Nativity is one of the most beautiful and solemn Christian holidays. Throughout the Christian world, including Rus', Christmas has always been celebrated with special reverence. On this day, decorated Christmas trees stand everywhere, symbolizing the gospel tree, candles burn, like those that burned in the Bethlehem stable. In many countries, on Christmas night, children take to the streets singing carols. Christmas Eve is called "Christmas Eve".
Christmas Eve in the Christian world is considered exclusively a family dinner. On this day, peace, love and harmony reign in the house.
The selection dedicated to Christmas includes the following paintings:
1. Giorgio Vasari. Christmas.
Giorgio Vasari (Giorgio Vasari; nicknamed Aretino, July 30, 1511, Arezzo - June 27, 1574, Florence) - architect and painter, author of the first history and theory of art, “Lives of the most famous painters, sculptors and architects.”
2. Borovikovsky Vladimir Lukich. Nativity. Canvas, oil
Historical, Architectural and Art Museum “New Jerusalem”, Istra, Moscow region
Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1757-1825) - Russian artist, master of portraiture.
3. Jacob de Bakker. Nativity.
Backer, Jacob, Dutch painter (1608-1657), Rembrandt school, portrait painter.
4. Giorgione. Adoration of the Magi.
Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco, better known as Giorgione (Italian: Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco, Giorgione; 1477/1478-1510) - Italian artist, representative of the Venetian school of painting; one of the greatest masters of the High Renaissance.
5. Rogier van der Weyden. Adoration of the Magi.
Rogier van der Weyden (Dutch. Rogier van der Weyden, 1399/1400, Tournai - June 18, 1464, Brussels) - a Dutch painter, along with Jan van Eyck, is considered one of the founders and most influential masters of early Netherlandish painting. Van der Weyden's work focuses on individuality human personality in all its depth.
6. Rembrandt, Harmens van Rijn. Flight to Egypt.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn [ˈrɛmbrɑnt ˈɦɑrmə(n)soːn vɑn ˈrɛin], 1606-1669) - Dutch artist, draftsman and engraver, Great master chiaroscuro, the largest representative of the golden age Dutch painting. He managed to embody in his works the entire spectrum of human experiences with such emotional richness that fine art had never known before. Rembrandt's works, extremely diverse in genre, reveal to the viewer a timeless spiritual world human experiences and feelings.
7. Hugo van der Goes. Christmas.
Hugo van der Goes (Dutch. Hugo van der Goes) (c. 1420-25, Ghent - 1482, Oderghem) - Flemish artist, whom Albrecht Dürer considered the largest representative of early Netherlandish painting, along with Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden.
8. Sandro Botticelli. Mystical Christmas.
“Mystical Christmas” (Italian Natività mistica) is one of latest paintings Florentine artist Sandro Botticelli, created during a period marked in his work by the breakdown of Quattrocento optimism, the growth of religiosity and an acutely tragic perception of the world.
The painting was practically unknown until the Englishman Otley saw it at the Villa Aldobrandini and acquired it. Botticelli was "rediscovered" by art critics with the beginning of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, which is when John Ruskin gave the canvas its current name. In 1878, the London National Gallery purchased the painting for 1,500 pounds.
9. Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio. Christmas with Saints Francis and Lawrence.
Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio (1573-1610), Italian artist, reformer European painting 17th century, one of greatest masters baroque. One of the first to use the “chiaroscuro” style of painting - a sharp contrast of light and shadow.
10. Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov. Nativity.
Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov (1862-1942) - Russian and Soviet painter. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1942). Laureate Stalin Prize first degree (1941).
Nativity. The Patriarch greets the sovereign in the Golden Chamber.
Buchholz Fedor (Theodor Alexander Ferdinand) Fedorovich (Gustavovich) (1857-1942).
Illustration for the magazine "Niva". Engraved by Schubler
Christmas tree trade.
Genrikh Matveevich Manizer. Canvas, oil.
Omsk Regional Museum fine arts them. M. A. Vrubel
Christmas market.
Buchkuri Alexander Alekseevich (1870 -1942). 1906
Preparatory drawing for the painting "Christmas Tree Sale". 1918
Kustodiev Boris Mikhailovich
Christmas tree trade.
Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev. 1918 Oil on canvas. 98x98.
Krasnodar Regional Art Museum named after. F. Kovalenko, Krasnodar
Canvases on the themes of festive provincial life are distinguished by a special, only for Kustodiev characteristic brightness, multi-color and life-like authenticity the smallest details. National holidays and celebrations are reflected in many of the artist’s works. different years. While still a student at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, Kustodiev’s theme thesis I chose a painting with a similar plot. He traveled to villages, wrote sketches - portraits of peasants, landscape sketches, genre scenes. “Christmas Tree Trading,” a work created by the artist in 1918, also relates to the same theme.
Glorifying the life and customs of the Russian province, Kustodiev amazingly combined painting with verbal and musical folklore- with a song and a fairy tale. An attentive, thoughtful viewer not only sees, but also “hears” the artist’s work. Most likely painted from memory, the picture does not have an exact geographical address - this is Rus' in general, and not the Astrakhan or Kostroma Christmas tree market. The action on the canvas seems to take place “in a certain kingdom, in a certain state.” The spacious sky and the gilded domes of the church above the bustling human anthill - who is not among this motley crowd! The real is surprisingly combined with the fantastic: a colorful fairy tale, full of living details, appears before us. And the artist, like a real storyteller, emphasized everything funny and playful that is in this simple narrative, hiding everything serious that might be hidden in it. The Christmas tree market is depicted by the artist as a festive spectacle. The space of the picture resembles a stage. The arrangement of the figures, at first glance, is chaotic: the image can be continued both to the right and to the left. The openness of the composition and its peculiar fluidity further enhance this general impression.
A large place is devoted to the landscape in this genre scene - the church domes seem fabulous against the backdrop of the snowy sky, spruce trees are dressed in elegant winter clothes - the main item of bargaining at the fair. The artist made a brush stroke on the canvas easily, smoothly, even somehow delicately. Kustodiev attached great importance to line, drawing, and the play of color spots. In this case there is no chiaroscuro of great importance, the light becomes very conditional. Local color spots form a harmonious decorative whole. The cloud-covered sky has no depth, the domes of the church are intense in color, due to which the difference in plans is reduced to almost nothing.
On the one hand, Kustodiev noted and transferred to the canvas genuine types of the Russian province, conveyed the real atmosphere of the New Year's bustle, and on the other hand, a festive performance, a costume performance with beautiful scenery, is performed in front of us by the artist himself. A joyful, incomparable feeling of fullness with life and movement permeates the canvas. Life in this work is visible everywhere: people are busy, rejoicing and fussing, snowy winter draws its intricate patterns in the sky, and all this action is enveloped in the fresh coniferous aroma of the beautiful spruce.
The world in Kustodiev’s painting is similar magic lantern with constantly changing pictures - you can endlessly watch its varied, so simple, simple and at the same time complete deep meaning life. The blue and soft white colors of the painting pacify, delight, as if they lull, creating a gentle and poetic atmosphere of anticipation of a miracle on the eve of the holiday - timeless, always modern. They remind us, always busy and rushing somewhere, that everything in this world is beautiful, that life is amazing simply because it is life.
From the book: T. Kondratenko, Y. Solodovnikov "Krasnodar Regional Art Museum named after F.A. Kovalenko." White City, 2003.
Behind the Christmas trees
Returning from the Christmas market.
MM. Germashev (Bubello). Postcard
Preparing for Christmas.
Sergei Vasilyevich Dosekin (1869-1916). 1896
Christmas tree.
Korin Alexey Mikhailovich. 1910
Christmas tree.
Nikolai Ivanovich Feshin (1881-1955). 1917
Christmas tree.
Alexander Moravov. 1921
New Year's treat.
Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanova (sister of Emperor Nicholas II). 1935
Christmas Day. In the monastery.
Ivan Silych Goryushkin-Sorokopudov. Illustration in the magazine "Niva"
City smelters.
Solomatkin Leonid Ivanovich. 1867 Oil on canvas
Slavers.
Solomatkin Leonid Ivanovich. 1868 Oil on canvas.
State Russian Museum
Slavers.
Solomatkin Leonid Ivanovich. Canvas, oil.
State Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve
Slavers.
Solomatkin Leonid Ivanovich. Canvas, oil.
Odessa Art Museum
Slavers.
Solomatkin Leonid Ivanovich. 1872 Oil on canvas. 40.3?51.5.
Ulyanovsk Art Museum
Christoslav policemen.
Solomatkin Leonid Ivanovich (1837-1883). 1872 Oil on canvas.
Perm State Art Gallery
Leonid Ivanovich Solomatkin (1837 - 1883) attended classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts and received a small silver medal for the paintings “Secretary’s Name Day” (1862) and “City Slavers” (1864), which V. V. Stasov welcomed as “a wonderful fresh offspring of Fedotov’s schools." The last plot was subsequently repeated several times; at least 18 author’s replicas are known, although the first version has not survived. Art catalog
In the cellar during Christmas week.
Solomatkin Leonid Ivanovich (1837–1883). 1878 Oil on canvas. 26.5x21.5.
Art Gallery Khanty-Mansiysk Generations Fund Autonomous Okrug Ugra
Admission: 2003
In the film “In the Cellar during Christmas Week” Solomatkin portrays his favorite characters - wandering musicians. Is talent a burden or a gift, a blessing or a curse? Talent is destiny. Talent did not make the artist and his heroes happy, but they fulfill their purpose with dignity. The musicians depicted in the painting have seen better days. The cello the old man plays is an instrument of a professional, allowing the musician to claim a certain privilege, testifying to a certain level of life left in the past. The old man is accompanied by a boy who plays along with him on the pipe. Apparently, for the sake of this little boy, carefully covered with a warm scarf, the old man has to wander with a heavy tool from zucchini to zucchini, earning his bread. There is a Christmas tree in the room, decorated with toys, and masks and masquerade costumes hang on a hanger, giving the whole event a phantasmagoric touch. Art Gallery of the Generations Fund of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug of Ugra
Waits. (Children of the old village).
Fedot Vasilievich Sychkov (1870 - 1958). 1935. Oil on canvas. 63x83 cm
Mordovian Republican Museum of Fine Arts named after S. D. Erzya
With a star.
Reproduction from a painting by M. Germashev, published by the Richard company, printed in the printing house of the partnership “R. Golicke and A. Wilborg”. Petrograd, 1916
Christmas card based on a drawing by Boris Zvorykin
Carols in Little Russia.
Trutovsky Konstantin Alexandrovich (1826-1893). No later than 1864
Russian painting
Carols.
Nikolai Kornilovich Pimenko. Deut. floor. 1880s Canvas, oil. 170x130.
Donetsk Regional Art Museum
museum-painting.dp.ua
Riding on Christmastide.
Buchkuri Alexander Alekseevich (1870 -1942). Canvas, oil.
The famous Russian artist loved to depict festivities during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, his paintings have always been particularly fabulous. The canvas “Winter” shows a small town buried in snow, and elegant three horses on which people are joyfully riding. This picture, filled with joy, perfectly conveys the winter holiday mood.
Alexander Buchkuri. "Christmas Market". 1906
Buchkuri is another Russian painter, among whose works there is a painting on a New Year theme. "Christmas Market" depicts a cheerful and colorful fair that the town's residents visited to purchase everything they needed for the holidays. There are Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, sweets, and toys. There are joyful smiles on people's faces in anticipation of the New Year.
Viggo Johansen. "Merry Christmas". 1891
This Danish artist preferred to depict episodes from family life. One of his truly magical works is the canvas " Merry Christmas", where a decorated Christmas tree sparkles with bright lights against the background of human shadows. It is this contrast that conveys fabulous atmosphere celebration and expectation of a miracle, making it impossible to take your eyes off the picture.
Olga Romanova. "New Year's treat." 1891
All the children of Emperor Alexander III studied painting, but only Olga took this art seriously. Her canvas “New Year's Treat” was written in exile, but the princess very accurately conveyed the spirit of the Russian holiday. In the picture we see a set table against the backdrop of a decorated Christmas tree, on a white tablecloth there is a samovar, a tea set, a jar of jam and a festive cake.
Henry Mosler. "Christmas Morning" 1916
The canvas of this American artist is distinguished by some special magic and mystery. The painting "Christmas Morning" depicts two children who are frozen in front of an open door in impatience and anticipation. In the opening you can see a richly decorated Christmas tree, which is decorated with burning candles, and you can even see gifts on the floor.
Tatiana Eremina. "Pre-New Year's chores." 1953
Among the works of this talented and versatile Soviet artist there is also a very atmospheric drawing that conveys the anticipation of the holiday - “Pre-New Year's chores.” On the canvas you see joyful family: dad is carrying a Christmas tree, mom is carrying a cake in a box, and the little daughter is carrying a Santa Claus figurine. There are a lot of people around with packages - everyone is trying to buy gifts for the holiday.
Alexander Dudin. "Christmas tree". 1953
The paintings of this Russian painter are distinguished by elegant simplicity, where there is nothing superfluous. The canvas “Christmas Tree” depicts a festive coniferous beauty, decorated with glass toys and shiny rain. This is how Christmas trees were decorated in Soviet time: rustic figures in the form of balls, cones and fungi. The picture very well conveys the fabulous atmosphere of the New Year.
Norman Rockwell. "Santa Claus". 1921
The works of this American illustrator are more like Christmas cards - they are so imbued with magic. In one of his charming illustrations, you see a sleeping girl with Santa Claus standing next to her crib with a bag of gifts. The artist left us a riddle: is the girl dreaming of the old man, or this fairy tale character actually exists.
Alexander Gulyaev. "New Year". 1967
This Soviet artist Surprisingly accurately conveys the atmosphere of the holiday. In the picture " New Year"depicts an ordinary working family at the moment of decorating a Christmas tree. It’s evening outside, dad sits at the table and watches with a smile as mom and children take it out of the box Christmas decorations and decorate a coniferous tree. And everything is so cozy and homely that it involuntarily evokes a sincere smile.
Alexander Mokhov. "31th of December". 2005 year
Surprisingly, modern paintings of this Russian artist as if they were drawn at the beginning of the last century - they convey the atmosphere of those times so accurately. In the background of the painting “December 31” we see snow-covered rural houses, and in the foreground there is a fragment of a table. On it stands a vase with pine branches and a red cat touching a ball hanging from a branch with its paw.
New Year and Christmas holidays– one of the most popular themes in world art. Unique atmosphere winter's tale, expectations of a miracle, family comfort, recreated in painting towards the end of XIX – early XX centuries, takes us back to an era of great change, so similar to beginning of XXI V.
One of the favorite themes of the Russian artist Boris Kustodiev was folk festivities during the winter holidays. He often depicts snow-covered villages and provincial towns, merchants and peasants on the streets, fairs and booths. Kustodiev created a nostalgic art world, permeated with sun, joy and festive mood. The subjects of his paintings are always fabulous, this is both the Russian province of the early twentieth century and fairy-tale Rus' without specific time and spatial coordinates.
Danish artist Viggo Johansen, a professor of painting and director of the Danish Academy of Arts, often painted scenes from family life. One of his most magical works can be called the painting “Merry Christmas”. The artist willingly resorted to lighting effects in paintings painted in dark colors. And in this work, against the background of dark silhouettes of people and shadows in the corners of the room, the tree sparkling with festive lights looks even brighter and more contrasting. This is the center of the composition, which is highlighted using both color and light. The glare from the lights illuminates the spellbound children's faces, which creates a magical atmosphere of a cozy family holiday.
Even Grand Duchess Olga Romanova, the youngest daughter of Alexander III, painted paintings dedicated to winter holidays. In the imperial family, all the children studied painting, but only Olga studied it professionally. In 1920, she had to emigrate first to Yugoslavia, then to Denmark. The painting “New Year's Treat” was created in 1935, far from the homeland, but it recreates the traditional Russian atmosphere of a festive tea party with pie, jam and a samovar.
The family atmosphere of anticipation for the holiday is also captured in Sergei Dosekin’s painting “Preparing for Christmas.” The tree and gifts are not visible on it, but in the center of the composition are grandfather and grandchildren, who are preparing garlands and decorations for the house.
Natasha Villon. "New Year's metro"
The artist Natasha Villon is from Orel. She studied theater design at the Oryol Art School, worked at the Zhostovo factory, and in 2001 emigrated to Seattle (USA). Since then, she has been interested in Russian subjects, often depicting her rural childhood, animals and children, whom she began to feel in a new way with the birth of her daughter.
. "New Year"
Alexander Gulyaev. "New Year"
Soviet artist Alexander Gulyaev was born in the Altai region, studied at the Tashkent Art School, and then moved to Leningrad, where he graduated from the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Repina. Known for his historical, military, portrait and landscape works. The artist's paintings are in particular demand among Western collectors.
Tatiana Eremina. "Pre-New Year's chores"
Tatiana Eremina. "Pre-New Year's chores"
Famous Soviet artist, illustrator and poster artist Tatyana Eremina is Deineka’s favorite student and a native Muscovite. Her childhood was spent in the Arbat alleys, then she studied at the school (now the Moscow Academic art school- “Gazeta.Ru”), from which the future artist was expelled for smoking under the article “bad behavior”. But she graduated from the Surikov Institute with honors. She painted posters on military themes, depicted children, and illustrated many children’s books and magazines, including “30 Days,” “Smena,” and “Murzilka.”
. "Christmas tree"
Egor Zaitsev. "Christmas tree"
Another talented artist from Orel. Egor Zaitsev was born in 1967, studied at the Moscow Academic School in Memory of 1905, after which he graduated from the Surikov Institute. He worked in a workshop and at the Russian Academy of Arts and even participated in the painting of a temple. The touching and in its own way poignant painting “The Christmas Tree” (1996) is presented in the exhibition of the Institute of Russian Realistic Art.
. "Christmas tree auction"
Boris Kustodiev. "Christmas tree auction"
Artist Boris Kustodiev needs no introduction. Everyone has seen his “Merchant’s Wife”, “Portrait of Chaliapin” or “Maslenitsa” at least once in their life. He was born in the empire and died in the USSR. He became famous for his portraits, traveled a lot - not only European countries, but also in ordinary distant villages - he carefully studied the Russian province, depicting it in works as bright as a patchwork quilt. Festive bustle, fabulous winter, deliberate toyness - the painting “Christmas Tree Sale” (1918) is in the collection of the Krasnodar regional art museum named after F. A. Kovalenko.
Inge Leek. "Cheerful old ladies"
Inga Leek. "Cheerful old ladies"
Inge Leek is an artist, illustrator and part-time gardener from Finland. The artist spent her childhood in Helsinki. Two elderly women lived next door, who became the prototype for the cheerful “old ladies” Fifi and Anni - Inga invented them in 2003. A series of postcards and calendars with grandmothers, divided by season, is popular in many countries around the world.
Alexander Levchenkov. "New Year's Morning"
Alexander Levchenkov. "New Year's Morning"
Alexander Levchenkov is a contemporary artist from Elektrostal near Moscow. After graduating from the Fedoskino School miniature painting studied at Russian Academy painting, sculpture and architecture. It is in the collection of this Academy that the painting “New Year’s Morning” is located.
Viggo Johansen. "Merry Christmas"
Viggo Johansen. "Merry Christmas"
Danish artist, professor of painting, director of the Danish Academy of Arts in Copenhagen, Viggo Johansen was interested in the ideas of Claude Monet, exhibited in Paris, painted scenes from family life, experimented with chiaroscuro and was, among other things, a gifted musician. "Merry Christmas" (1891) is one of the most famous works artist.
. "New Year tree in the village"
Irina Rybakova. " Christmas tree in the village"
The works of artist Irina Rybakova, a native of Vyshny Volochok (Tver region), were exhibited in galleries in Mexico, France, Great Britain, Germany, China, and Russia. Irina spent her childhood and youth in the village of Novoye Kotchische, not far from the artists’ creative house “Academic Dachas,” created at one time by Repin. The girl's first teachers were Leningrad artists Liya Ostrov and Pyotr Strakhov - their dacha was located next to her grandmother's house. She continued her education in Kostroma, where she later worked as a restoration artist at the local branch of the All-Russian Art Scientific and Restoration Center named after. Grabar.
Valentin Gubarev. "New Year's"
Valentin Gubarev. "New Year's"
Graduate of the Moscow Printing Institute Valentin Gubarev is a famous Belarusian artist, whose track record includes work in a publishing house, personal exhibitions in France and contracts with international galleries.
His paintings are in museums and private collections different countries and are exhibited at auctions in Paris, London, Vienna. - Member of the Belarusian Union of Artists and the German art association “Masterpiece”. Gubarev calls the characters in his paintings “ ordinary people who have not read Hegel and Kant, but who are unselfish and pure in heart.”
