Art has always existed and will exist. This is not just a manifestation of creativity, it is the soul of one person and a whole nation. Here everyday emotions and that which can be felt only once can be displayed. Paintings, sculptures, music - all this can tell us about the history of the people, about their feelings and doubts. Most clearly, this conveys the battle genre in the visual arts.
The concept
This term appeared in the Renaissance. The greatest popularity reaches in the 17-18 centuries. The battle genre in the visual arts tells of war and military life. Paintings of this kind display battles on land, at sea, and also campaigns of soldiers. The main task of the artist is not just to show the scenes or the heroism of the war, but also to reveal the true meaning and historical context of events.
Indirectly, the battle genre in the visual arts is historical. But the scenes of military life can be attributed to the everyday genre. In addition, the art of battle contains landscapes, portraits, animalism, still life. The paintings not only convey the nature of the battles, but also show all kinds of tiniest details that the viewer does not know about.
Historical foundation
As mentioned earlier, the battle genre in the visual arts appeared in the 16th century. Although the image of the fighting was known for a very long time: East, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome. Then it was possible to find unusual reliefs on which invincible and formidable rulers were displayed and sieges of fortresses or processions of soldiers were visible.
Later, murals of vases of Ancient Greece began to be located, which were also executed by artists of the battle genre. The image of the battle can be found on the triumphal arches, carpets, book miniatures, tapestries, etc.
Real attempts
It was during the Renaissance that attempts to work with batalistics became more effective. This was especially successful for artists from Italy. In addition to fictional battle scenes, captured real events of battles began to appear here.
In Russia, this genre appeared in the 18th century, during the reign of Peter I. Artists tried to convey not only the historical basis of the battle, but mainly to show patriotism, courage of soldiers and worship of their heroism. The same theme was continued by Russian artists until the 20th century. No wonder that the Great Patriotic War became a new round in the development of battle studies. And not only in the visual arts, but also in music, literature and architecture.
Representatives
At one time, the battle genre in the visual arts was of great importance. It could not be connected with anything good. Nevertheless, the war inspired the creators. Everyone tried to create something epochal, colossal, such that could be remembered forever.
Of course, over the entire existence of this trend, not one battle artist appeared, who was able to convey not only a historical event, but also his character and power. Among the popular painters, one can distinguish Alexander Sauerweid, Bogdan Villevalde, Alfons de Neuville, Vasily Vereshchagin, Nikolai Karazin, Ivan Nikitin and, of course, Franz Roubaud. This list goes on and on. We will talk more about some creators who decided to glorify the historical battle genre.
Artist since birth
Russian academic battle painting has given us many outstanding artists. Each of them became famous for his creations. The most successful and famous in this area is considered to be Franz Roubaud. He was born in 1856 in Odessa, and from childhood he went along the path of the artist. He studied at the Munich Academy, and upon arrival home he went to the Caucasus to create.
Franz Alekseevich Roubaud in 1885 took up a whole series of works for the military museum. Immediately after completing 17 paintings, he set to work on the next one. The most famous and battle canvas was "Storm aul Akhulgo." This is not the only known panorama of the painter. There are also two stunning works “Defense of Sevastopol” and “Borodino”.
Mythic and tasteful
Franz Alekseevich Roubaud is the author of The Storm Aul of Akhulgo. This panorama was painted in 1888. The plot is based on the collection point of Shamil - Akhulgo. In 1839, Russian troops came here. They began the siege of the aul, but were able to successfully complete it only six months later. The painting depicts the assault of Ahulgo.
The main highlight of the panorama is its stunning landscape. The artist devoted a lot of time to this moment. In front of the audience are unusual gorges of cliffs. The main events take place on the sides and up. A fenced aul is seen in the left corner. On the opposite side is the Russian infantry crossing a narrow bridge. One of the soldiers drops a weapon, and the painter was able to accurately and credibly convey his emotions.
Highlanders shoot from the rocks at Russian soldiers, and women throw stones. There is on the canvas and the most active place. Here you can immediately notice the old man who, before fanaticism, is trying to defend himself by waving a banner. Near the battlefield, dead and wounded soldiers are already visible. The picture displays expressive and exciting events very brightly and effectively.
Battle portrait painter
Ivan Nikitin was allegedly born in 1688 in Moscow. Not much is known about his fate. The painter studied persistently and at one time became known to Peter I. The king was proud of him and had high hopes. He liked the work of Nikitin, who at that time was engaged in portraits. The artist’s earliest painting is the image of Natalya Alekseevna, sister of Peter I. After he painted portraits of many relatives and relatives of the king.
It would seem that his phenomenal skills in the portrait genre could not glorify him to a greater extent. Nevertheless, Nikitin successfully managed to try himself in battle. So the picture “Battle of Kulikovo” appeared.
Beauty in detail
It is assumed that the first painting by Nikitin in this genre was the Poltava Battle. His artist painted around 1727. The painting occupied a canvas of square shape measuring "near three arshins." Work on it took the painter about 2 months. For it, he received 80 rubles. And yet it is not as famous as the painting “Battle of Kulikovo”.
In general, this panorama very peculiarly shows the artist. He not only wrote his vision, but also used the work of other creators. He was also an educated man, and therefore knew the famous classical works. The basis of his "copying" was an engraving by Antonio Tempest.
The battle painter did not try to imitate someone else. It can be seen that he deliberately used the material he needed in order to create a magnificent work. Obviously, “The Battle of Kulikovo” is not a copy of Tempest's engraving with a biblical plot. Nikitin was able to remove everything he did not need, redo the characters and add his own style.
The famous battle arises before the viewer. Immediately we notice Dmitry Donskoy, Vorontsov, Prozorovsky. Nearby you can see several famous princes: Belozersky and Peresvet. The latter defeats the enemy Chelubey. In general, there are many legends about this couple. There is evidence that they both destroy each other with spears. There is a story in which Peresvet shows his fighting abilities and kills Chelubei.
All details in the paintings are met. Nikitin is trying to identify the heroes. On their shields and clothes can be seen inscriptions and coats of arms. You can also notice the sayings with which soldiers go in battle. But Nikitin's main task was to convey the idea that the victory in the Battle of Kulikovo was won not only by the princes, but also by a huge crowd of soldiers fighting in the background. They are countless. The army rushes into battle. It is these characters who are barely visible, the main characters of the battle.
Prominent artists
Examples of the battle genre can be found in many artists who were affected by any war. Nikolai Karazin was an outstanding painter who worked as a war correspondent. This is precisely what helped him get enough of the military mood and eventually “pour” it on the canvas. Connoisseurs can recognize him in the paintings “Capture of Tashkent”, “Tekin expedition of 1881. Assault Geok-Tepe ", etc.
Vasily Vereshchagin is not only a battle painter, but also a famous writer. He received an art education while traveling around the world. His most popular painting is considered the canvas "The Apotheosis of War." He was the first to try to resist academic battle. He did not like the fact that epoch-making panoramas were painted for the sake of glorifying patriotism and heroism. Vereshchagin was against the war and in his works this protest is clearly visible.