The great Russian artist Pavel Fedotov is considered the founder of critical realism in the painting of those times. He was one of the first to portray true life in a natural way, conveying genuine feelings and emotions, without embellishment. The artist painted the reality surrounding him since childhood, because he grew up on the outskirts of Zamoskvorechye. Everything depicted on the canvases was the fruit of his childhood and youthful observations.
The paintings of Pavel Fedotov are kept in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Russian Museum of St. Petersburg, so you can come and admire the works of a true master, an academician of painting, who has achieved popular recognition, despite his fate. The article will discuss the biography of the great master, consider his path to recognition, his famous paintings and drawings. The curious facts of the difficult life of the master will also be given.
Biography
Fedotov Pavel Andreevich was born in a very poor large family in Moscow on June 22, 1815. His father, Andrei Illarionovich, served in the army as a young man under Catherine and, retiring, received the rank of lieutenant and a noble title, then became impoverished and served as a titular adviser. His mother, Natalya Alekseevna Kalashnikova, raised children and ran a household. The family lived in poverty in a small wooden house. Children, including little Pavel, spent whole days without special supervision in the street, in the hayloft, and during the winter cold they hid in the carriage in the yard. It was during this carefree time that the future artist Pavel Fedotov captured the patriarchal customs of local residents, the images of which he later embodied on his canvases.
Studying in the cadet corps
At 11, his father sends Fedotov Jr. to study at the First Moscow Cadet Corps. The boy studied hard, showed good abilities in mathematics and chemistry, although often teachers could see their portraits in the notebooks, moreover, in a caricature image. But this did not stop the young man from completing the course with honors. According to the tradition of the educational institution, his name was inscribed on a marble plaque in the assembly hall of the building. Pavel Fedotov received the rank of non-commissioned officer, and already in 1832 he was promoted to sergeant major. A year later, he was already an ensign and served in the regiment of St. Petersburg.
The desire to draw did not leave the young officer even during the years of service, so he decided in the evenings to attend painting lessons at the Academy of Arts. At first, it was hard for him to change from the usual caricatures to real realistic portraits, for which he often came across from the great Bryullov. But over time, teachers discerned the student’s talent and paid special attention to him.
The artist’s family Pavel Fedotov lived in poverty and asked for financial help, so in the evenings the loving son not only studied the forms of the human body using plaster sculptures and took lessons at the Academy, but also painted small watercolors with portraits of colleagues and Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, which were well sold out. He sent this money to his relatives in Moscow.
Painting "Meeting of the Grand Duke"
In the summer of 1837, Pavel Fedotov witnessed an event that shocked him to the depths of his soul and gave impetus to the writing of his first famous painting, which laid the foundation for his artistic activity. After treatment abroad, the Grand Duke arrived at the regiment. The guards, who adored him and were worried about his state of health, ran out to meet him in a noisy crowd. The picturesque situation made a deep impression on the young man, and he took up writing the canvas. Only 3 months later, he painted his famous painting "The Meeting of the Grand Duke." So that nothing would distract the master from working on the canvas, he was given a vacation for the first time in his life.
The Grand Duke awarded the young officer with a diamond ring for this work. Impressed by such gratitude of the brother of the sovereign, the artist writes another painting entitled "Consecration of banners in the Winter Palace, updated after the fire." Since the poor officer badly needed financially, he decided to show the still unfinished picture to the prince. He submitted it to the sovereign for trial; the august brother signed a decree on the issuance of a monthly maintenance allowance to the “drawing” officer in the amount of 100 rubles.
This was a turning point in the fate and work of Pavel Andreyevich Fedotov. He submits a letter of resignation and already in 1844 he was dismissed from the regiment with the rank of captain. At first, he paints battle scenes, but eventually finds that he likes genre painting more. Natural observation and a keen mind enable the author to embody the life environment and the characteristic features of people of various classes in his paintings. At that time, there really wasn’t enough realism in Russian painting, that's why the artist’s canvases were so liked by eminent masters and ordinary people.
"Fresh Cavalier"
One of the first paintings that received recognition from a strict teacher and omnipotent in those years Bryullov, was a canvas called "Fresh Cavalier" or "Morning of the official who received the cross." It was written in 1846 in the genre of satirical realism. It makes fun of the arrogance and pride of the official who received the smallest award at that time - the order. The comic nature of the image is conveyed in the wretched atmosphere of a dirty room with things scattered on the floor and furniture.
The order is attached directly to the old robe, papillots of rag pieces are wound on the head. The uniform hangs on a chair, on the table lies a piece of cut sausage, under it lie the remains of fish.
The maid servant perceives the owner's bragging with humor and continues to do her job.
Comic gives a contrast between facial expressions and the appearance of a man standing on the floor barefoot. He dreams of a high position in society, trying to look beautiful and well-groomed, while not having the means. Adds a satire cat, tearing with its claws the upholstery of a chair in the foreground.
"The picky bride"
One of the famous paintings by Pavel Fedotov is considered to be the "Legible Bride" written in 1847. Against the background of the room's excellently traced atmosphere, a couple is visible - an elderly woman, in front of whom a hunchback in expensive outfits is standing in a pleading pose. The girl makes an indifferent and condescending face, but in her heart she has long ago decided to agree to this marriage. After all, the bride’s age is far from young, but the bridegroom, although hunchbacked, can be seen from her clothes that she’s not poor.
Her parents are closely watching what is happening. The author sees comic in the contrast of images. Outwardly ugly groom has true feelings and nobility, but the lady has the opposite - the beauty of her face hides the arrogant and capricious nature.
For the above paintings, the artist Pavel Fedotov was awarded the title of academician. He was given a good cash allowance, and he was able to continue to paint a picture that became his most recognizable creation in the world.
Painting "Matchmaking of the Major"
The work was written in 1848, and after the presentation at the exhibition, the name of Fedotov became widely known. All newspaper publications wrote about him. Based on his painting, the artist composed a poem that reflects the whole meaning of the plot. Although the author’s poems were not published anywhere, his friends considered him talented in this form of creativity.
In the painting "Major Matchmaking" the artist depicted an event inherent in his time. A rich bride, the daughter of a merchant, is married by agreement to a poor nobleman with the title. The bride, seeing the groom, in horror tries to escape, a strict mother keeps her in the room. A father is standing aside, happy with a bargain. There is no question of any feelings.
The positive value of the work of Pavel Fedotov consisted in ridiculing such obsolete traditions when the daughter was literally sold by parents for titles and welfare. Contemporaries approved of his satire, and newspapers raised the painful topic of wedding deals in articles.
"Breakfast on the table"
Another satirical work of the artist, describing the manners and life of people of that era, was written in the 1849-1850s. The painting received another name from the story "Aristocrat's Breakfast", after reading which the artist decided to convey the plot on canvas.
The young aristocrat spent all his money on playing cards or on ladies. He is ashamed to admit poverty and lose status in front of friends. He does not dare to sell something from the environment, alleviating his need, as he can be bitten and expelled from his circle. Therefore, he secretly has breakfast with a piece of black bread.
He was terribly frightened by the sudden appearance of a guest on the doorstep. He had already opened the curtain and was about to enter the room. The owner tries to hide his "shame" by covering the bread with a book. Fright is reflected on his face, he does not know whether his guest saw the situation or everything worked out.
The artist perfectly conveyed the feelings experienced by the young secular whip. This is a fear of exposure, complete confusion and fear for their reputation. The picture aroused great interest among the audience, because everyone could dream up and think out the end of the story to their taste.
Widow
The painting was painted by the artist in 1851. Before describing the picture, it is necessary to touch on the state of mind of the author during this period. His satirical work aroused unprecedented public interest, but at the same time was censored by the authorities. Patrons began to turn away from him, who helped him cope with the material costs for creative work. Fedotov begins to think about the fatal absurdity of being. Influenced by sad thoughts, he writes his sad "Widow."
The author took the plot of the future picture from life. His sister Lyuba, who was poor and unhappy in marriage, her husband dies, leaving her many debts. In addition, the girl expects the appearance of a baby, which exacerbates her anxiety and sadness.
The artist tried to convey the spiritual state of the young woman, all the fear and hopelessness of her situation, but the transferred sadness on his face did not satisfy him at all. Fedotov rewrote the picture 4 times, without having found harmony in his soul. However, contemporaries received as many as 4 copies of the author's creation.
Unfinished masterpiece
Picture by Pavel Andreyevich Fedotov "Anchor, another anchor!" considered unfinished. It was written in 1852. This last work of the author is dedicated to the boring and wretched existence of a soldier. The whole situation speaks of poverty and despondency. A tired man is lying on the bed, and the only entertainment he has is a dog. He put a stick to her and watches her execute his command “Anchor!”, That is, jumps back and forth through her.
The picture is a bit vague, but contributes to a closer examination and pondering.
Artist's disease
For such a short period of his work, Pavel Fedotov painted a huge number of paintings, many of his works are portraits to order or portraits of loved ones. Also stored are his sketches in pencil, which depict everyday scenes from the lives of ordinary people.
The subtle nature of the artist was under heavy stress, which affected his health. Relatives began to notice his frequent despondency and silence. In 1852, he showed signs of a mental disorder. Friends placed him in a clinic for mentally ill people, and the sovereign, learning about the state of the artist, allocated him funds for the maintenance in the hospital in the amount of 500 rubles.
The death of the great master
Despite all efforts, the disease progressed rapidly, and six months later, academician of painting Pavel Fedotov died in the Hospital of All Mourners on the Peterhof Highway. He was buried in the uniform of an officer in the Smolenskoye cemetery, and not a single newspaper reported his death. Only in 1936 he was reburied in the necropolis of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and immortalized by a pedestal.
However, the canvases of the outstanding master will delight and amaze with their realism many more generations of fans of painting.