What kind of young trees did Vasnetsev depict in the picture? The fairy-tale world of Viktor Vasnetsov

Bogatyrs. (Three heroes) - Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov. 1898. Oil on canvas. 295.3x446

The painting “Bogatyrs” depicts three Russian heroes: Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich - famous heroes folk epics.

The gigantic figures of heroes and their horses, located in the foreground of the picture, symbolize the strength and power of the Russian people. This impression is also facilitated by the impressive dimensions of the painting - 295x446 cm.

The artist worked on the creation of this painting for almost 30 years. In 1871, the first sketch of the plot in pencil was created, and since then the artist has been captivated by the idea of ​​​​creating this picture. In 1876, the famous sketch was made with the basis of the compositional solution already found. Work on the painting itself lasted from 1881 to 1898. Finished painting was bought by P. Tretyakov, and it still adorns the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

In the center of the picture is Ilya Muromets, a people's favorite, hero of Russian epics. Not everyone knows that Ilya Muromets is not fairy tale character, but a real historical person. The story of his life and military exploits is real events. Subsequently, having completed his work to protect his homeland, he became a monk of the Kiev Pechersk Monastery. He was canonized. Vasnetsov knew these facts when creating the image of Ilya Muromets. “Ilya Muromets is a seasoned man,” says the epic. And in Vasnetsov’s painting we see a mighty warrior and, at the same time, a simple-minded one open person. He combines gigantic strength and generosity. “And the horse under Ilya is a fierce beast,” the legend continues. The powerful figure of a horse, depicted in the picture with a massive metal chain instead of a harness, testifies to this.

Dobrynya Nikitich folk legends was very educated and courageous man. Many miracles are associated with his personality, for example, enchanted armor on his shoulders, a magical treasure sword. Dobrynya is depicted as in the epics - stately, with subtle, noble facial features, emphasizing his culture and education, resolutely drawing his sword from its sheath with a readiness to rush into battle, defending his homeland.

Alyosha Popovich is young and slender compared to his comrades. He is depicted with a bow and arrows in his hands, but the harp attached to the saddle indicates that he is not only a fearless warrior, but also a psaltery player, a songwriter, and a merry fellow. There are many details in the picture that characterize the images of its characters.

The horse teams, clothing, and ammunition are not fictional. The artist saw such samples in museums and read their descriptions in historical literature. The artist masterfully conveys the state of nature, as if foreshadowing the onset of danger. But the heroes represent a reliable and powerful force of defenders of their native land.

Vasnetsov's painting "Alyonushka" is a work that most of our compatriots know today. An essay on it is required school curriculum. You may have also written a story based on Vasnetsov’s painting “Alyonushka” at one time. However, we will still recall the plot of this painting.

Vasnetsov's painting "Alyonushka" can be briefly described as follows. Tired of the useless search for her brother, the heroine sits on a large stone in a lonely pose by a gloomy pond. The head is bowed to the knees. Alyonushka is haunted by disturbing thoughts about his brother. She's sad - she didn't keep track of him. Seems, surrounding nature around shares these feelings... Vasnetsov's painting "Alyonushka" will be described in more detail in this article.

How it all began?

The idea of ​​this work was inspired by the author in the same way from a Russian fairy tale called "About Sister Alyonushka and Her Brother Ivanushka." The prototype for this picture was a real girl. The artist met her when he was at the Okhtyrka estate in the summer of 1880. Vasnetsov saw in a random girl, in his own words, a sea of ​​loneliness, melancholy and purely Russian sadness. The first sketch was made from it. Vasnetsov almost immediately decided on the concept of his future work. Despite the fact that the plot was simple, interesting story has Vasnetsov's painting "Alyonushka". The artist's self-portrait is presented below.

Stages of working on a painting

In 1880, Viktor Mikhailovich began work on this canvas. The history of the creation of the painting “Alyonushka” by Vasnetsov is as follows. Several sketches made by the author during this period, which preceded the creation of the work that interests us, have survived to this day. These are “Sedge”, “Alenushkin Pond”, “Pond in Okhtyrka”. Viktor Vasnetsov also made several full-scale sketches in paint, which depict a girl sitting on a stone.

The artist admitted that when creating the image of the main character on the canvas, he peered into the facial features of Savva Mamontov’s daughter, famous philanthropist from Moscow. This girl's name was Vera Mamontova. In the winter of 1881, the work was completed, after which Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov sent it to the exhibition of Itinerant artists held in Moscow. The painting "Alyonushka", however, was not very popular at first. She acquired it a little later.

What was the original name of Vasnetsov’s painting “Alyonushka”?

The canvas was given a slightly different name - “Fool Alyonushka”. According to some sources, the word “fool” was used at that time to describe holy fools or orphans. Vasnetsov did not immediately mention that his work has fairy tale plot.

How was the painting completed?

The history of Vasnetsov's painting "Alyonushka" includes several modifications. It is known that the artist corrected it several times, changing some details. Experts took x-rays of this work. As a result, it was possible to establish that the girl’s shoulder, neck and face, as well as the overall color scheme of the picture, were redesigned. In the first version, apparently, “Alyonushka” provoked many critical comments from the artist’s colleagues and acquaintances. Kuindzhi's portrait of Vasnetsov is presented below.

Where is "Alyonushka" (artist Vasnetsov) kept?

The painting "Alyonushka" is currently exhibited in Tretyakov Gallery. But Tretyakov, during the first exhibition at which this work was presented, did not honor it, despite Vasnetsov’s efforts, with attention. Mamontov bought this painting for five hundred rubles.

The general mood of the canvas

Today is one of the most famous works Vasnetsov, written based on folk tale, is this one. A reproduction of Vasnetsov’s painting “Alyonushka” is presented below.

A young girl sitting on a stone on the river bank is attracted by her natural beauty and simplicity. In the sad eyes of the heroine you can read deep emotions. This is sadness, but at the same time it is also a dream about that happy time that will come someday, girlish dreams and, of course, longing for the missing younger brother. The artist masterfully managed to convey general mood in the picture, sad and peaceful, enhanced by images of nature - clouds floating slowly overhead, motionless trees.

The role of canvas fragments

The master in his work perfectly reflects the relationship that exists between ordinary Russian people and nature. She seems to be as sad as the girl in the painting. Not a single fragment of the canvas distracts the viewer from the main plot. On the contrary, he emphasizes and strengthens it. Viktor Vasnetsov's painting "Alyonushka" is completely focused on the image of a girl. Every detail of this painting evokes sad reflections.

What was Vasnetsov’s merit?

Many fairy tales, passed down from generation to generation, were written by Russian writers and the Russian people. Vasnetsov's merit lies in the fact that he created, using the means of painting, convincing images that are imbued with the Russian spirit.

The artist, working on the plot of his painting, decided to place the young defenseless girl in a truly perilous place. Apparently, Vasnetsov in this way sought to cause a lasting pang in the hearts of the audience. The artist successfully used a fairy tale plot. Painting by V.M. Vasnetsov's "Alyonushka" is not accidentally based on him. Although Vasnetsov does not literally follow the plot - in the fairy tale on which the picture was written, there is no description of a barefoot girl yearning by the forest pool. Viktor Mikhailovich in his work sought to reveal the emotional character and meaning folklore image. This plot serves to fully reveal the complex and ambiguous Russian character.

Alyonushka's image

child with difficult fate issues appearance the girl shown in the picture. She has red unkempt hair, a plump scarlet mouth and dark eyes. In fact, the appearance of this girl completely lacks the fantastic and fabulous. The only detail in the composition emphasizes the fabulousness of the plot - a group of swallows sitting above Alyonushka’s head. It is known that these birds have long been a symbol of hope. The artist used this unusual technique to balance the image of the main character, full of melancholy, and to bring into the plot the hope that the fairy tale will end happily.

It seems that Alyonushka finds solace by the pond. She seems to dissolve in the colors of the picture, becoming part of the landscape. The heroine's humility and her wounded legs attract and fascinate. This is a pure girlish image. This girl has very adult sadness. In her eyes, sadness borders on despair.

The forest surrounded her on all sides and did not want to let her out of captivity. Alyonushka's tears fall straight into the pond. What did the artist want to say with this? Most likely, this is a warning about a danger that may happen or has already happened to Ivanushka. Alyonushka thinks that Baba Yaga could turn her brother into a little goat. Every detail of this picture provides rich food for thought...

Landscape painting by Vasnetsov

The surrounding nature is especially important in the picture. Basically it is natural, also created in Abramtsevo. Reeds, stones, birch trunks, autumn leaves falling into the water seem to be animated by the author. It’s as if nature echoes the heroine’s sad complaints. Thin branches of aspens bent over the girl, the leaves of the water grass drooped in the same rhythm with her figure. The dark surface of the pool is full of alarming secrets; the forest is wary in the darkness. The swallows touchingly perched on a branch above Alyonushka’s head, as if conferring on how to help her. This landscape is real, but at the same time filled with soft sincerity and mysterious alertness. Vasnetsov here anticipates the “landscape of mood” of M.V. Nesterov and I.I. Levitan.

Atmosphere of silence and sadness

The description of Viktor Vasnetsov’s painting “Alyonushka” would be incomplete if we did not note general atmosphere canvases. The artist masterfully filled the landscape with silence and sadness. In his work, Vasnetsov perfectly succeeded in depicting the motionless water surface of a pond, spruce and sedge. Calm and silence are present in everything - even the pond barely reflects main character. The young trees tremble slightly, the sky frowns a little. The dark green shades of the surrounding landscape contrast with the gentle blush on the girl’s face, and the autumn sadness contrasts with the bright flowers painted by the artist on Alyonushka’s old sundress. According to the legends of the Russian people, at the end of the day nature comes to life and acquires an amazing ability to experience in sync with humans. Such a magical talent to exist in resonance with her was inherent in Vasnetsov himself. That’s why Alyonushka’s feelings in the picture are so consistent with the state of the forest surrounding her. The viewer peering at the canvas has the feeling that the fairy tale will continue in a moment... This is the description of Vasnetsov’s painting “Alyonushka”, based on the general impression of the painting.

"Alyonushka" today

The artist was inspired to create this masterpiece by the lyrical image of a Russian girl from the people with a sad look. This work is distinguished by its simplicity and sincerity. Today she is very famous. Google search engine in 2013 home page In honor of Vasnetsov’s anniversary (165 years old), she changed her usual logo to a doodle, which is based on the plot of “Alyonushka”. On background the bushes were transformed in such a way that the company name was made up of them.

Viktor Vasnetsov’s painting “Bogatyrs” is the most popular work painter. She is also, perhaps, considered the most famous painting in Russian painting. Her reproductions are found in frames on the walls, in illustrated publications, in textbooks...

A few words about Vasnetsov

The child’s imagination was filled with the poetics of epics, songs and fairy tales. When Vasnetsov studied at the Academy of Arts, he studied heroic epics and the history of the Russian people with great interest. His first work was the work “The Knight”. On it he depicted a calm hero who guarded the border.

The ingenious painting “Heroes” was written in the village of Abramtsevo, which is located in the Moscow region. Nowadays many people call this picture “Three Heroes”.

Who is depicted on it?

In the role of Dobrynya Nikitich, he combined portrait images V.D. Polenov and father, and also added his own features. A simple peasant from Vladimir posed in the image of Muromets. But Alyosha Popovich was a young peasant.

Their images are perfectly chosen and perfectly convey the characters of the riders. In the picture you can also see the behavior of the horses. For example, Ilya’s heroic horse looks ahead with a bloodshot eye. The white horse of the cunning and polite Dobrynya looks into the distance, and the red horse of the brave Alyosha nibbles the green grass, looking in different directions.

The secret meaning of the picture

Vasnetsov in this brilliant work was able to resurrect the powerful images of the defenders of Rus'. The heroes depicted on it understand exactly why they came to the border, whose lives and peace they protect. Their figures on horseback rise similarly to mountains. The artist wanted everyone to see the past of the Russian people and the great future, for which they still have to fight.

Materials for preparing and holding the event.

1. Reproductions of a painting by V.M. Vasnetsova: “Alyonushka” and sketches for it - sketch “Sitting Girl” (1880) and “Pond in Akhtyrka” (1880).

2. Literature.

Masters of painting. Victor Vasnetsov. – M.: White City, 1999;

E.I. Kirichenko. Russian style. – M.: Galart, 1997.

Biological encyclopedic dictionary. – M.: Soviet encyclopedia, 1986.

Life of animals. T.6. Birds. – M.: Education, 1989.

Fauna of the world. T.2. Birds. – M.: Agropromizdat, 1991.

Plants and animals. A Naturalist's Guide. – M.: Mir, 1991.

Alan Pease. Body language. – Nizhny Novgorod.: IQ, 1992.

PROGRESS OF THE EVENT

1. Attitude

A chanting Russian folk melody sounds. The teacher reads poetry.

The girl sat down on the shore of the pond,
The braid is loose, the dress is torn,
Bare feet are frozen by cold stone,
The head dropped into the children's arms...

What kind of trouble happened to her?
Or did the evil stepmother drive you away for the night?
Or lost her fidgety brother -
She ran through the forest for a long time, screaming,
I sat down to rest, but couldn’t get up -
Grief is heavy and does not allow you to rise.

And the forest became silent. The birds have fallen silent
The aspens stopped trembling,
The water froze - no circles, no sound,
Alyonushka's peace guards everything.

2. Introductory speech from the teacher

Guys, here is a painting by the famous Russian artist Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov. You are very familiar with his paintings - “The Heroes”, “After the Battle of Igor Svyatoslavovich with the Polovtsians”, “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf” and others. He was not just among the first artists to turn to the subjects of Russian folklore. He was the first of the masters of easel art who was able to convey epic and fairy-tale plots in a spirit corresponding to the artistic characteristics of fairy tales and epics.
But today we turn to the work that most strongly reflected the belief in the beneficial and transformative effects of art and beauty. This is "Alyonushka".
In the summer of 1880, Viktor Mikhailovich lived in the village of Akhtyrka, several miles from Abramtsevo, where he began to write sketches. Soon a sketch made in oil appears - a barefoot peasant girl, huddled in a ball, sitting on a stone by the water. Behind her is a dark spot of forest. So it was gradually born great picture Vasnetsova. The artist carefully and leisurely developed the initial plan, without changing the main thing in it: the image of Alyonushka, which arose in his imagination long before the completion of the work.
The following summer, 1881, after numerous sketches and sketches by V.M. Vasnetsov began work on one of his most sincere and heartfelt lyrical works. He completed the painting in the winter of 1881 in Moscow and sent it to the next Traveling Exhibition. “To express the soul so deeply, to present a type so poetically - this requires the talent of an artist,” critics wrote about the painting. But no one noticed that new one that Vasnetsov introduced into Russian art, creating “Alyonushka”.

3. Statement of the problem

Let's try together to answer the question: what discovery did the artist make by painting the canvas?

4. Organization of work in groups

The class is divided into groups: “Ecologists”, “Ornithologists”, “Painters”, “Psychologists”. Each group receives a specific task on cards (see below) and gets to work.

5. Discussion of the results of the work

Speech by “Ecologists”

(When completing the task, they were asked to use the book “Plants and Animals. A Naturalist's Guide", p. 57, 64, 66.)

Questions

1. What biocenoses are depicted in the picture? ( Swamp, pond, spruce forest in the background.)

2. Why a pond and not a river or stream? ( Standing water - no movement, sadness, hopelessness.)

3. What plants are depicted in the painting “Alyonushka”? ( Angustifolia cattail, paniculata sedge, common ponytail (water pine), aspen, spruce.)

4. What plants are depicted in the sketch “Pond in Okhtyrka”? ( Birch trees, white water lily in the water.)

5. Why did the artist replace some of the plants in the main painting? ( Birch is a symbol of light, goodness, hope, aspen is a symbol of grief, sadness, trembling leaves are fear, excitement; The white water lily flowers also gave hope. Dark spruce trees are a symbol of impending disaster.)

6. Are the trees in the picture young or old? Why? ( Young, just like Alyonushka.)

7. What season? ( The beginning of autumn - the aspen trees began to turn yellow.)

8. What time of day? ( Most likely evening. The sun is barely visible.)

9. What's the weather like? ( Mainly cloudy. Sad.)

Conclusion. Nature yearns along with Alyonushka, adding to the picture a “mood of tremulous sorrow.” The water is dark, stagnant - no movement. The sedge thickets in the dark water seem to protect Alyonushka from taking a wrong step. It is also protected by young spruce trees standing behind it as sentinels. As it is sung in folk song: “Grief follows me, threatening after me: “I will chop down, cut down all the dark forests, and I will find you, wretched one!”

Performance by "Ornithologists"

(They were asked to answer the question: “What birds did the artist depict in the picture? Why do you think?”)

Questions

1. What type of swallow is shown in the picture? Use "Biological" encyclopedic Dictionary", With. 312, article “Swallows”. ( Judging by the elongated body, long forked tail, long sharp wings, dark dorsal plumage and white belly, the painting depicts a barn swallow, or killer whale.)

2. Was the artist right in depicting a bird of open spaces on the edge of a forest next to a pond? Use “Fauna of the World. Birds", p. 225, article “Swallow Family”. ( “Swallows inhabit open spaces near freshwater bodies of water - river valleys, lake shores, forest edges... Swallows are excellent flyers and spend a significant part of their lives in the air. They descend to the ground reluctantly, preferring to perch on tree branches, roofs of buildings, wires...” Yes, swallows can be in a tree next to a freshwater body of water.)

3. How many swallows are shown in the picture? Why do you think? Is it possible to determine the time of year by birds? Use the book “Animal Life. Birds", p. 374, article “Swallow Family”. ( “Swallows are social birds. In the northern parts of the breeding range there is one clutch per nest, usually 4–6 eggs. After leaving the nest, the parents feed the chicks for several more days. Then, the young birds, which have become independent, gather in large flocks and fly along riverine meadows, shores of lakes and swamps in search of food. In September, the number of swallows increases in individual flocks to a thousand or more, and the flight to their wintering places begins.” The painting shows a family of swallows shortly after leaving the nest. Time of year – late summer, but not yet September.)

4. Take a close look at the swallows in the picture again. What can you say about the composition of this group? ( Of the six birds, the artist depicted four as turning away. Usually swallows chirp and swirl pleasantly, but here they are most likely sleeping. With their silence, the birds emphasize Alyonushka’s sadness.)

5. Why swallows and not sparrows, crows, etc.? Use V. Dahl's dictionary, maybe it will help you. ( It was no coincidence that the artist chose swallows to show the girl’s sadness. “Swallow” is how they affectionately addressed a girl in Rus'. There is also symbolism in the choice of a black and white bird. Riddles about the swallow: “White is wedding, black is sad.” “The world is white, but people are black.”

Performance by "Painters"

Questions

1. What color did the artist choose for the painting? ( All shades of green, mostly dark.)

2. Why do you think? ( Green is the color of calm and tranquility.)

3. How did the artist focus on Alyonushka? ( Placed the image of the girl in the foreground; highlighted the brighter spot of the sundress with color.)

4. What is general composition paintings? ( The foreground is Alyonushka and the pond, the background is a dark patch of forest and a gray sky.)

5. Compare the sketches for the painting and the final version. What changed? ( In the sketch - a study of a sitting girl - the sky is not visible. It appeared in the picture, symbolizing a ray of hope. In the sketch, the girl’s clothes have a different color scheme – a dark purple dress; in the picture, the sundress stands out as a brighter spot.)

Conclusion. In silver-smoky color scheme In the picture you can hear a sad chant: “Oh, grief, melancholy, great sadness.” But the bright sky is behind dark forest gives hope for a bright future.

Speech by “Psychologists”

(When completing the task, they were asked to use the book “Body Language” by Allan Pease, p. 104.)

Questions

1. Why does the picture depict a girl (and not a woman or a man)? ( Children evoke a natural feeling of pity. Men do not tend to show sadness and grief, this is the lot of women.)

2. Pay attention to the girl's pose. Why is she sitting? Try to analyze the tilt of your head, your gaze, the position of your arms, legs, and hairstyle. ( The head was bowed on the hands, the hair was loose - an expression of grief. The hair seems to isolate itself from the outside world. Hands crossed on knees - hands-barriers, also hiding from everyone.)

3. Pay attention to the clothes. What can you say about Alyonushka from it? ( The clothes are old and torn. The sleeve and the hem of the sundress are torn. The girl is very poor and lazy - she can’t sew up her sleeve.)

4. Compare the sketch for the painting (“Study of a Seated Girl”) and “Alyonushka.” What changed? ( In the sketch the girl looks directly at the viewer, and in the painting she looks into the water, immersed in herself. In the sketch the girl has an almost new dark blue dress, in the picture the clothes are very worn. In the sketch, the girl is sitting in a meadow, surrounded by bright green grass and white flowers here and there; in the picture there is only the dark surface of a pond.)

5. Why did the artist make these changes to the painting? ( To emphasize the girl’s grief, to evoke pity and compassion for her in the viewer.)

Conclusion. The girl, the trees, the birds on the branch are sad together, merging into a quiet, thoughtful fairy tale. Personification of Russian female share, and perhaps even Russia itself.

6. Conclusions

Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov revealed the subtle connection between human experiences and the state of nature, which is superbly conveyed in folk poetry. Nature in the picture yearns along with Alyonushka, adding to the canvas a “mood of tremulous sorrow.” Such an artistic and poetic image was new for Russian painting.

Today in class we made a discovery: what deep knowledge in the field of biology, ecology, psychology, and painting the artist must have had in order to create this masterpiece!

7. Homework

Try writing a short impression essay about the painting.

“Deep Legends of Antiquity” came to life thanks to the brush of Viktor Vasnetsov. Bogatyrs and princesses went beyond book lines and illustrations. The artist grew up in the wilderness of the Ural forests, listening to Russian fairy tales that sounded accompanied by the crackle of a splinter. And already being in St. Petersburg, I did not forget my childhood memories and transferred those magical stories to canvas. We look at fairy-tale paintings with Natalia Letnikova.

Alyonushka

Barefoot bare-haired girl on the bank of a forest river. With inexpressible sadness he looks into the deep pool. The sad picture is inspired by the fairy tale about sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka, and he drew the orphan from a peasant girl from the Okhtyrka estate, adding, as he himself admitted, the features of Verusha Mamontova, the daughter of a famous Moscow philanthropist. Nature echoes the girl’s sadness, intertwining with the poetry of folk tales.

Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf

Gloomy dark forest. And a gray wolf, quite expected for such a thicket. Only instead of an evil grin the predator has human eyes, and on it there are two riders. Wary Ivanushka carefully holds Elena the Beautiful, submissive to fate. We recognize not only the plot of the Russian fairy tale, but also the image of the girl. The artist endowed fairy-tale heroine with real features - the nieces of Savva Mamontov, Natalya.

V.M. Vasnetsov. Alyonushka. 1881

V.M. Vasnetsov. Ivan Tsarevich on a gray wolf. 1889

Bogatyrs

Victor Vasnetsov. Bogatyrs. 1898

One of the most famous paintings Vasnetsov devoted 20 years of his life to Russian painting. “Bogatyrs” also became the artist’s largest painting. The size of the canvas is almost 3 by 4.5 meters. Bogatyrs are a collective image. Ilya, for example, is the peasant Ivan Petrov, and the blacksmith from Abramtsevo, and the cab driver from the Crimean Bridge. The picture is based on the author’s childhood feelings. “And so it appeared before my eyes: hills, space, heroes. A wondrous childhood dream."

Song of Joy and Sorrow

Victor Vasnetsov. Sirin and alkonost. A song of joy and sorrow. 1896

Alkonost and Sirin. Two half-birds with illusory promises of a cloudless paradise in the future and with regrets about the lost paradise. Vasnetsov embellished asexual birds by giving mythical creatures beautiful women's faces and rich crowns. The singing of the Sirin is so sad that the leaves of the century-old tree have turned black; the delight of the alconist can make you forget about everything... if you linger with your gaze on the picture.

Carpet plane

Victor Vasnetsov. Carpet plane. 1880

Painting for Management railway. Not a train or even a postal service. Carpet plane. This is how Viktor Vasnetsov responded to Savva Mamontov’s request to paint a picture for the industrialist’s new project. The fabulous flying machine - a symbol of victory over space - puzzled the board members and inspired the artist himself. Mamontov purchased the painting, and Vasnetsov discovered new world. In which there is no place for routine.

Three princesses of the underworld

Victor Vasnetsov. Three princesses underground kingdom. 1884

Gold, copper and coal. Three riches that are hidden in the depths of the earth. Three fairy princesses- the embodiment of earthly blessings. Proud and arrogant golden, curious copper and timid coal. Princesses are mistresses of mountain mines, accustomed to commanding people. There are two paintings with such a plot at once. On one of them, in the corner, there are figures of two men as petitioners, obsequiously looking into their beautiful, cold faces.

Koschei the Deathless

Victor Vasnetsov. Koschei the Deathless. 1917–1926

Rich mansions with chocolate, red and gold hues. The luxury of brocade and rare types of wood is a worthy frame for heavy treasure chests, and the main treasure that Koschey is not given into his hands is a young beauty. The girl is interested in the sword, which, however, cannot defeat Koshchei. Viktor Vasnetsov spent nine years writing the image of the main fairy-tale villain. Chronologically, the painting was the last for the artist.