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Valentin Alexandrovich Serov was born in St. Petersburg in 1865. He lived with his mother in Munich, where he learned to draw first from the German engraver Karl Koepping, then from I.E. Repin.
Serov became friends with Ilya Efimovich, stayed with him in the summer in Abramtsevo, traveled with him in the Crimea, and then in Ukraine.
In 1889 he married Olga Trubnikova. Valentin Alexandrovich began to give private lessons, painted many paintings to order.
He died in 1911 due to an attack of angina, he was only 46 years old. But during his not so long life, he managed to paint many memorable canvases, was a recognized master of portraiture, a famous painter and graphic artist.
Serov’s most famous paintings, their photos, are still recognized and loved, even people who are far from the world of art know their names.
10 Peter I
Painting “Peter Iappeared in 1907. Knebel’s publishing house decided to release a series of historical manual paintings that would be used for teaching schoolchildren. But instead of the usual portrait, the result was a picture full of life and dynamics.
Now this work of the artist is considered one of the best, but once it was little appreciated.
In the center of the canvas, we see the king, who is heading to the site of the construction of his beloved city – St. Petersburg.
There is a terrible and imperious expression on his face, his eyes are burning, his hair is blowing in the wind. The viewer seems to be looking at them from the bottom up. The king is followed by people dressed in foreign dresses. These are the craftsmen who were invited to build the new capital.
In the background we see a construction site, because work has already begun on the construction of the great city.
9. Self portrait
Painting “Self portrait” refers to 1880, it was created in oil on canvas. Here we see a young painter.
The deep, green eyes of the artist are striking. His gaze is attentive, as if reflecting his complex character.
Serov has always been considered a master in creating portraits. The creation of a self-portrait was for him something like a personal exam, which he was able to pass.
8. Grandma with a horse
Serov liked to show rural Russia. But he did not seek to reproduce its wretchedness or emphasize the beauty of nature.
He looked at everything like a realist, and showed the audience simple village pictures, painted with kindness and cordiality.
One of them – “Grandma with a horse“, founded in 1889. We see a cheerful young girl with rosy cheeks. She is standing next to her horse, holding his bridle.
The artist wrote that he wanted to convey the feeling of Russian frost. When he began to paint the picture, he was surrounded by peasants who watched his work and admired his skills.
Later, he said more than once that it was the approval of the common people that allowed him to be proud of his work.
7. Portrait of Maria Akimova
On the painting “Portrait of Maria Akimova“A woman is shown, on whose face one can read the fatigue of the soul, exhaustion.
The result was a masterpiece that amazed contemporaries. Serov managed to feel the difficult fate of a woman and convey his feelings to the audience.
Maria Nikolaevna Akimova really had a difficult life. As soon as she got married, she immediately became a widow, because. her husband, a gambler and a spendthrift, drowned by throwing himself into the river. The woman had to fight off creditors.
She was able to find her happiness only by remarrying. It was at this time that Serov painted her portrait. But she did not live long after that. Experienced misfortunes undermined her health, she soon died due to illness.
6. Portrait of Nicholas II
Created in 1900. Nicholas II decided to give his wife his portrait and ordered it from Valentin Alexandrovich.
Contemporaries believed that he managed to show, first of all, a man, and not a king. His posture is relaxed, in the guise of Nicholas II there is no arrogance or pathos.
Before us is an intelligent man, in whose eyes anxiety and experience are visible. It turned out a “warm” picture.
5. Girl illuminated by the sun
The model for this painting was the artist’s cousin, Masha Simonovich. He decided to write it against the backdrop of the estate in Domotkanovo. The result was a wonderful work, through which Serov tried to convey the feeling of delight and tenderness that he has when he sees real Russian beauty.
The portrait is full of life. We see summer, fragrant, green, the sun plays with rays and warms the earth. Tired of its bright rays, the girl sat under the trees, but even there she could not hide from the sunlight.
It is difficult to take your eyes off the slightly thoughtful, but peaceful look, a bright blush on your cheeks.
Painting “Girl illuminated by the sun“Was one of Serov’s most beloved creations.
4. Abduction of Europa
Painting “Abduction of Europa“was established in 1910. Its plot was taken from mythology.
Zeus fell in love with the daughter of King Agenor Europe. He appeared to her and her friends in the form of a beautiful bull. The girls played with him. And when Europe sat on the back of a bull, he swam with her to Crete. There she became the wife of Zeus.
The idea to paint this picture came to the artist after visiting Crete in 1907, where he studied the remains of the Knossos Palace.
He made a monumental panel. His bull is red, not white, as it was customary to draw him before. The color was not chosen by chance. Against the background of the blue-purple sea, a bright orange spot looks especially expressive.
3. Children
Carotene “Childrenappeared in 1899. It depicts the children of V.A. Serova, two boys, one of whom, Sasha, is 7 years old, and the second, Yura, is 5. They are standing on the terrace of the dacha.
They are very similar to each other, with dark hair that curls and falls on their foreheads, and they are also dressed alike. The older boy looks at the Gulf of Finland, and the younger one looks at the viewer.
Gestures and postures convey the characters of children. The elder brother watches intently, while the younger brother looks ahead dreamily and thoughtfully.
Serov painted this picture for himself. He managed to depict children in natural poses, as well as draw an amazing landscape that conveys the mood of the author: the evening sky, the water surface, heavy clouds.
2. Portrait of Mika Morozov
On the painting “Portrait of Mika Morozov» you see a 4-year-old boy, born in the family of a wealthy industrialist, who was also a famous philanthropist.
When he grew up, he was able to become a famous literary and theater critic, studied the work of William Shakespeare, and was the editor-in-chief of the English-language News magazine.
In the meantime, we see a boy drawn in his favorite chair. He is sitting, but his desire to jump up and run away as quickly as possible is noticeable.
The portrait is very expressive. The eyes are filled with naive playfulness, the child’s mouth is slightly open and, as if he wants to talk about something.
Critics call this picture the anthem of a carefree childhood. Mikhail’s friends have repeatedly noted how the artist accurately depicted the boy, because. the resemblance was evident even as he grew older.
1. Girl with Peaches
It was created in 1887 in the estate of Abramtsev, which belonged to Savva Mamontov. In the portrait we see Vera Mamontova, who was 11 years old at the time. In front of her are 4 peaches.
In 1871, the Mamontovs purchased peach trees, which were planted in their greenhouses. In August, the girl ran into the peach house and sat down at the table. Serov, seeing her, invited her to pose, which she did every day for 2 months.
When the pictureGirl with Peaches“was finished, he gave it to the girl’s mother. The artist admitted that he sought to convey a special freshness that is felt in nature, but is not displayed in the picture.
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