Russian artist Fedotov Pavel Andreevich: biography and creativity

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

The great Russian artist Pavel Fedotov is considered the founder of critical realism in the painting of those times. He was one of the first to depict true life in its natural form, conveying true feelings and emotions, without embellishment. The artist painted the reality around him since childhood, because he grew up on the outskirts of Zamoskvorechye. Everything depicted on the canvases was the fruit of his childhood and youthful observations.

Paintings by the artist Pavel Fedotov are kept in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Russian Museum of St. Petersburg, so you can come and admire the works of a true master, an academician of painting who has achieved national recognition, despite a difficult fate. The article will discuss the biography of the great master, consider his path to recognition, his famous paintings and drawings. Curious facts about the difficult life of the master will also be given.

Biography

Fedotov Pavel Andreevich was born into a very poor large family in Moscow on June 22, 1815. His father, Andrei Illarionovich, served in the army in his youth under Catherine and, retiring, received the rank of lieutenant and a title of nobility, then became poor and served as a titularadviser. His mother, Natalya Alekseevna Kalashnikova, raised the children and ran the household. The family lived in poverty in a small wooden house. Children, including little Pavel, spent whole days without much supervision in the street, in the hayloft, and in the winter cold they hid in a sledge in the yard. It was at this carefree time that the future artist Pavel Fedotov captured the patriarchal customs of local residents, the images of which he later embodied on his canvases.

Study in the cadet corps

At the age of 11, his father sends Fedotov Jr. to study at the First Moscow Cadet Corps. The boy studied diligently, showed good abilities in mathematics and chemistry, although often teachers could see their portraits in the margins of notebooks, moreover, in a caricature image. But this did not stop the young man from completing the course with honors. According to the tradition of the educational institution, his name was entered on the marble plaque of honor in the assembly hall of the building. Pavel Fedotov received the rank of non-commissioned officer, and already in 1832 he was promoted to sergeant major. A year later, he was already an ensign and served in the St. Petersburg regiment.

The desire to draw did not leave the young officer even during the years of service, so he decided to attend drawing lessons at the Academy of Arts in the evenings. At first, it was hard for him to rebuild from the usual caricatures to real realistic portraits, for which he often got hit by the great Bryullov. But over time, the teachers saw the student's talent and paid special attention to it.

The family of the artist Pavel Fedotov lived in poverty and asked for materialhelp, so in the evenings, the loving son not only studied the forms of the human body from plaster sculptures and took lessons at the Academy, but also painted small watercolors with portraits of colleagues and Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, which were sold out well. He sent this money to his relatives in Moscow.

The painting "Meeting the Grand Duke"

In the summer of 1837, Pavel Fedotov witnessed an event that shook him to the core and gave impetus to writing his first famous painting, which marked the beginning of his artistic career. The Grand Duke came to the regiment after treatment abroad. The guards, who adored him and worried about his state of he alth, ran out in a noisy crowd to meet him. The picturesqueness of the situation made a deep impression on the young man, and he set about painting the canvas. In just 3 months, he painted his famous painting "Meeting the Grand Duke". In order not to distract the master from working on the canvas, he was given leave for the first time in his service life.

The Grand Duke rewarded the young officer with a diamond ring for this work. Impressed by such gratitude from the brother of the sovereign, the artist paints another canvas called "The Consecration of the Banners in the Winter Palace, renovated after the fire." Since the poor officer was in great need financially, he decided to show the still unfinished picture to the prince. He submitted it to the court of the sovereign, the august brother signed a decree on the issuance of a "drawing" officer a monthly allowance of 100rubles in banknotes.

This was a turning point in the fate and work of Pavel Andreevich Fedotov. He submitted a letter of resignation and already in 1844 was dismissed from the regiment with the rank of captain. At first he paints battle scenes, but over time he comes to the conclusion that he prefers genre painting. Natural observation and a sharp mind enable the author to embody in his paintings the atmosphere of life and the characteristic features of people of various classes. At that time, there really was a lack of realism in Russian painting, which is why both eminent masters and ordinary people liked the artist's canvases.

Fresh Cavalier

One of the first paintings that received recognition from the strict teacher and all-powerful in those years, Bryullov, was a canvas called "Fresh Cavalier" or "Morning of an official who received the cross." It was written in 1846 in the genre of satirical realism. It ridicules the arrogance and pride of an official who received the smallest award at that time - an order. The comicality of the image is conveyed in the squalid atmosphere of a dirty room with things scattered on the floor and furniture.

The order is attached directly to an old dressing gown, hairpins from pieces of a rag are wound around the head. The uniform hangs on a chair, a piece of cut sausage lies on the table, and fish leftovers lie under it.

Servant girl takes the master's bragging with humor and continues to do her job.

Comic gives a contrast between the facial expression and the appearance of a man standing on the floor barefoot. Hedreams of a high position in society, tries to look beautiful and well-groomed, while having no means. Adds a satire of a cat tearing the upholstery of a chair in the foreground with its claws.

The Picky Bride

One of the famous paintings by Pavel Fedotov is considered to be "The Picky Bride" painted in 1847. Against the backdrop of the room's perfectly traced furnishings, a couple is visible - no longer a young woman, in front of whom a hunchback in expensive outfits stands in a pleading pose. The girl makes an indifferent and condescending face, but in her heart she has long decided to give consent to this marriage. After all, the age of the bride is far from being young, and the groom, although hunchbacked, can be seen from his clothes that he is not poor.

Her parents are watching closely. The author sees the comic in the contrast of images. Outwardly, an ugly groom has true feelings and nobility, while the lady has the opposite - the beauty of her face hides an arrogant and capricious nature.

For the above paintings, the artist Pavel Fedotov was awarded the title of academician. He was given a good cash allowance, and he was able to continue painting the picture that became his most recognizable creation in the world.

The painting "Major's Matchmaking"

The work was written in 1848, and after being presented at the exhibition, Fedotov's name became widely known. All the newspapers wrote about him. Based on his painting, the artist composed a poem that reflects the whole meaning of the plot. Although the author's poems were not published anywhere, his friends considered him talented andthis kind of creativity.

In the painting "Major's Matchmaking", the artist depicted an event inherent in his time. A rich bride, the daughter of a merchant, is given in marriage by agreement to a poor nobleman who has a title. The bride, seeing the groom, tries to run away in horror, her strict mother keeps her in the room. Standing aside is the father, pleased with the bargain. Feelings are out of the question.

The positive meaning of Pavel Fedotov's work consisted in ridiculing such outdated traditions, when parents literally sold their daughter for titles and we alth. Contemporaries approved of his satire, and newspapers took up the painful topic of wedding deals in articles.

Breakfast on the table

Another satirical work by the artist, describing the customs and life of the people of that era, written in 1849-1850s. The painting received another name from the story "Breakfast of an Aristocrat", after reading which the artist decided to convey the plot on canvas.

The young aristocrat has spent all his money playing cards or ladies. He is ashamed to admit to poverty and lose status in front of friends. He does not dare to sell something from the environment, alleviating his need, as he can be seen through and expelled from his circle. So he secretly eats a piece of black bread for breakfast.

He was terribly frightened by the sudden appearance of a guest on the threshold. He has already pushed back the curtain and is about to enter the room. The owner is trying to hide his "shame",covering the bread with a book. His face shows fear, he does not know if his guest saw the situation or everything worked out.

The artist perfectly conveyed the feelings experienced by the young socialite dude. This is the fear of exposure, complete confusion and fear for your reputation. The picture aroused great interest among the audience, because everyone could dream up and think out the end of the story to their taste.

Widow

The picture was painted by the artist in 1851. Before describing the picture, it is necessary to touch on the state of mind of the author during this period. His satirical works aroused unprecedented public interest, but at the same time they were censored by the authorities. Patrons began to turn away from him, who helped him cope with the material costs for creative work. Fedotov begins to reflect on the fatal absurdity of life. Under the influence of sad thoughts, he writes his sad "Widow".

The author took the plot of the future picture from life. His sister Lyuba, who was poor and unhappy in marriage, has her husband die, leaving her with many debts. In addition, the girl is expecting a baby, which aggravates her anxiety and sadness.

The artist tried to convey the state of mind of a young woman, all the fear and hopelessness of her situation, but the conveyed sadness on his face did not satisfy him in any way. Fedotov rewrote the picture 4 times, never finding harmony in his soul. However, contemporaries received as many as 4 copies of the author's creation.

Unfinished Masterpiece

Painting by Pavel Andreevich Fedotov"Anchor, more anchor!" considered unfinished. It was written in 1852. This last work of the author is dedicated to the boring and miserable existence of a soldier. The whole situation speaks of poverty and despondency. A tired man lies on the bed, and the only entertainment he has is a dog. He put a stick on her and watches as she executes his "Anchor!" command, that is, jumping over it back and forth.

The picture is a little blurry, but encourages closer consideration and reflection.

Artist's disease

Pavel Fedotov painted a huge number of paintings in such a short period of his work, many of his works are portraits to order or portraits of loved ones. His sketches in pencil are also kept, which depict everyday scenes from the life of ordinary people.

The subtle nature of the artist experienced strong stress, which affected his he alth. Relatives began to notice his frequent despondency and silence. In 1852, he showed signs of a mental disorder. Friends placed him in a clinic for the mentally ill, and the sovereign, having learned about the condition of the artist, allocated funds for his maintenance in the hospital in the amount of 500 rubles.

Death of a great master

Despite all efforts, the disease progressed rapidly, and within six months Pavel Fedotov, Academician of Painting, died in the Hospital of All Who Sorrow on Peterhof Highway. He was buried at the Smolensk cemetery in the uniform of an officer, and not a single newspaperannounced his death. Only in 1936 he was reburied in the necropolis of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and immortalized with a pedestal.

However, the paintings of the outstanding master will delight and amaze with their realism for many more generations of art lovers.