Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky is a famous marine painter whose works are known all over the world. He painted incredibly realistic canvases, striking in their beauty. Aivazovsky’s “Brig Mercury” work is unusual in that it continues. The master has many paintings dedicated to the Russian Navy. Read about two paintings on this topic in the article.
About the artist
Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (at birth his name was Hovhannes Ayvazyan) was born in 1817 in Feodosia. He was not only an excellent artist, but also an academician of painting and a philanthropist. Aivazovsky was an honorary member (participant) of the Academy of Arts of the Russian Empire, as well as Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, Stuttgart and Florence.
During his life, the master wrote a huge number of works on the marine theme, but he also worked in the genre of battle. Even during the life of the artist, his work was valued very expensive. Ivan Konstantinovich is considered the best master who depicted the sea and everything connected with it.
Aivazovsky’s painting “Brig Mercury attacked by two Turkish ships”
This work was created by the artist in 1892. The painting depicts the brig’s battle with the Turkish courts Real Bay and Selimiye. In this naval battle in the picture of Aivazovsky, the brig Mercury triumphs over Turkish ships. This is one of the episodes of the Russian-Turkish war of the early 19th century. The events that are depicted in the picture occurred in May 1829. Then the "Mercury", commanded by an experienced captain-lieutenant A.I. Kazarsky, due to the fact that the wind was too weak, could not break away from the pursued two Turkish ships.
It should be noted that these were the largest and fastest warships in the Turkish squadron. The catastrophic situation was that there were only 18 guns on board the Mercury brig, and there were as many as 200 on Turkish ships.
Battle description
Caught in a deliberately losing situation, the officer council decides to accept the battle. It should be noted that the sailors supported him and took action. During the battle, which lasted more than two hours, the brig team managed to damage the main supports holding the mast of the Turkish ship “Real Bay” with fire from their small guns. As a result, the mast fell overboard, and the ship itself was deprived of the opportunity to maneuver and, accordingly, continue the battle.
Now the position of the “Mercury” brig has become a little better, but the second formidable opponent remained, surpassing him in all respects. The Turkish ship "Selimiye" during the battle received about the same damage as the "Real Bay". His mast was also shot down by Russian cannonballs, and the second Turkish ship was also forced to stop the naval duel.
Aivazovsky’s painting shows that the Mercury brig, as in real life, will receive extremely severe damage. By the way, as a result of the battle, four crew members were killed, but nevertheless, he was able to get out of this seemingly obviously losing battle as the winner. After a triumphant victory, the ship returned to the port of Sevastopol.
Another painting "Brig" Mercury "after the victory over two Turkish ships meets with the Russian squadron"
In addition to Aivazovsky’s painting “Brig Mercury Attacked by Turkish Ships”, which, as mentioned above, was painted in 1892, in 1848 another piece dedicated to this ship was created by the master. It depicts the legendary brig, which follows to the port. These works are very different from each other. If the first one feels tension, dynamics and drama, then the second canvas shows calmness and tranquility.
Despite the difference in the plot reflected in Aivazovsky’s painting “Brig Mercury Attacked by Turkish Ships” and other work, both canvases are dedicated to the same ship and event. Almost all of Aivazovsky’s paintings have survived to the present, and everyone can appreciate how accurately and colorfully the great master could depict not only the sea landscapes themselves, but also battle scenes. Today, Aivazovsky’s painting “Brig Mercury Attacked by Turkish Ships” is in the art gallery bearing his name in Feodosia. Looking at his work, it becomes clear why Aivazovsky is considered the best painter-marine painter.