Bryullov's first painting, “The Geniuses of Art," was painted by him during 1817-1820, during his student years.
Becoming a genius
Karl Bryullov (1799-1852), the most prominent representative of the family of artists and architects of the Bryullov, studied at the Emperor’s Petersburg Academy of Arts from 1809 to 1821, during which he remained the best student. Among his teachers was A. Ivanov (“The Apparition of the Messiah”), who liked Bryullov’s student picture of Narcissus so much that he bought it for his private collection.
The graduation work brought Bryullov the Great Gold Medal, and gave the right to travel abroad in order to improve his skills at the expense of the Academy.
The brilliant artist Karl Bryullov was in demand until his death. He was an unsurpassed portrait painter, great people posed for him, among whom were members of the royal family. His portrait work witnessed the times.
The artist spent a long period in Italy. This explains such a large number of Italian stories. On his first trip (1823-1835) to this country, the center of attraction of all artists, Bryullov painted many paintings that became a prerequisite for his world fame. Among them, Bryullov's painting "The Last Day of Pompeii" (1833). At an exhibition in Paris, she was awarded the Gold Medal. Karl was an amazing draftsman. His sepia (drawings close to watercolors, but executed in brown shades), among which the ingenious "Mountain Hunters", like other famous paintings by Bryullov, are known throughout the world.
Here, in Italy, the artist met Countess
Yu. Samoilova, who for many years became his friend, muse and model. Briullov’s painting “The Horsewoman” - an equestrian portrait of Samoilova - became a recognized masterpiece of world painting.
From childhood, the painter was not distinguished by good health. The years (1836-1843) spent in St. Petersburg did not contribute to its strengthening. And the painting of the Great Dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral finally undermined it. In 1849, Bryullov left Russia forever and, after visiting Madeira, settled in Italy with his friend A. Pittoni, Garibaldi's comrade-in-arms. Portraits of members of this family and some paintings painted during that period are kept in private collections to this day.
The most famous paintings, for example, the Bakhchisarai Fountain (1849), also contributed to the worldwide recognition of the artist.
Game of color in the style of Karl Bryullov
Bryullov's most famous paintings are familiar to everyone. There is no doubt that the painting "The Last Day of Pompeii" is recognized even by people who are very far from the "world of beauty."
In addition to the famous works of Bryullov, in addition to the above paintings, include “Italian noon” (1831), “Siege of Pskov” (1843), “Self-portrait” (1848) and “Portrait of Countess Yu. Samoilova, retiring from the ball” (1842). Karl Bryullov is a wonderful colorist. Some compare it to Rubens. After viewing the retrospective of his paintings, a bright joyful feeling remains in the soul. He was subject to all
genres of painting, in any of which he deserves the characteristics of "brilliant."
Gorky attributed it to the three geniuses of Russian culture and art, which are Pushkin, Glinka and Bryullov, the brightest representatives of the "golden age" of Russia.