200 years ago, on July 17 (29), the great artist Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky was born. As is the case with all outstanding artists, various themes are reflected in his work (and this is about 6 thousand paintings). But, above all, Aivazovsky is known as the singer of the sea. As a marine painter, as well as a battle painter.
The sea is not only landscapes of incredible beauty, pleasing to the eye of anyone who looks into the endless alluring distance. It is also one of the most important sources of Russia's military glory, the arena of numerous battles and great victories of the Russian fleet.
On the canvases of Ivan Konstantinovich - the sea in all its manifestations: now calm, now formidable, stormy; now daytime, now mysterious nighttime; now peaceful, now engulfed in the flames of a fierce battle … Armenian by origin, Aivazovsky, became an artist of world importance, glorifying not only the beauty of the Russian coast, but also the valor of the Russian people; capturing the heroic pages of the history of Russia.
The future painter was born in Feodosia, in the family of the Armenian merchant Gevork (Konstantin) Ayvazyan, who wrote his last name in the Polish manner: Gaivazovsky. At birth, the boy received the name Hovhannes (however, he became known to the whole world under the Russian name: Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky: the artist considered himself inextricably linked with Russian culture).
Aivazovsky's talent began to manifest itself from an early age. The boy was greatly impressed by the uprising of the people of Greece (1821-1829): Hovhannes saw images of this uprising, and he not only carefully examined them, but also redrawn them. In addition, he was fond of playing the violin.
I must say that the father of Hovhannes (Ivan), despite the fact that he was a merchant, was not a wealthy person. After the plague of 1812, he went bankrupt, and the family experienced great financial difficulties. A talented boy often did not even have enough paper, and then he painted with charcoal on the walls of houses. Once such a drawing of him was seen by the Feodosia mayor Alexander Kaznacheev. This man played an important role in the fate of Aivazovsky: thanks to him, the young artist got the opportunity to study. In particular, the architect Yakov Koch, who helped Ivan in every possible way, gave him paints and paper. When Kaznacheev was appointed governor of Tavria and transferred to Simferopol, he took the young man with him and helped to enter the Simferopol gymnasium.
In August 1833, Aivazovsky arrived in St. Petersburg, where he entered the Imperial Academy of Arts (thanks to the same Kaznacheev, he was credited to the state account). First he studied with the landscape painter Maxim Vorobyov. After the first successes of the young painter, the French seascape painter Philip Tanner took on his apprentices. Unfortunately, Tanner turned out to be not the most decent teacher: he wanted to use Ivan only as his assistant and forbade him to work independently. Despite this ban, Aivazovsky ventured to present five of his works at the exhibition of the Academy of Arts in 1836. Tanner, who was jealous of the student, did not find anything better than to complain about him to the Tsar, Nicholas I. He ordered to remove Aivazovsky's paintings from the exhibition. The artist fell into disgrace. However, many influential people stood up for him, including the poet-fabulist Ivan Krylov.
Thanks to the intercession, the artist got the opportunity to continue his education. Six months after the unpleasant story, he was assigned to the battle painting class, where he studied with Alexander Sauerweid. When the young man had two years to study, he was sent for this time to his homeland - to the Crimea - to improve his skills.
Aivazovsky painted not only landscapes. He had a chance to personally attend the hostilities in the Shakhe River valley. There he was inspired by the painting "Troopers of a detachment in the Subashi valley", which Nicholas I personally bought. After that, the emperor wanted Ivan Konstantinovich to praise the exploits of the Russian fleet, and provided him with patronage. In 1839, returning to the capital, Aivazovsky received not only a certificate, but also a personal nobility. Then numerous trips abroad began: to Italy, Switzerland, France, Holland, England, Spain, Portugal … Wherever he visited, his work was highly valued and awarded everywhere.
In 1844, returning to Russia, 27-year-old Aivazovsky became a painter of the Main Naval Staff. In 1845 he decided to settle in his native Feodosia, having built a house on the embankment of this city. Now the main museum of the artist is located there - the famous art gallery, for which this city is mainly famous.
In 1846, the painter went on an expedition led by F. Litke to the shores of Asia Minor. He was impressed by Constantinople and dedicated several canvases to this city.
When the Crimean War began, Aivazovsky went to the thick of events - to besieged Sevastopol. There he organized exhibitions of his work, trying to maintain the morale of the defenders. Subsequently, the defense of this heroic city will become the subject of his paintings. The artist refused to leave Sevastopol, despite the fact that it was becoming more and more dangerous there. He believed that, as a painter of the Main Naval Staff, he should be located exactly where the fateful battle is being fought. Admiral Kornilov, who wanted to save the life of a talented man, even had to issue a special order for Aivazovsky to leave. As a result, he went to Kharkov, where his wife and daughter were at that moment. On the way, he learned the tragic news of the death of Kornilov.
"Battle of Navarino", "Chesme battle", "Sinop battle" (on this topic Aivazovsky has two pictures - day and night), "Brig" Mercury "after the victory over two Turkish ships", "Vyborg naval battle", "Ship" Empress Maria "during a storm", "Siege of Sevastopol", "Capture of Sevastopol", "Malakhov Kurgan" … You can write a separate article about each of these canvases. Better yet, just admire how skillfully the artist depicts not only the greatness of the sea, not only the power and beauty of ships, but also the heroism of the Russian people who are fighting against the elements and with enemies.
For his native Feodosia, Aivazovsky did a lot - he opened an art school there, took care of the construction of a concert hall, a library, and supervised archaeological excavations. Later, due to the fact that the Feodosians were experiencing difficulties with water, an artist-patron with his own money built a fountain with drinking water in the city. He also contributed to the construction of the Feodosia-Dzhankoy railway, as well as the building for the museum of antiquities on Mount Mithridat (unfortunately, during the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis destroyed the museum).
Aivazovsky died at the age of 83, in the spring of 1900, until the last day working on the painting "The Explosion of the Ship". So, unfinished, it is in the Feodosia gallery …
Unfortunately, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Aivazovsky was not without political speculation. The notorious underpresident of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that the great marine painter and battle painter was … a Ukrainian artist. He tried to privatize the great name and use it for his own political purposes. However, nothing will come of this "privatization". Aivazovsky is a global figure, but most of all he is associated with Russia. He sang the praises of the Russian fleet, which all sorts of poroshenko and others like them tried to drive out of Sevastopol (somehow those who accuse Russia of the "annexation of Crimea" are silent about this).
How correctly senator Aleksey Pushkov reacted to Poroshenko's trick, "".
And about the patriot of which country Aivazovsky felt himself, best of all he said himself:
