Artist Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov is a Russian painter, internationally recognized master of landscape, genre and historical painting, teacher, People's Artist of the RSFSR.
V. D. Polenov. Portrait by Ilya Repin
Biography and creativity of the artist Vasily Polenov
The artist Vasily Polenov was born in June 1844 in St. Petersburg, into a large noble family. His father, Dmitry Vasilyevich Polenov, was a well-known archaeologist and bibliographer in the capital, secretary of the Russian Archaeological Society, who was fond of art and studied chronicles and history.
The artist’s mother, Maria Alexandrovna (née Voeykova), was a children’s writer and studied painting.
As a child, the future artist spent a lot of time on the estate of his grandmother V.N. Voeikova, daughter of the famous architect Nikolai Lvov. Vera Nikolaevna, after the early death of her parents, was brought up in the house of Gavrila Derzhavin, was well versed in Russian history, knew folk poetry, fairy tales and Russian epics. The grandmother devoted a lot of time to her grandchildren, encouraged their passion for painting, and organized creative competitions for the children, in which the winner, like at the Academy, was awarded a medal.
For the most gifted children (the elder Vasily and the younger Elena), painting teachers were hired from among the students of the Academy of Arts. This is how P.P. appeared in the Polenovs’ house. Chistyakov, a meeting with whom was truly fateful for Vasily Polenov.
From 1861 to 1863, Polenov studied at the Olonets provincial male gymnasium, which was located in the city of Petrozavodsk. After graduating from high school, Vasily, together with his brother Alexei, entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at St. Petersburg University. And after the lectures, as a free student, he attended lectures at the Academy of Arts. He also studied anatomy, attended classes in the art of construction, studied descriptive geometry and the history of fine arts, sang in a student choir and even composed musical works.
Soon Vasily Polenov left the university and became a permanent student in the full-scale class of the Academy of Arts. In 1867, the young artist graduated from a course at the Academy of Arts with silver medals for drawings and sketches, and took part in a competition for a gold medal in the class of historical painting.
In January 1868, Polenov returned to the university, but already to the Faculty of Law, and defended, in 1871, a dissertation on the topic “On the meaning of art in its application to crafts.”
In 1869, the painting “Job and His Friends” was awarded a small gold medal.
Job and his friends
In 1871, for the competition work “Christ Raises the Daughter of Jairus,” Vasily Polenov was awarded a large gold medal and in 1872, as a pensioner of the academy, he went on a six-year trip abroad to European countries.
Christ resurrects Jairus' daughter
The artist visited Munich and Vienna, Florence, Naples and Venice, lived and worked for some time in Paris, where, among other things, he painted the painting “The Arrest of the Countess d'Etremont” - for this work in 1876 Polenov would be awarded the title of academician.
Arrest of the Huguenot Jacobine de Montebel, Countess d'Etremont
The painting “The Right of the Master,” painted in Germany, will be sold to Pavel Tretyakov for a lot of money - the patron of the arts was so amazed by the canvas that he bought it without haggling.
Master's right
Caesar's fun
In 1874, Vasily Dmitrievich, at the invitation of I.E. Repin, comes to the resort town of Veul (Normandy), where he paints the famous paintings “The Normandy Coast” and “Fishing Boat. Etretat. Normandy".
Normandy coast
Fishing boat. Etretat. Normandy
Italy seems to me different from how it is usually portrayed. I somehow don’t see many yellow-red tones, except at sunset, but to me they seem more like silver-olive, that is, gray.
The artist showed this impression of Italy in the painting “Italian Landscape with a Peasant.”
Italian landscape with a peasant
Two years before the end of his trip abroad, Polenov began to work for an early return to his homeland.
It [the trip abroad] brought me benefits in many ways, the main thing is that everything that I have done so far is wrong, I need to give it all up and start again - great. Here I tried and tried all kinds of painting: historical, genre, landscape, marina, portrait of a head, images of animals, nature morte, etc. and came to the conclusion that my talent is closest to the landscape, everyday genre, which is what I will do .
In 1876, the artist returned to Russia and soon found himself in the Russian-Turkish war as an official artist at the main apartment of the heir to the crown prince (the future All-Russian Emperor Alexander III). Vasily Dmitrievich creates a whole series of illustrations about the life of the army during the war for the magazine “Pchela”. But he didn’t paint battle paintings.
The room of the commander of the Rushchuk detachment of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich in Brestovets
In his letter to the Russian singer Marya Klimentova-Muromtseva, the artist explains his state of mind:
The plots of human disfigurement and death are too strong in nature to be conveyed on canvas, at least, I still feel some kind of shortcoming in myself, it doesn’t work out for me what is in reality, there it is so terrible and so simple.
Returning from the war, Polenov enthusiastically worked in the field of theatrical and decorative painting, and since 1882 he became a teacher at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where his students were I.I. Levitan, I.S. Ostroukhov, K.A. Korovin, A.E. Arkhipov, A.Ya. Golovin, E.M. Tatevosyan and a number of other artists who later became famous.
In 1878, at the VI Traveling Exhibition, Polenov presented his painting “Moscow Courtyard,” which was painted from life in one of the Arbat alleys. The success of the painting was deafening and completely unexpected for the author, who from that moment was called the founder of a new genre in painting - intimate landscape.
Moscow courtyard
Polenov himself did not like “Moscow Courtyard” and in a letter accompanying the picture he wrote:
Unfortunately , I didn’t have time to do a more significant thing, but I wanted to go to a traveling exhibition with something decent, I hope in the future to earn time lost for art.
In 1879, the artist became a member of the Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions.
After “Moscow Courtyard,” the artist gained fame as a master of epic landscapes, and this fame only grew after the works that were painted as a result of traveling along the Oka River and the Middle East, to places associated with the cradle of Christianity.
Overgrown pond
Grandmother's garden
From a trip to holy places, Polenov brings back the painting “Christ and the Sinner,” as well as other paintings that were painted in a completely new manner for the painter.
Christ and the Sinner
In 1888, the artist presented to the public the painting “On Lake Tiberias (Genisareret).”
On Lake Tiberias (Genissaret)
In 1890, with the money raised from the sale of the painting “Christ and the Sinner,” Polenov acquired a small estate on the banks of the Oka River in the Tula province, built a house with an art workshop according to his own design, and named his estate “Borok.” The artist works a lot on this estate, giving lessons to children from surrounding villages. He is also building a folk theater and church in the nearby village of Bekhov.
In 1899, Vasily Dmitrievich set off on a new journey to the Middle East with the goal of collecting material for the grandiose series “From the Life of Christ” conceived by the artist. In 1909, the paintings created as a result of this trip were presented to the public and the exhibition was a great success.
Among the teachers
After the October Revolution, Vasily Polenov continued his educational activities: he worked with peasant youth, created theater clubs, and taught children the basics of painting. At the same time, he also finds time for creativity - in 1919, the painting “Spill on the Oka” was completed, which would later be called the best in Polenov’s late work.
Spill on the Oka River
Russian village
In 1924, the Tretyakov Gallery organized a personal exhibition of Polenov in honor of the painter’s 80th birthday, and in 1926, Vasily Dmitrievich was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the RSFSR.
In July 1927, Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov died in his Borok estate and was buried in a rural cemetery in the village of Bekhovo on the steep bank of the Oka.
Monastery over the river
The famous landscape painter, Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov, reflects his inner world in his works. He is an unsurpassed landscape painter. In his canvases, the nature of our amazing region - central Russia - is depicted in such a way that it seems that it continues to live there and delight his admirers. All admirers of Polenov’s talent know the love for his family’s village estate, dear to his heart, which he founded in central Russia, in the Tula region. There, around the house, Vasily Polenov laid out and founded a stunning park, located on the picturesque banks of the Oka River, which has come down to us completely unchanged.
Friends and associates nicknamed him the Great Knight of Beauty or the Poet of Painting - for his unsurpassed understanding and transmission of the natural beauties of the Central Russian strip. Of all the four seasons of the year, V.D. Polenov loved autumn very much. Only in autumn do colors play in central Russia.
He said that the riot of colors and shades in nature just begs to be put on canvas. In winter, white predominates, and in spring and summer - all imaginable and inconceivable shades of green. And only every autumn the artist is reborn. Every year during his life, V.D. Polenov with his children or alone from the first to the tenth of October, abandoned all his affairs and went on hikes along the banks of his beloved Oka River to paint his stunning landscapes, watch and admire the Golden Autumn, when Beauty and Inspiration reign supreme. After all, it is during this period of the year that the peak of autumn harmony in multicolor occurs. Here he found for himself a holistic generalization of the image of Russian nature. Here he painted his most famous landscape works.
The canvases that made him famous throughout the world are “Early Snow,” painted by him in 1891, and painted in 1893. canvases “Summer on the Oka”, “Autumn on the Oka near Tarusa”, “Golden Autumn”. The famous paintings “It’s getting cold” of 1892 and “Spill on the Oka” of 1918. It is in these works that you can see and feel how boundlessly V.D. Polenov loved his small homeland. In these works one can see the soul of the Master, which he so diligently, sensitively and joyfully spent on his landscapes, which, like nowhere else, convey the state and grandeur of nature.
The works of Vasily Polenov, for all their simplicity of perception, are multifaceted, complex, and sometimes even very contradictory. Like the artist himself, with his talent multifaceted, complex, and sometimes, just like his paintings, contradictory.
In addition to his constant painting, Polenov was engaged, and it should be noted quite successfully, in architecture, music, theater and applied art, where he also reached great heights. He is one of those rare people who are gifted with a rare quality - versatile talents.
Polenov had a talent passed on to him from his parents at birth; this is an extraordinary gift, both as an architect and as a musician: performer and composer. He played excellent keyboard instruments, violin and accordion. He tried himself on stage as an artist and director. He was a well-known talented theater teacher and art teacher of his time. He had an integral civic position, which he promoted and defended everywhere. He was quite famous and an active fighter for fair treatment of the lower strata of society in his time. It was he who was the first of the Russian painters to become interested in such areas of art that had not previously attracted the attention of famous master painters. This includes book illustration, stage design, and applied art. He believed that art is happiness and the joy of being, otherwise it cannot be worth anything in life. He was convinced that the manifestation of art in all its forms can transform the world according to the law of beauty.
Polenov himself believed that he could not live without art. He loved all types of art. Architectural studies brought income and pleasure. And practicing poetry and sculpture is pleasure and joy. And without painting and music he simply would not exist in life. And this is understandable, because in Polenov, in his desire to embrace different areas of art, a new type of artist was born, who is subject to any direction of art. This phenomenon is V.D. Polenov, the first universal artist in Russia.
The second half of the 19th century was the heyday of Russian painting. One of the representatives of the galaxy of outstanding artists of this period is Vasily Polenov, whose paintings amaze with realism and the desire to “give happiness and joy.” The last words belong to the painter himself and are the motto of his work and life, as evidenced by the artist’s biography.
Parents
The future famous artist was born into a cultured and fairly wealthy noble family in 1844. His father, Dmitry Polenov, was known as a keen archaeologist and bibliographer. Mother, Maria Alekseevna, nee Voeykova, was engaged in painting and wrote books for children. She was the daughter of Vera Nikolaevna Lvova, who, after the early death of her parents and before her marriage, was raised in the family of G. Derzhavin.
Childhood
Dmitrievich spent his childhood in St. Petersburg, but his family often went for the summer to the Olonetsky region and to the Olshanka estate in the Tambov province, which belonged to the artist’s grandmother. she adored her grandchildren and loved to entertain them by telling epics, legends and fairy tales. She was also well acquainted with Russian and European poetry, so she played a big role in shaping the artistic taste of little Vasya. As for the origin of his love for painting, his mother was involved in drawing with the children. She insisted that her husband hire tutors for Vasily and his youngest daughter Elena. P. Chistyakov, who at that time himself was studying at the Academy of Arts, was invited as a teacher. At the same time, the boy attended the gymnasium and showed great zeal for his studies.
Student years
In 1863, Vasily Polenov graduated from high school and, together with his younger brother Alexei, entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at St. Petersburg University. However, his love for painting was stronger than his passion for science, and in the evenings the young man attended the Academy of Arts. In addition, young Polenov was fond of music, was a frequent visitor to the opera house and even sang in the student choir of the Academy.
Soon the young man took up and devoted all his time to painting. In 1867, Vasily Polenov graduated from the Academy of Arts. At the same time, he received silver medals for his sketches and drawings.
Immediately after this, the young man returned to the university, but changed departments and began studying to become a lawyer.
Meeting with Repin
In 1869, Vasily Polenov became eager to receive the gold medal of the Academy of Arts. For this purpose, he painted the painting “Job and His Friends.” She received a small award and gave him the right to continue participating in the competition. The new task was to create the canvas “The Resurrection of Jairus’ Daughter,” and Ivan Repin became the young artist’s rival.
The result of the competition was unexpected: both masters of the brush presented excellent works, so the jury awarded them large gold medals and a trip to Europe.
In 1872, Dmitrievich and Repin went first to Germany, and then to Italy and Paris. The capital of France charmed the artist so much that he decided to stay there. In Paris, Polenov painted the canvas “The Arrest of the Countess d’Etremont”, for which, after returning to Russia, he was awarded the title of academician. The painter's talent was also appreciated by representatives of the imperial family. In 1876, he took the position of court artist and went to the Russian-Turkish War, where he was at the headquarters of Tsarevich Alexander.
Moscow period
Returning from the theater of military operations, Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov settled in Moscow and began teaching at the capital’s school of painting, sculpture and architecture. There his students were I. Levitan, K. Korovin, I. Ostroukhov, A. Arkhipov, E. Tatevosyan and A. Golovin.
At the same time, the artist himself wrote a lot, and in 1877 he presented his work “Moscow Courtyard” at the 6th traveling exhibition. The picture was a resounding success, and Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov was recognized as the founder of a new genre, called by critics “intimate landscape”.
Another significant event in the Moscow period of the artist’s life was his decision to join the Itinerants, among whom by that time he had many friends.
Biblical theme
Old Testament and Christian subjects were present in Polenov’s work from the very beginning. In search of inspiration, in 1881-1882 the artist went on a trip to biblical places, to the Middle East. He visited Constantinople, Syria, Palestine and Egypt. From his trip, the artist Vasily Polenov brought sketches for the painting “Christ and the Sinner” and other works written under the impression of what he saw. Some of them delighted Pavel Tretyakov, who purchased the paintings for his collection.
Image of Christ
In 1883, the painter and his wife went to Italy. There he continued to work on the painting “Christ and the Sinner,” which he presented to the public at the 15th exhibition of the Wanderers. The canvas created a sensation, and Emperor Alexander III, who had favored the artist since the Russian-Turkish War, declared his desire to see it in his museum.
In 1888, Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov wrote another one on a biblical theme - “On Lake Tiberias (Genisaret).” On the new canvas, he again depicted Christ - a man with an oriental type of face and with the look of a sage, but not a sufferer. Moreover, an important “character” of the painting was the landscape, painted according to sketches made by the artist from life during a trip to the Middle East.
Life in Behovo
In the 1890s, Vasily Polenov, whose biography is a long list of successes, decided to leave the capital and move to the Tula region. There, on the banks of the Oka, he built a house. Somewhat later, workshops were added to the main building, in which Polenov taught drawing to rural children. The painter gave the name Borok to the established estate and began to make efforts to ensure that it eventually turned into a people's museum.
Vasily Polenov: “Golden Autumn”
The views of the surrounding area of Boroka won the artist's heart. It was they who became the theme of the works that Vasily Polenov wrote in the early 1890s. “Golden Autumn” occupies a special place among them. The canvas depicts the banks of the Oka, bordered by birch trees in bright decoration. The painting is exhibited at the Polenovo estate museum (formerly the Borok estate) and is strikingly different from the early landscapes painted by Vasily Polenov (“Overgrown Pond”, “Old Mill”, etc.).
After 1917
After the October Revolution, Polenov took an active part in organizing a theater group in the Borok estate and worked a lot with peasant youth.
At the same time, he painted the canvas “Spill on the Oka River,” which became one of the best works of the artist of his mature period.
last years of life
In 1924, in honor of the artist’s 80th birthday, a personal exhibition of Vasily Dmitrievich’s works was organized at the Tretyakov Gallery. In general, the Soviet government was favorable to the artist. In particular, in 1926 the painter was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR. Most likely, this was due to Polenov’s charitable activities and his desire to contribute with all his might to public education even at a time when only rare representatives of the Russian intelligentsia were involved in this.
On July 18, 1927, the painter died. The artist was buried on the banks of the Oka, in the vicinity of the Borok estate he founded.
"Polenovo"
In 1931, the Soviet government decided to create a museum in the Borok estate. It was renamed Polenovo, and the interiors that were there during the artist’s lifetime were preserved. Interesting cultural events are regularly held there and paintings by famous painters are exhibited.
Now you know the main events of V. Polenov’s biography and the history of the creation of some of his most significant works, which are among the masterpieces of Russian fine art of the 19th century.
- Medalist of the Academy of Arts
Asiliy Polenov was fond of painting since childhood. He graduated from the Academy of Arts with a Grand Gold Medal, traveled throughout Europe, studying different schools and styles of painting and visiting many museums and art galleries. The artist searched for his direction for a long time - and already in adulthood he gained fame as a landscape painter and master of genre painting. Thanks to the painting “Moscow Courtyard,” Polenov became the founder of “intimate painting,” and his painting “Christ and the Sinner” was purchased by Emperor Alexander III for his collection.
Medalist of the Academy of Arts
Vasily Polenov was born in St. Petersburg into a large noble family. His father Dmitry Polenov, secretary of the Russian Archaeological Society, studied chronicles and history and was fond of art. Mother Maria Polenova (née Voeykova) took painting lessons from the artist Karl Bryullov. Thanks to her portraits, we know what Vasily Polenov looked like as a child. Parents supported their children's interest in art and hired teachers from the Academy of Arts. Pavel Chistyakov, at that time still a student at the Academy, taught drawing and the basics of painting to Vasily and his younger sister Elena. Chistyakov managed to instill in the young man a meaningful attitude towards creativity: “Don’t start anything without thinking, and once you start, don’t rush”- he advised.
Vasily Polenov enjoyed studying painting and wanted to enter the Academy of Arts. However, his parents insisted on receiving a classical university education. In 1863, after graduating from high school, Vasily Polenov, together with his brother Alexei, entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of St. Petersburg University. However, he soon left the university and began to study only painting. He attended evening classes at the Academy of Arts, studying drawing, anatomy, construction art, geometry and the history of fine arts. In 1867, Vasily Polenov completed his student course and received silver medals for his drawings and sketches.
Vasily Polenov. Resurrection of Jairus' daughter. 1871. State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Ilya Repin. Resurrection of Jairus' daughter. 1871. State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Later, the artist finally decided to graduate from university: he entered the Faculty of Law and in 1871 successfully defended his dissertation on the topic “On the meaning of art in its application to crafts.” In the same year, Polenov received the highest award - the Great Gold Medal - for the painting “The Resurrection of Jairus’s Daughter.” His fellow student Ilya Repin prepared the same topic, he also became a medalist. The artists also received the right to retire abroad for six years.
European pensions - Germany, Italy, France
At this time, Vasily Polenov was already 27 years old, but he had not yet decided on his artistic “specialization.” Therefore, during his internship abroad, he often visited museums. In Germany, Polenov studied the art of German artists - Karl Piloty, Gabriel Max, Arnold Böcklin, Hans Makart. As the painter recalled, their works affected him like “opium intoxication.” Polenov visited knights' castles and made sketches there - based on them he later painted the painting “The Right of the Master,” which was bought by Pavel Tretyakov for a lot of money and without even haggling.
After Germany, Polenov went to Naples, Venice and Florence.
“Italy seems to me different from the way it is usually portrayed. I somehow don’t see many yellow-red tones, except at sunset, but I think more like silver-olive, that is, gray.”
Vasily Polenov
This impression of the artist was reflected in his painting “Italian Landscape with a Peasant.” In Italy, Polenov's friendship began with the philanthropist Savva Mamontov and members of the Abramtsevo circle. The artist participated in their performances and concerts, discussions and carnivals. Painting classes receded into the background: “I found myself in such a whirlpool that I completely got caught up in the vanity of the world, and forgot about my own ascetic feat.”. Later, Polenov visited Abramtsevo more than once - to Mamontov’s estate near Moscow.
Vasily Polenov. Sir's right. 1874. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Vasily Polenov. Shower. 1874. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
A trip to France had a great influence on Polenov’s work. Parisian art schools and painting styles delighted and inspired the painter. Here he became more acquainted with representatives of the Barbizon school and saw paintings by landscape painter Camille Caro. Under the influence of the Barbizonians, Polenov created the painting “Rain” in gray tones, as the artist recalled - he painted it “for himself, for relaxation.” However, Ivan Turgenev really liked the canvas, whom the artist met there, in the capital of France.
On the advice of the artist Alexei Bogolyubov, around whom a kind of circle had formed in Paris, Vasily Polenov, following Ilya Repin, went to the north of France - to Normandy, to a small town near the sea of Veul. Polenov lived here for several months and painted many landscapes: “White Horse”, “Normandy”, “Old Gate. Veul", "Etretat. Normandy" and many others.
Front-line sketches and landscapes of old Moscow
Two years before the official end of his trip abroad, the artist began to work for an early return to his homeland. He presented two paintings to the Academy of Arts - “The Right of the Master” and “The Arrest of the Huguenot” - and 50 Parisian sketches. For his work, Polenov received the title of academician.
“It [the trip abroad] brought me benefits in many ways, the main thing is that everything that I have done so far is wrong, I need to give it all up and start again - great. Here I tried and tried all kinds of painting: historical, genre, landscape, marina, portrait of a head, images of animals, nature morte, etc. and came to the conclusion that my talent is closest to the landscape, everyday genre, which is what I will do »
Vasily Polenov
Immediately upon returning to Russia, Vasily Polenov volunteered for the Serbian-Turkish front. The artist reflected his military impressions in ethnographic types, architectural sketches, scenes from bivouac life - these illustrations from the battlefield were published by the magazine "Pchela". The painter did not create battle paintings. In a letter to the Russian singer Marya Klimentova-Muromtseva, he wrote: “The subjects of human disfigurement and death are too strong in nature to be conveyed on canvas, at least I still feel some kind of flaw in myself, it doesn’t work out for me what is in reality, it’s so terrible and so simple.”.
Vasily Polenov. Moscow courtyard. 1878. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Vasily Polenov. Grandmother's garden. 1878. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Vasily Polenov. Overgrown pond. 1879. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
In 1877, Vasily Polenov, as he wanted, settled in Moscow. Inspired by the views of the old capital, he began working on the canvas “The Tonsuring of the Worthless Princess.” The painting was never painted, but Polenov created sketches of Kremlin cathedrals and ancient towers, and learned to paint ancient Russian interiors. The sketch from the Savior on the Sands formed the basis of the landscape image of old Moscow - the painting “Moscow Courtyard”. Vasily Polenov made his debut with it at the exhibition of the Association of Itinerants in 1878. However, the artist himself did not like the painting, and he complained that he did not pay more attention to the painting: “Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to do a more significant thing, but I wanted to participate in a traveling exhibition with something decent, I hope in the future to earn time lost for art.”. However, “Moscow Yard” was a huge success among critics: the work stood out against the backdrop of ascetic aesthetics with its special poetry and elegiac Turgenev mood. Polenov’s paintings “Grandma’s Garden” and “Overgrown Pond” also participated in the exhibitions.
Educational Center of Vasily Polenov
In 1881, Vasily Polenov began work on the painting “Christ and the Sinner” - the first of a future cycle about the life of Christ. The artist wanted “to create a Christ who is not only coming, but has already come into the world and making his way among the people”. Together with art critic Adrian Prakhov and industrialist Semyon Lazarev, he went to the Middle East. The travelers visited Turkey, Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Greece. Polenov was inspired by the bright oriental landscapes and colorful clothes of the local residents. Pavel Tretyakov bought the sketches brought from the trip directly from the exhibition of the Itinerants in 1885.
However, his first trip to the Middle East distracted the artist from his original plan, and his sketches had nothing to do with the planned series about the life of Christ. Therefore, Polenov went in search of nature in Italy. There he created sketches for the painting “Christ and the Sinner”. The artist made sketches in pencil, oil, and charcoal. Polenov painted the painting itself in 1886–1887 in the office of Savva Mamontov. This work was first published at the XV Traveling Exhibition. Alexander III bought the painting there. The Emperor was ahead of Pavel Tretyakov, who was already negotiating with Polenov about purchasing the canvas.
Vasily Polenov. Christ and the sinner. 1888. State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Vasily Polenov. View of the Oka River from the eastern bank. 1898. Tula Museum of Fine Arts, Tula
Having long dreamed of “a house on the banks of the Oka... where there will be a museum, gallery and library,” Vasily Polenov acquired an old estate at the beginning of 1890. In its place, a house was built according to the drawings of the artist himself. It, as the author intended, became an important educational center. The Polenov family settled here, there was a museum and an art gallery in which paintings by the artist himself and his many students hung: Konstantin Korovin, Isaac Levitan, Ilya Ostroukhov and others. In the vicinity of the village of Bekhovo, Polenov built two schools, as well as a diorama for peasant children - a trip around the world in pictures in the form of a small light theater.
In 1905, Polenov completed work on paintings of the gospel cycle. The paintings were exhibited throughout Russia and were a great success.
After the October Revolution, Vasily Polenov continued his educational activities: he independently led excursions around the estate, worked with peasant youth, organized theater clubs, and taught children the basics of painting. The artist did not abandon his creativity - in 1919 he painted the painting “Spill on the Oka River”. Critics recognized it as one of the best in Polenov’s late work. In 1924, the Tretyakov Gallery organized a personal exhibition of the artist in honor of his 80th birthday. And two years later, Polenov was one of the first to be awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR.
In 1927, the painter died in his estate.
Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov (1844-1927) – artist. Since 1926 People's Artist of the RSFSR.
Since childhood, Vasily Polenov was fond of painting. His studies were encouraged by his mother, Maria Alekseevna Polenova, who herself loved to draw, and his grandmother, Vera Nikolaevna Voeikova, daughter of the famous architect Nikolai Lvov.
At the age of 12, Vasily Polenov was hired as an art teacher. He turned out to be a talented student of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts Pavel Chistyakov (1832-1919). Five years of study had a great influence on the development of Polenov the artist.
Despite his success in drawing, Vasily Polenov did not dare to devote himself entirely to art. In 1863, he entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of St. Petersburg University, and in the evenings he attended drawing classes at the Academy of Arts.
In 1871, he graduated from the university, albeit already the Faculty of Law, and the academy, receiving the highest award for his competitive work - the Grand Gold Medal.
In the summer of 1872, Polenov, as a pensioner of the Academy of Arts, went to Italy. In the autumn of the following year he settled in Paris. During the trip, Polenov studied the working style of Western masters, painted paintings in the style of French salon painting and historical romanticism, and devoted a lot of time to the landscape. One of the striking works on a historical theme was the painting "The Arrest of the Huguenot Jacobine de Montebel, Countess d'Etremont", painted in 1875 by order of Tsarevich Alexander, the future Emperor Alexander III. Based on the results of the reporting exhibition organized by Polenov in the fall of 1876 upon his return to Russia, he was awarded the title of academician. But real recognition was yet to come.
After viewing Polenov’s works, critic V.V. Stasov accused the artist of being “Frenchish”: “You are going to settle in Moscow... meanwhile, you don’t need Moscow for anything, just like the rest of Russia in general. Your soul is not at all Russian... It seems to me that it would be best for you to live permanently in Paris or Germany."
In 1877, Vasily Polenov settled in Moscow. A year later, at the VI traveling exhibition, he exhibited “Moscow Courtyard”. Fame came to the artist. In the same year, the painting "Grandmother's Garden" appeared. It was followed by "Overgrown Pond" and "Old Mill". All of them became masterpieces of Russian painting.
In the 1870-1890s. Polenov painted scenery for Mamontov’s home theater and his Private Russian Opera. The artist met Savva Mamontov in the early 1870s. in Rome during a retirement business trip. By the way, on Mamontov’s Abramtsevo estate, Polenov painted the wonderful paintings “On a Boat” and “Pond in Abramtsevo.”
In 1890, Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov bought an estate in the Tula province, on the banks of the Oka. There the artist lived and worked for a long time. He moved here from Moscow in 1918. Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov died on July 18, 1927 in his estate. Now the former estate houses the V.D. Museum-Reserve. Polenova. The first director of the museum was the full namesake of Polenov’s father, the artist’s son Dmitry Vasilyevich Polenov (1886-1967).
Vasily Polenov: “It seems to me that art should give happiness and joy, otherwise it is worth nothing.”
Biography of Polenov
- 1844. May 20 (June 1) - in St. Petersburg, a son, Vasily, was born into the family of hereditary nobles Dmitry Vasilyevich and Maria Alekseevna (nee Voeikova) Polenov.
- 1855. From this year, the Polenovs spent the summer months on their estate Imochentsy, Olonets province, where the artist subsequently painted many paintings and sketches.
- 1856-1861. Drawing and painting lessons from P.P. Chistyakova.
- 1858. In St. Petersburg, at an exhibition at the Academy of Arts, Vasily Polenov first saw a painting by A.A. Ivanov’s “The Appearance of Christ to the People,” which remained one of his most powerful artistic impressions for the rest of his life.
- 1859. Visiting classes of F.I. Jordan at the Academy of Arts.
- 1861-1863. Moving with parents to Petrozavodsk. Studying at the gymnasium.
- 1863. Admission to the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of St. Petersburg University and the Academy of Arts.
- 1869. Awarded the Small Gold Medal at the Academy of Arts for the program painting “Job and His Friends.”
- 1871. Graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University and the Academy of Arts.
- 1872. June - departure to Italy as a pensioner of the Academy of Arts. Acquaintance in Italy with S.I. Mamontov. The first serious feeling for Marusa Obolenskaya, her sudden death.
- 1873. May - grandmother Vera Nikolaevna Voeikova died. June - Polenov interrupted his business trip and returned to Imochentsy. September – resumption of retirement business trip, departure to France.
- 1874. Meeting I.S. in Paris. Turgenev.
- 1876. Return to Russia. Polenov was awarded the title of academician. September - as part of the Russian volunteer army, he went to the Serbian-Turkish front.
- 1877. March - move to Moscow. Execution of the sketch "Moscow courtyard". August 31 – meeting Maria Nikolaevna Klimentova, with whom the artist became interested.
- 1877 - spring 1878. As a front-line artist, Polenov participated in the Russian-Turkish War.
- 1878. Return to Moscow. The paintings "Moscow Courtyard", "Grandma's Garden" were completed. May 7 – at the VI exhibition of the Itinerants at the MUZHVZ, Polenov exhibited the painting “Moscow Courtyard”. October – the artist’s father Dmitry Vasilyevich Polenov died.
- 1879. Polenov painted the painting “Overgrown Pond”.
- 1881. March 7 – the artist’s sister Vera Dmitrievna Polenova died.
- 1881-1882. First trip to the East in connection with work on the painting “Christ and the Sinner”.
- 1882. Marriage of Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov and Natalya Vasilievna Yakunchikova. Start of teaching at MUZHVZ.
- 1883, October - 1884, May. Work in Italy on sketches and sketches for the painting "Christ and the Sinner".
- 1884. Birth of son Fyodor.
- 1885. First season of the Mamontov Private Opera.
- 1886. Polenov completed the painting “The Sick Woman”. Death of son Fyodor and birth of son Mitya.
- 1887. Polenov exhibited the painting “Christ and the Sinner” at the XV exhibition of the Wanderers.
- 1890. Purchase of land in Bekhov on Oka.
- 1891. August 16 - the manor house, conceived as a people's museum, was founded.
- 1892. October 2 – the artist’s family moved to a new house. This date is considered the founding day of the V.D. Museum. Polenova.
- 1892-1893. The paintings "It's getting cold. Autumn on the Oka River near Tarusa", "Golden Autumn" were painted.
- 1895. The artist’s mother, Maria Alekseevna Polenova, died.
- 1898. November 7 – the artist’s sister Elena Dmitrievna Polenova died.
- 1899. Spring - second trip to the East. September – arrest of S.I. Mamontova.
- 1900. July – trial of S.I. Mamontov, in which he was completely acquitted.
- 1902. Development of a program of wall paintings for the Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow.
- 1903. February - the Union of Russian Artists was organized.
- 1906. The opera by V.D. was performed in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. Polenov "Ghosts of Hellas".
- 1907. Travel through Germany and Italy.
- 1910, July - 1911, autumn. Euro-trip.
- 1911. At Polenov’s expense, a school was built in the village of Strakhov, located next to Bekhov.
- 1912. May 31 - opening of the Museum of Fine Arts.
- 1915. According to Polenov’s design, a house was built in Moscow on Presnya for the Section for Assistance to Factory and Village Theaters. Since 1921 – House of Theater Education named after Academician V.D. Polenova.
- 1918-1919. Polenov lived in Bork.
- 1924. First personal exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery for the 80th anniversary of V.D. Polenova.
- 1926. Awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR.
- 1927. July 18 – Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov died. He was buried in the cemetery in Bechovo.
Polenov's paintings
But Polenov’s best paintings are landscapes of central Russia. Many of them were written after 1890 at the Bekhovo estate. He left Moscow here, in a pine forest on the high bank of the Oka, having built a house and workshops according to his own design.
In 1877-1879 Polenov created the Moscow trilogy, which included “Moscow Courtyard”, “Grandma’s Garden” and “Overgrown Pond”.
Painting "Overgrown Pond" written and presented by Polenov at the VII exhibition of the Peredvizhniki in 1879. The audience was delighted: calm, silence and harmony. The painting depicts the pond of the Olsufiev estate on Devichye Pole in Khamovniki, in which Polenov rented an apartment from July 1878 to the fall of 1881. The main house of the estate stood at 11 Bozheninovsky Lane. Now it is Rossolimo Street. The model for the figure of a woman in the depths, among the trees, was the artist’s sister Vera Dmitrievna Khrushcheva (1844-1881). The painting is kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Painting "Golden Autumn" written in 1893. At this time he lived on his estate Bekhovo near Tarusa on the banks of the Oka River. Panoramic view from the high bank. The river, twisting steeply, goes into the distance. “How I would like to show you our Eye,” Polenov wrote to Konstantin Korovin. Today the painting “Golden Autumn” is in the Tula Historical Museum-Reserve named after Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov.
Painting "Old Mill" written by Polenov on the Borok estate, not far from Serpukhov, where he lived for almost half his life. Dated 1880. Sad and enchanting landscape with an old water mill and a fisherman boy. Now the “Old Mill” is kept in the Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum.
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