An outstanding Russian artist of the second mid-19th - first half of the 20th century is V. Vasnetsov. “Ivan the Terrible” is one of his most famous historical paintings. Written in 1879, it became a real masterpiece of Russian painting and is rightfully recognized as a canvas that authentically reflected not only the personality of this king, but also the era of the 16th century.
Features of creativity
The most various genres of painting were used by Vasnetsov. "Ivan the Terrible" is a vivid example of this, since in this picture the artist reflected the peculiarities of the perception of this king in the public mind, and also showed his knowledge of the history and architecture of the country. He painted canvases on everyday, fabulous, epic themes, moving from mundane subjects to monumental works that amazed the viewer with their majesty.
At the early stage of his work, Vasnetsov mainly turned to everyday sketches. But very soon, the epic-historical motives became the main theme of his work. At the end of the century, he took part in the painting of temples.
Portrait of the king
Great attention was paid to creating images of the past Vasnetsov. "Ivan the Terrible" - this is perhaps the most famous work in this direction. This painting was created under the impression of the artist’s trip to Moscow, where he was captivated by the architecture of the city. According to the memoirs of his brother and friend, the artist returned from the trip in enthusiasm, which was the impetus for the creation of the famous painting. The focus of Vasnetsov is the personality of the tsar. In the second half of the 19th century, in historical science he was described as a tyrant. Vasnetsov went the other way. "Ivan the Terrible" is a portrait of a man suspicious, but strong-willed, strong and intelligent. The general idea also corresponds to the composition of the picture, the main space of which is occupied by the figure of the ruler, which emphasizes its power and greatness.
The emphasis on this man’s inner world is made by the painting “Tsar Ivan the Terrible”. Vasnetsov shows him an outstanding and outstanding personality. The face of the ruler expresses unwavering will and decisiveness, and the look - power and consciousness of his power. The clothes of Ivan the Terrible correspond to the same idea. Golden brocade robe emphasizes his royal status, and the staff on which he relies, as it once again indicates his strength.
Background picture
Of particular importance is the interior decoration on the canvas "Tsar Ivan the Terrible." Vasnetsov proved himself a true connoisseur of ancient Russian architecture. He carefully studied the details of medieval interiors and used his knowledge in painting. Despite the fact that the king’s figure occupies the bulk of the work, the architectural design of the staircase on which he stands serves as a colorful background for his image.
In addition, it has a deeply symbolic meaning. A narrow passage, a small window, a low ceiling visually increase the figure of the king. At the same time, a small sketch of the landscape in the window opening gives the canvas even more credibility and persuasiveness: a picture of Russian snowy nature, familiar to every viewer, makes the plot from the distant 16th century more intimate and familiar.