Barbaric “fight of colors”. The history of five famous paintings by Boris Kustodiev
March 7, 1878 into the family of a Seminary teacher Kustodiev was born the son of Boris. In the future he became known as one of the outstanding artists of the early XX century.
“Real Kustodiev is a Russian fair, pestravka, “big-eyed” chintz, barbaric “fight of colors”, the Russian settlement and the Russian village, with their harmonics, cakes, overdressed girls and dashing guys… I contend that the sphere, his real joy,” — so wrote about Boris Mikhailovich art critic, founder and chief ideologue of the Association “World of art” Alexander Benois.
In the birthday of one of the greatest Russian artists SPB.AIF.RU recalls the story of his five famous paintings.
“Beauty”, 1915
Boris Kustodiev during the life called “the Russian Rubens” for the love of the image of a buxom blonde ladies. He is credited with the authorship of the phrase that “thin women to inspire creativity”.
One of the favorite paintings of the artist was “Beauty”, written in 1915. Sit him agreed a 20-year-old Faina Shevchenko, artist of the Moscow art Theater, of the theater, where Boris led the artists izgotovlenie scenery to performances. It is unknown what was the dialogue of the master and the model, but after one of the performances Faina Vasilevna has agreed to become a model.
Later Kustodiev created two versions of this painting. He gave one Bitter and the other in the house. According to one version, the singer had a short romance with the Faina. According to rumors, the feelings between them broke out during the tours of the Moscow art Theater in Paris.
Years later, the granddaughter of national artist of the USSR, which became the Winner of two Stalin prizes, said that until the end of days grandma kept a portrait of the famous singer.
Chaliapin, in turn, ordered Kustodiev portrait of the actress. Leaving Russia, the artist took “Belle” with me. For many years it was stored in the mansion of Marfy Fedorovny and video recording / editing in Liverpool. In 2003 the painting was exhibited at the London auction “Sotheby’s”. Masterpiece Kustodiev went under the hammer for 845 600 pounds, which was about 1 388 $ 475.
“Carnival”, 1916
Painting depicting the reckless whirlwind of festivities, were written in the hungry years for the country.
In 1911, the doctors diagnosed Kustodiev tuberculosis of the spine, which in 1916 was the artist chained to a wheelchair. Despite serious illness, he continued to work actively. Through pain, the artist took up the brush and created canvases full of sparkling joy, pure fun and luxury.
Established in 1916, the picture is now represented in the Russian Museum. Two paintings dedicated to the Shrovetide festivities, was written in 1919 and 1920.
“Merchant’s wife at tea,” 1918
One of the most famous paintings of Boris Mikhailovich is currently in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
Posing for Kustodiev agreed neighbor Galina Adergas, a student of the medical faculty. She was familiar with the wife of the artist, which led her to the apartment. The girl, in whose veins, according to legend, flowed the blood of the Livonian knights, as well as possible approached for the image of a merchant’s wife of a bygone era.
Work progressed very quickly, and after a few days the painting was finished. By the way, the memories of historians, in life of Galina had a more modest build. Her fate was unexpected. Beauty with clear eyes 20 years graduated from University and worked for several years with the surgeon. However, realizing that it was not her calling, she decided to plunge into the world of art. Aderks tried his hand at scoring movies, sang in a Russian choir, and even performed in the circus.
The picture of the “merchant’s wife at tea” was first presented to the audience at the first free exhibition of works of art in the Palace of arts, which took place in April 1919. The work was a great success.
Few years the artist has created a similar picture. On the canvas, written in 1923, also depicted a beautiful girl with magnificent forms, drinking tea from the saucer. “Merchant’s wife drinking tea” can be seen in the Nizhny Novgorod state Museum.
Portrait Of Fyodor Chaliapin. 1922
“I’ve known interesting, talented and good people. But if I’ve ever seen in person is really the great spirit is Kustodieva. It’s exciting to think about the greatness of moral strength, who had lived in that person and which otherwise cannot be called as heroic and valiant” — so wrote about the artist in his autobiography “the Mask and soul” of the famous singer Fyodor Chaliapin.
According to legend, in the winter of 1921, Chaliapin came to the master to reach an agreement. The head of the actor was decorated hat, adorned on the shoulders of the rich beaver fur coat. Inquiring what the singer “such a luxury”, Kustodiev heard the answer: “I’ll sing concerts for bread, salt. Now I was asked to take a coat. Probably removed from some rich guy. And I’m the bourgeois scum — took… “.
“Well, it must be painted. Because a singer, actor and a fur stole. We got to capture!”, — reply to this artist.
It is known that the room where Chaliapin posing Kustodiev, was so small that the picture had to write in parts.
Funny when I later recalled the artist’s son. According to him, to capture on canvas beloved dog Fedor, had to go to the trick: “To pug stood, head up, on a rack put the cat and Chaliapin did everything that the dog was looking at her.”
Russian Venus, 1925
A year before his death Boris was a picture, which, in the opinion of art critics gathered all views of the master on the beauty of the Russian national type.
The model for Venus was Elena G. Nikolaev born 28 APR 1903. Buxom red-haired girl reminded historians, the tradition of depicting Mary Magdalene painters of the Renaissance. Only on canvas Kustodiev beauty in no regrets, but rather with an open smile looking at viewer.
Interesting fact: during the restoration experts to enlighten the picture of the x-rays and found that a broom in the girl’s hands were drawn much later than the “Venus.”