Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov: biography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov is a famous Russian artist. He was called the artist of the sun for his extraordinary passion for depicting this luminary in his works. Many critics and art critics compare Lentulov with Matisse. This man left an indelible mark on the history of Russian and world art.

Beginning of life

The future creator was born on April 16, 1882 in a small village of the Penza province in the priest's house. The father died when the young talent was 2 years old. The mother sincerely wanted her son to also work in the church, and the woman gave him to study the spiritual sciences. However, the future artist did not like this prospect, and he stopped his studies.

Training

After escaping from the seminary, the painter enters the local Penza Art College. Possessing an innate gift, he easily masters the program. After some time, the future talent decides to try his luck in Kyiv, enters an art college. He is expelled from the educational institution in connection with the violent wayward character. The fact is that the student decided to correct the plein air of Professor Seleznev, for which he had to paydeduction.

Returning to the previous place of study, Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov does not lose heart. Receives a certificate in 1905 and goes to St. Petersburg for new opportunities, where he decides to enter the Academy of Arts. The attempt fails. During the exam, the professor made a remark to Lentulov, the teacher considered it inappropriate to use a green tint in writing a human face. To which the applicant replied: “Don’t you see green there? In that case, I feel sorry for you! The professor's reaction was quite predictable. But this incident also benefited the young creator, he was noticed by Dmitry Kardovsky and offered to attend lectures on a free basis, without enrollment and issuance of a diploma.

Young talent continues to improve, in 1910 he was waiting for a new institution of higher education in France - the Academy of Fine Arts La Palette. The ideas of cubism are revealed to him, which in the future will greatly affect the works of Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov. The training continued until 1912, after which the painter returned to Russia.

Jack of Diamonds

In 1908 the artist decides to move to Moscow. In the capital, together with Mikhail Larionov and David Burliuk, he is working on the organization of the exhibition "Jack of Diamonds", which presented works of art of a new genre. The creators expressed an open protest against the realistic images of that time. Even the name sounded unusual. Larionov himself argued: “Too many pretentious names … as a protest, wedecided, the worse, the better … what could be more ridiculous than the "Jack of Diamonds"? For fortune tellers, this card symbolized youth and beauty, while for convicts, on the contrary, it was an ephemism. They decided to give such a dual designation to their event. This was the first show of the new generation of paintings.

The artists touched the attention of the public, there were more than two hundred visitors. This breathed life into not just an exhibition, but into a full-fledged art organization. In the future, Malevich, Kandinsky, and Goncharova will join her.

It was a whole community with its charter, goals and objectives. They made various reports and performances, sought to enlighten the modern public in matters of fine arts.

For the people of diamonds, the still life has become a favorite genre, and the tray has become one of the main distinguishing objects in the picture.

Some representatives of this movement could write several finished paintings in a week. This is due to the fact that they neglected proportions and perspective, which greatly speeded up the work process.

There were exhibited not only paintings by Russian contemporaries, but also avant-garde works by foreign colleagues. Such events were very popular.

The society existed for six years and broke up due to disagreements between the members. Its continuation is the organization "Moscow painters", where, of course, Aristarkh Vasilyevich joined in due time.

Years of creativity

In 1907 he makes new acquaintances with such famous people as NatalyaGoncharova, Nikolai Kulbin, David and Nikolai Burliuk. Takes part in the first exhibition for him called "Wreath".

In 1908 Lentulov Aristarkh Vasilyevich finished the painting "Portrait of Four". In addition, he creates landscapes and plein air.

While in Paris, he changes his style, gets to know the Puteaux community. The Academy of La Palette, where the painter studied, was led by the cubists J. Metzinger and Le Fauconnier, Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov makes acquaintances with these people. The artist is amazed by such a direction as cubism, and he is actively mastering this style. Establishes friendly communication with Fernand Léger and Henri le Fauconnier. At that time, the painter was fascinated by the work of Eugene Delacroix and Theodore Géricault, and the French artist Robert Delaunay had a special influence.

Upon arrival from Paris, Lentulov improved the art of painting even more. He writes freely, simply, defiantly. Of course, you can see the similarities with his foreign friends. In 1912, the painting "Allegory of War" was painted. One of the students, looking at this work, said: "I will voluntarily go to jail for 2 weeks if the author explains what is depicted here." The Creator accepted the challenge, but, alas… the young man did not appear in court. In those years, society accepted such art with caution, since for a Russian person it was something new and still unknown.

From 1912 to 1914, Aristarkh Vasilyevich was actively interested in shapeless still lifes and landscapes of Moscow.

Over time, his works become more and moreclear forms. But cubism lives in the creator until the end of life. The author also depicts the sun in almost all of his works, this is a hallmark of Lentulov. Each of his paintings is filled with light. As the creator himself admitted, some were copied from life, which almost deprived the artist of his sight.

In 1915 he creates his self-portrait "The Great Artist". The portrait absolutely corresponds to reality, the creator in life was the same good-natured, broad-shouldered, clumsy hero. And the colors of the work convey the very sun that came from inside him.

The 1917 revolution was also reflected in the painter's canvases. Based on the emotions caused by the February events, he paints the picture “Peace. Celebration. Liberation.”

The most famous work of the early 20s is another self-portrait. It was already more restrained, but still filled with cubism.

20-30s Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov completely changes his style. It is believed that this is a normal transition to maturity and there is nothing special about it. Now his canvases are written in the style of socialist realism. However, critics note that the sun seems to have gone out of the works.

In 1933 the first exhibition of the artist took place. Unfortunately, this was the only such event that took place during the life of Aristarkh Vasilyevich.

Private life

In 1908, after moving to Moscow, the Cubist married a young girl, Maria Rukina, with whom he was happy throughout his life.

He had an only daughter, Marianna Lentulova, who followed in her father's footsteps and delved into art. Only inunlike Aristarchus, she is an art critic.

This is how the personal life of the famous creator went. Without much adventure and stories.

Paintings

Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov "Night at the Patriarch's Ponds". The famous work, painted in 1928, is currently in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Auction canvas "Church in Alupka". The painting sold for $3.5 million in 2013.

Another popular work written in 1913 is also in the Tretyakov Gallery. Aristarkh Vasilievich Lentulov "Moscow". About this picture they wrote in one of the modern American magazines: "This is the best image of Moscow". Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov would be pleased with such popularity of this masterpiece, as he considered it one of his best works.

Images of a Generation, a painting auctioned for $1.5 million in 2011.

"Sunset on the Volga" Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov. Year of creation 1928.

In 1915, another sunny landscape in the cubist style was painted. "Nebosvod - Decorative Moscow" Aristarkh VasilyevichLentulov.

Unusual author's style

Even in his early work, pure colors dominate. To enhance the impression of the work, the author adds shreds of fabric, pieces of foil and colored paper.

Alexander Benois himself noticed the talent of Aristarkh Vasilyevich. The critic said that these works amuse the soul and heart.

Lentulov's paintings are filled not only with light, but also with sound. Looking at them, one gets the feeling that the city will now come to life and buzz in the bustle of everyday life. Music filled the canvases for a reason. The author had the talent not only to draw, but also had excellent musical abilities. He always hummed while he worked. Marianne claimed that her father could perform an entire aria by heart, while creating another masterpiece.

Teaching

Since 1918, the artist has become a teacher. He taught at the Stroganov School and had a workshop in VKhUTEM under his supervision. He was also a member of the Collegium of Fine Arts of the People's Commissariat for Education.

Theatre

Lentulov is getting closer to the theater, he is getting closer to director Tairov and actress Koonen.

The play "Tales of Hoffmann" becomes his first design practice. Having received approval after the first attempt, he takes on the second.

The scenery for A. Rubinstein's opera "The Demon" becomes his next work. The premiere took place in 1919 and was a success for a long time. Six years later, the layouts took a prize at the International Exhibition.

End of life

In 1941, when the Germans were advancing, people were evacuated from Moscow. Lentulov rode along with the workersculture. However, at the very beginning of the journey, he became very ill and left the crew, along with his family. They stopped in Ulyanovsk, where they lived for a whole year. Then they returned to the capital, where the painter underwent a serious operation. On April 15, 1943, the famous Russian painter Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov left us.