The History of Russian Fine Arts

(Part 2)

In the 18th century and at the beginning if the 19th century fine arts in Russia, following cultural needs of the society, experiences all the main stages of Western art: Baroque, Classicism, Romanticism. Foreign painters and sculptors play an important role but very talented home masters appear in the time of Elisabeth I.

In the middle of the 18th century academic manner becomes a leading trend in painting. It is characterized by strict manner of painting, by following certain rules in composition, by some conditional character of coloring, by making use of the plots from the Bible, from ancient history and mythology.

The flourishing of an academic school refers to the first half of the 19th century. K.Bryullov's canvas are characterized by the combination of academic Classicism with Romanticism, by novelty of plots, by the theatrical effect of plastic and lighting, by complex composition and by brilliant virtuosity of a painter's brush.

In 1860-1870s the painters showed their interest in the themes connected with people's life. In 1872 in contrast to the Academy of Arts the Association of traveling art exhibition is founded (I.Kramskoy, G.Myasoedov,K.Savitskiy, I.Pryanishnikov, V.Makovskiy, V.Perov, etc).

The appeal to national themes resulted in flourishing of historical and battle painting. V.Surikov, I.Repin, V.Vasnetsov, V.Vereschagin, F.Rubo created real masterpieces in those genres.

Having achieved independence in their creative activity since the end of the 19th century Russian painting follows the same European course of fine arts. Landscape painting is ousting genre painting. Striving for depicting air and light, peculiar to Impressionism, can also be found in the works of F.Vasilyev, I.Levitan, V.Serov, K.Korovin, and A.Arhipov. Symbolism, Neo-classicism and Modern influenced greatly A.Vrubel, the painters from 'World of Arts' (A.Benois, L.Bakst, E.Lansere) and the painters from 'A Blue Rose' (S.Sideikin, N.Krymov, V.Borisov-Musatov). The 1910s are marked by the appearance of Russian vanguard, as an aspiration to rebuild the very essence of art up to the denial of art itself. A number of artists and creative associations set new schools and new trends, which influenced radically the development of world's fine arts - Supermatism (K.Malevich), 'the style of improvisation' and abstract art (V.Kandinskiy).

The Renaissance of Russian vanguard is referred to 1960s. So-called 'allowed', but not the official part of Russian art of the 1960s is represented by the works of the masters of 'severe style' (T.Salakhov, S.Popkov).

Crash of Communism in the USSR destroyed artificial cultural barriers between Russia and the rest of the world. Nowadays Russian art is a welcome visitor almost on every part of the world. This inspires optimism as cross-cultural communication is a real sign showing the state of world's art.

Words

· experience [ɪk'spɪ(ə)rɪəns] – пережить

· academic manner – академизм

· leading trend – ведущее направление

· strict manner of painting – строгая манера прописи

· conditional character of coloring – условный характер нанесения краски

· novelty ['nɒveltɪ] – новизна

· complex composition – сложная композиция

· virtuosity [ˌvɜ:tʃʋ'ɒsɪtɪ] of a brush – виртуозное владение кистью

· appeal [ə'pi:l] to – обращение к

· oust [aʋst] – вытеснить, занять место

· strive for – добиваться, стремиться добиться