvas is given to the earthly paradise - such an everyday, cozy and piercing native. Here the life of the children of God, who are all under His wing, is slowly moving. The sun pours light into the pure air all over the world, filling the soul with an inexplicably joyful feeling.
History of the canvas
As Vasily Polenov once remarked, the Moscow Yard turned out to be an impromptu one. After a long trip abroad, the artist was looking for an apartment in Moscow, saw an advertisement for renting on the door of one of the houses, and immediately went into the rooms. A view appeared to him from the window, which the painter immediately sketched. It seemed that he himself did not expect that after the picturesque landscapes of Europe he would find in Moscow such "fresh and original material." It happened in 1877. The Moscow Courtyard of Polenov on the canvas was empty at that moment. Only a year later, the artist finalized the picture, and people and animals appeared on it. This second version of Polenov was sent to a traveling exhibition, where the canvas gained wide fame and was acquired by Pavel Tretyakov for his famous gallery. The artist presented the first version of the painting to Ivan Turgenev, whom he was well acquainted with in the literary circle, the organizer of which was the writer. Polenov greatly appreciated the Turgenevsky Notes of the Hunter, considering this work a diamond of Russian literature. The writer presented the artist with this autographed collection.
Staromoskovsky cosiness
Not without reason merchant Moscow was called a large village. Its buildings were very different from the solemn and gloomy linear prospects of St. Petersburg. The Moscow landscape was determined not by avenues, but by courtyards and gardens surrounding the mansions. The rural patriarchal order that prevailed there won the heart of the artist, who had lived in the northern capital for a long time and now settled in Durnovsky Lane near Arbat Street.
In the same perspective today
The place that the painter depicted can be found in modern Moscow, however, it has changed beyond recognition. Only the Church of the Savior on Sands has survived. Below you can see how the Moscow courtyard Polenova looks now. There is no longer either that courtyard, nor the soft idyll that reigned there. Only the street crossroads in some way echoes the one that on the canvas denotes the interior space of the picturesque old Moscow courtyard.
Where to get inspiration from
The picture “Moscow Yard” by Polenov beckons and inspires the viewer. Someone from art historians noticed that the mastery was allowed to poetize the prosaic landscape by love for people and for life. Indeed, the secret of attraction is connected with the personal spiritual qualities of the artist: only a really good person could write this picture - sincere and attentive, responsive and spiritually rich.
Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov was a gifted and widely educated person. His talents from early childhood were encouraged in the family. Polenov’s father was an archaeologist, his mother wrote books for children. The young man graduated from the Academy of Arts with brilliance, while at the University of St. Petersburg he received a law degree. Vasily Dmitrievich was no stranger to music, he sang in the choir of the Academy and composed musical works. But in the history of world art, Polenov-the artist became famous all the same. “Moscow Yard” as a mirror reflected the versatility of the personality of its author. The picture has a close attention to detail, and melodic harmony. It is enough to peer into the slender flowing lines of buildings and bell towers, intersecting paths, carefully written in the foreground of the grass. Even yard weeds - burdock, nettles and thistles do not look messy, but fit in with the general pictorial symphony.
Favorite images
A detailed analysis of Polenov’s painting “Moscow Courtyard” allows us to understand why this canvas immediately became an artistic event and touches hearts to this day.
I want to peer into this picture for a long time, plunge into a calm harmonious world that gives the viewer the delight of recognition. The beginning of summer, fresh grass strengthens the earth with a soft emerald carpet, touching daisies grow here and there, there is almost no shadow, everything is lit by gentle sunbeams.
The presence of people makes the landscape especially close and understandable. The young woman took out a full bucket from the house, she goes to feed the chickens, which busily hatch seeds and worms from the ground. Nearby, basking in the warm sun and quietly spinning the ears of a horse harnessed to a cart. They started a fun game with either a cat or a puppy, two babies, two steps away sobbing excitedly, folding hands on their stomach, tied with a scarf. Something with enthusiasm is examined in the foreground of the composition by a short-haired girl in a blue skirt with an apron and a white peasant shirt.
Colors, smells and sounds
“Moscow Yard” Polenov gives the viewer the opportunity to enjoy not only the summer colors and almost tangible warmth emanating from the picture. The canvas gives us a whole gamut of sounds and smells that immediately arise in the imagination. Grasshoppers chatter in the grass, chase the kids, hens cackle, crows and jackdaws scream, green foliage quietly rustles. The sweet smell of young grass, the sun, poplar buds and fresh pastries accompany the visual sensations that the picture gives rise to.
The Moscow Courtyard of Polenov is also interesting from a coloristic point of view. The joy of being is conveyed in pure, fresh, vibrant colors. There are no dull gray shades, the color is saturated with sunlight and sky blue. Even the shadows on the walls and roofs of buildings are red, cool greenish, blue.
With this encouraging, deeply lyrical sensation, the picture refers us to the wonderful literary works of the century before last - to the poems of Athanasius Fet, to the novel of the Lord's Summer by Ivan Sergeyevich Shmelev.