I.I. Levitan, whose paintings are well known to everyone since childhood, has created more than a thousand paintings, drawings and sketches during his short life. He gave his entire gift to people, leaving himself with an incomparable happiness of the creator.
Childhood and youth of the future artist
The future singer of Russian nature was born on August 30, 1860 in a small place near the railway station of Kibarty, located on the territory of present-day Lithuania. The father of the future artist was an intelligent man and tried to help his children, Isaac and his brother Abel, gain knowledge. The brothers received their initial education at home under his guidance. Life away from the cultural centers of the country did not promise any prospects, and the Levitan family moved to Moscow. From an early age, Isaac Ilyich showed a talent for drawing, and, despite extreme poverty, he managed to enter the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
Years of study were unusually difficult for a young student. One by one, the parents died, and Isaac himself had to take care of a piece of bread. But there was a lot of joy. The talent, coupled with perseverance, helped him immediately become one of the best students of the school. His works won first places at competitions and brought awards. Fate sent him wonderful teachers, V. G. Perov, A. K. Savrasov and V. I. Surikov. It was these people who helped to fully reveal the talent of the young painter. But most importantly, they introduced him to the circle of the famous society of Wanderers.
First real success
In March 1877, Moscow met the fifth traveling art exhibition. For the first time, Leitan demonstrated his work in the same halls with recognized brush masters. The success was unexpected and noisy. His painting "Autumn" was especially noted. Levitan was overwhelmed with happiness. In those years, the highest appreciation of the work of each artist was the purchase of his paintings by Tretyakov for his famous gallery. Very soon, Levitan's paintings appeared in his halls.
After some time, another important event occurred in the life of Levitan. The famous philanthropist and creator of a private opera company, Savva Morozov, recruited a group of artists to design his productions. Was invited and I.I. Levitan. His paintings were well known to Morozov. Work in the theater not only helped to develop the talent of the artist, but strengthened financially. He goes on a trip to the Volga.
Trip to the Volga and abroad
The great Russian river was known to him mainly from the poems of Nekrasov and the paintings of Repin. From the trip Levitan brought a series of paintings. Widely known among them are such as "Evening on the Volga", "Golden Reach", and many others. And again his paintings in the Tretyakov Gallery. This is not just success, it is a triumph.
I.I. Levitan, whose paintings are so popular in Russia, goes abroad. In Paris, Berlin and Rome, he visits the largest museums in the world and studies the work of old masters. Of course, this is beneficial, but for a long time he cannot stay away from Russia. In his letters to friends, the artist talks about how he draws him home to his native Russian landscapes.
Creation of the picture "Evening ringing"
Ahead was one of his most famous works. Levitan's painting "The Evening Ringing" cannot leave anyone indifferent. This canvas, so familiar to everyone, is filled with extraordinary lyricism and warmth. The idea of the picture came from Levitan in Slobodka near Zvenigorod. There he happened to observe the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery in the rays of the setting sun.
The artist was struck by the beauty of what he saw. But he began work on the painting in Yuryevets, where the Krivozersky monastery is located on the lake. Thus , Levitan's painting “The Evening Ringing” was inspired by two ancient Russian monasteries. Many researchers of the artist's work believe that Savrasov taught him to feel the poetry of old temples.
The last years of the artist’s life
In 1897, another painting was presented to the general public, which became a masterpiece of Russian landscape painting. This is Levitan's painting "Spring. Big Water." Relatively modest in size, it is large-scale in content. The spring revival of life, the awakening of new forces and hopes are its main motives.
I.I. Levitan, whose paintings were included in the golden fund of national culture, lived a short life. He died on August 4, 1900, as if summing up the development of 19th-century painting.