Which peoples are Slavic? Which Slavic peoples are the “purest”
On February 27, 1831, exactly 185 years ago, a son was born into a family of large landowners - Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge, who was destined to become an outstanding Russian artist..
Origin
It's hard to avoid this unusual surname, the bearers of which became famous, by the way, not only in painting, but also in the theatrical field, such as, for example, younger brother Nikolai Ge - Ivan. The origin of the surname is explained quite trivially: Nikolai Ge’s grandfather, who bore the surname Gay, emigrated to Russia from France in late XVIII century. Ge's ancestors, thanks to their high origins, almost immediately received the title of hereditary nobles Russian Empire.
Difficult childhood
Nikolai Ge was born in Voronezh in 1831, at a time when cholera was rampant in the central provinces of the Russian Empire. A serious illness did not bypass the house of hereditary nobles: Nikolai Ge’s mother died when the boy was only three months old. From that moment until Ge entered the First Kyiv Gymnasium, that is, for ten years, Nikolai was raised by a serf nanny chosen by the father of the future artist.
Makings of an artist
Young Nikolai's ability to draw appeared already during his studies in Kyiv, but his father had already made a decision for his son: after graduating from high school, Nikolai entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Kyiv University.
Imperial Academy of Arts
A natural craving for art literally forced Nikolai to move to his brother in the capital, to St. Petersburg, where he, however, was forced to continue studying at the Faculty of Mathematics, but at St. Petersburg University. Life in St. Petersburg gave Nikolai the opportunity to go to the Hermitage almost every day and study best samples paintings of those years. After two years of such campaigns, Nikolai could not stand it - he left the university and entered the Imperial Academy of Arts.
Courage Award
At the Academy of Arts, Nikolai Ge became one of the most diligent students: day after day he painted, trying to copy the styles different artists, especially Karl Bryullov. Seven years later, Ge’s efforts were appreciated: in 1857, Nikolai received a large gold medal for his work “Saul at the Sorceress of Endorsk”, which gave him the right to go abroad at the expense of the Academy. Nikolai did not fail to take advantage of this chance and soon was traveling around Germany, France and Italy. Such travelers from the Academy were then called “pensioners,” because for six years, while artists or sculptors improved their craft, the Academy paid them a pension, or allowance.
“Saul at the Witch of Endorsk”, 1856
"The Triumph of Materialism and Nihilism"
It is precisely this characteristic among Russian critics was awarded the painting over which Ge for a long time worked in Florence. A very strange situation happened with “The Last Supper”: censorship officially prohibited the reproduction of this painting in copies (due to the unconvincing image of Christ), but the original itself was acquired by Alexander II for his personal collection. For The Last Supper, the Academy awarded Nikolai Ge the title of professor, bypassing the title of academician.
« last supper", 1863
Country life
Radical fracture in life philosophy Nicholas Ge happened in 1875: then the artist suddenly decided that art cannot serve as a means of life, but this means can only be rural labor. For four years, the artist practically did not work on his paintings, using a brush only out of dire need and painting portraits of local rich people from the Chernigov province. In 1880, Ge decided to write something else: in his painting “Mercy,” the artist violated all the then existing canons of the image of Christ (he depicted Jesus in the form of a beggar), for which, in fact, he received negative reviews experts.
“What is truth?”, 1890
Until recently, no one knew about future fate paintings, but experts Tretyakov Gallery using an x-ray discovered under one of the most famous paintings Ge - “What is truth?” - just the failed work “Mercy”.
Master of portrait, religious and historical paintings, one of the Itinerant artists.
Portrait of Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge by artist Nikolai Yaroshenko
Artist Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge was born in February 1831 in the city of Voronezh, in the family of landowner Nikolai Ge, whose ancestors emigrated to Russia from France at the end of the eighteenth century.
Three months after the birth of Nikolai Nikolaevich, his mother died of cholera and the worries of raising the child fell on the shoulders of a serf nanny. Up to 10 years future artist lived in the village, and in 1841 he entered the First Kyiv Gymnasium, where teachers immediately noted the gymnasium student’s outstanding drawing abilities and predicted the future of a great artist for him.
However, after graduating from high school, at the insistence of his father, Nikolai Ge entered the Kiev University at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Soon Nikolai Nikolaevich moved to St. Petersburg, to live with his older brother, under the pretext of continuing his studies at St. Petersburg University. Ge regularly attended lectures at the university, and in free time studied painting in drawing classes at the Hermitage.
In 1850, Nikolai Nikolaevich left the university and entered the Academy of Arts. Seven years later, in 1857, Nikolai Ge graduated from the academy with a Great Gold Medal and with great pleasure used the right to travel abroad at state expense. Subsequently, the artist said that he was “suffocating in Tsarist Russia.”
Ge visited almost all countries Central Europe, and in Rome I met the Russian artist A. Ivanov, whose work simply amazed Nikolai Nikolaevich, and had a very deep impact on all subsequent creative destiny painter.
The young artist was more interested in portrait painting, and after this acquaintance he began to write sketches of biblical and historical topics.
In 1860, the artist left Rome and settled in Florence. It was in Florence that he began to write The Last Supper. In 1863, Nikolai Ge presented this painting at the autumn exhibition in St. Petersburg Academy. The canvas simply amazed the public, and the official press called it “a triumph of materialism and nihilism.” Censorship prohibited reproduction of the painting in copies. However, he acquired “The Last Supper” for his personal collection Russian Emperor. And the artist, for this painting, was awarded the title of professor and, bypassing the title of academician, he was elected a full member of the Imperial Academy of Arts.
last supper
Nikolai Ge did not live long in St. Petersburg and soon, at the beginning of 1864, returned to Florence, where he began to write sketches on evangelical subjects with renewed energy. A portrait of A. Herzen, who had already been declared a state criminal, was also painted in Florence. Painting a portrait of a political emigrant for a professor and member of the Imperial Academy was a dangerous undertaking. It was easy to be deprived of both titles and, what was important, the official salaries assigned for these titles.
In 1867, the artist exhibited his painting “Messengers of the Resurrection” at the next exhibition at the St. Petersburg Academy, but this painting was not accepted for the exhibition. The artist’s friends exhibit this work by Nikolai Ge at the Art Club, but the painting is not successful with the public. The same fate befell the painting “Christ in the Garden of Gethsima.”
Sunday Messengers
Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane
In 1869, Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge returned to St. Petersburg and began to actively work with the Partnership of Mobile art exhibitions" For the first traveling exhibition the artist painted the canvas “Peter I interrogates Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich in Peterhof” - the painting was very warmly received by the public and was soon acquired by Pavel Tretyakov for the gallery.
Peter I interrogates Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich in Peterhof
For six years, from 1869 to 1875, the artist worked in St. Petersburg, painted portraits of “famous Russian intellectuals,” and created several canvases on historical themes. However, his paintings are not successful.
Financial problems force Nikolai Ge to leave St. Petersburg and settle in a small village in the Chernigov province. The artist decided to leave painting and take up issues of morality and religion.
However, it is difficult financial situation forced him to paint “custom” portraits for local wealthy citizens who were willing to pay for the work of the famous metropolitan artist. Ge writes a number of works on religious topics, but these works are not accepted by both critics and society. I don’t accept paintings in Russia; they are not successful outside the empire, where Nikolai Nikolaevich’s friends take them.
Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge died on his farm in June 1894.
Paintings by artist Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge
Conscience. Judas
The Sorceress of Endor summons the shadow of Samuel
Christ and Pilate. What is the truth?
Transportation of marble in Carrara
Portrait of the poet N.A. Nekrasova
Crucifixion
Portrait of L.N. Tolstoy
Portrait of the artist's wife A.P. Ge
Bridge in Vico
Leila and Hadji Abrek
Self-portrait
Portrait of Nikolai Ge, the artist’s grandson
Portrait of N.I. Kostomarova
Portrait of the writer and public figure E.O. Likhacheva
Portrait of an unknown woman in a blue blouse
Portrait of M.P. Gabaeva
The exit of Christ with his disciples from the Last Supper in Gethsemane
Portrait of Sofia Andreevna Tolstoy with her daughter Alexandra
Tsar Boris and Queen Martha
Sea bay in Livorno
(1831-1894)
Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge, a famous Russian painter, master of portraits, historical and religious paintings, was born on February 27, 1831 in Voronezh, in the family of a landowner. The artist's grandfather was a French emigrant who came to Russia at the end of the 18th century. Nikolai spent his childhood in the village, and in 1841 he was brought to Kyiv, where he entered the First Kyiv Gymnasium. After graduating from high school, Ge entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Kyiv University, and a year later transferred to St. Petersburg University. In 1850 he abandoned science and entered the Academy of Arts, where he studied in the workshop of P. Basin. Ge graduated from the Academy with a large gold medal for his work “Saul at the Witch of Endor” in 1857 and was sent abroad. During six years of travel, he visited Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. Ge paints portraits, and also tries to take on historical themes, making sketches (“The Death of Virginia” (1857), “The Love of a Vestal Virgin” (1858), “The Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem” (1858)). But Ge does not like his work, and he makes a trip to Naples, where he again begins to write many sketches from life. In 1860 he moved to Florence. Nikolai Nikolaevich returned to St. Petersburg in 1863 and presented his painting “The Last Supper” at the exhibition. The work made a deep impression on the public, and the artist was awarded the title of professor of historical and portrait painting, without the title of academician. At the beginning of 1864 Ge returned to Florence, where he began to write sketches on gospel stories(“Christ and Mary, sister of Lazarus”, “Brothers of the Savior”, etc.), and also takes on a new big picture"Messengers of the Resurrection". At this time, he met and became close to Herzen and painted his portrait in 1867. In 1867 Nikolai Nikolaevich finished his painting “Messengers of the Resurrection” and sent it to an exhibition Academy of Arts, but they don’t accept it there. His new work, “Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane,” is also not successful. In 1870 Ge returned to St. Petersburg. There he began to paint pictures based on subjects from Russian history. At the first exhibition of the Itinerants in 1871, he exhibited his painting “Peter I interrogating Tsarevich Alexei in Peterhof,” which turned out to be quite successful. In 1875 Ge left St. Petersburg forever and went to Ukraine, where he bought a small farm. He abandons art for a while and becomes interested in issues of religion and morality. In 1882 Ge met L.N. Tolstoy in Moscow, and in 1884 he painted his portrait. Then followed new row paintings on religious subjects- “Exit from the Last Supper” (1889), “What is truth?” (1890), Judas (Conscience) (1891), Sanhedrin (1892) and The Crucifixion. At the same time, he painted portraits of his contemporaries, as well as a self-portrait. Ge makes illustrations for L.N. Tolstoy’s story “How People Live” and sculpts a bust of the writer. His fate latest works turned out quite dramatically: he destroyed the painting “Mercy” (1880); the work “Exit from the Last Supper” (1889) was criticized by church censorship; painting "What is truth?" Christ and Pilate" (1890) was removed from the exhibition for blasphemy in the depiction of Christ; He destroyed the first version of “The Crucifixion” (1892), and another version of “The Crucifixion” was banned for display by the emperor at the beginning of 1894 Alexander III, and Ge showed it only in his apartment, etc. Ge died on his farm on June 13, 1894.
A. S. Pushkin in the village of Mikhailovskoye.
Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge- famous Russian painter, master of portraits, historical and religious paintings, and skilled landscape painter.
Nikolay Ge was bornFebruary 27, 1831in Voronezh, in the family of a landowner. Early childhood Nicholas passed in the village, and in 1841 he was brought to Kyiv, where he entered the First Kyiv Gymnasium. After graduating from high school, he entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, first at Kyiv University, then at St. Petersburg University. In 1850, Nikolai Ge left the university and entered the Academy of Arts, where he studied under the guidance of P. Basin. Ge spent seven years at the academy. For his work “Achilles mourns Patroclus” he received a small gold medal in 1855.
Achilles mourning Patroclus. 1855.
From this canvas, not only the echo of the biblical drama reaches the viewer - the year before, Nicholas I died, and the prophet on the canvas predicts the imminent death of the mythical despot Saul (the Russian Tsar was likened to him in Herzen’s “The North Star”). Ge gave the menacing shadow of the prophet Samuel the features of the beloved critic Belinsky in the picture. Ge showed that he is not only a born colorist, but also a master who is able to experience the fruits of fantasy with his own heart. For the canvas, the artist was awarded a large gold medal, which gave him the right to stay abroad for six years as a pensioner of the Academy of Arts.In Paris on it strong impression produced the Salon of 1857 and posthumous exhibition Fields of Delaroche. In Rome he met Alexander Ivanov.
Portrait of the artist's wife A.P. Ge. 1858.
Nikolay Gefor a whilegives up work on historical topics and paints from life, makes a trip to Naples, where he writes many sketches. In 1860 he left Rome and moved to Florence. In 1861, Ge began writing “The Last Supper,” and in 1863 he brought it to St. Petersburg and exhibited it at the autumn exhibition at the Academy of Arts.The picture created a sensation close to that, which Bryullov once produced with his canvas “The Last Day of Pompeii”.
All of St. Petersburg flocked to the exhibition at the Academy of Arts. The novelty of the approach to the mythical event that struck everyone was its radical rethinking. Gyo robbed the gospel story of its ecclesiastical meaning, and the images of the apostles - its canonical spirituality. Christ turned out to be a man and only a man to the artist; moreover, he blasphemously acquired portrait likeness with the publisher of "The Bell" Herzen. And in the indignant Apostle Peter the author of the unusual “religious” picture was recognized. But even more unexpected was the image of Judas. The master did everything to make it happen actor turned out to be “titanic” (Gyo’s own expression). Later, revealing his plan, Gyo said that at the Last Supper there occurs “a gap between one student and a beloved teacher, the gap that occurs among us from generation to generation, from century to century.”Ge's painting made a strong impression on the public. For “The Last Supper” Ge received the title of professor, bypassing the title of academician.
Last Supper. 1866.
At the beginning of 1864, Ge returned to Florence, wrote many sketches on gospel subjects (“Christ and Mary, sister of Lazarus,” “Brothers of the Savior,” and others), and began a new large painting, “Messengers of the Resurrection.” During this stay in Florence, Ge met and became close to Herzen and painted his portrait in 1867.Herzen readily agreed to pose and, as Ge recalled, came to the sessions with “German precision.” Herzen noted in the letter that Ge was painting his portrait in Rembrandt’s style, and this casual phrase had a deep meaning. The artist deliberately chose the half-length type of portrait, focused attention only on the face, excluding even the image of hands, and created a portrait biography outstanding personality who is at the turning point of her life. He saw the wonderful past of an aristocrat who became a fighter and the bleak present of an emigrant, cut off from his roots and increasingly less understood by his homeland.
In 1867, Nikolai Ge completed his painting “Messengers of the Resurrection”, andNikolayGe sends her to an exhibition at the Academy of Arts, but she is not accepted there. The artist's friends exhibit his painting in an art club, but it is not successful. The same fate befell his new work, “Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.”
In the Garden of Gethsemane. 1869.
In 1870, Nikolai Ge returned to St. Petersburg. Failure with it latest paintings on religious themes forced Ge to leave such stories for a while, and he again turned to history, this time Russian, dear and close to him. At the first exhibition of the Itinerants in 1871, Ge exhibited the painting “Peter I interrogating Tsarevich Alexei in Peterhof.”
Peter I interrogates Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich in Peterhof. 1871.
According to Ge’s memoirs, he conceived the idea of the painting after returning to Russia after ten years of living in Italy. “... I returned from there a perfect Italian, seeing everything in Russia in a new light. I felt in everything and everywhere the influence and trace of Peter’s reform. This feeling was so strong that I involuntarily became interested in Peter and, under the influence of this passion, conceived this painting.” Psychologism, the confrontation of two worldviews, makes the picture tense and forces you to peer into it. There is no division into “positive” and “negative” heroes. “While painting the picture, I had sympathy for Peter,” said the artist. - But then, after studying many documents, I saw that there could be no sympathy. I inflated my sympathy for Peter, said that his public interests were higher than the feelings of his father, and this justified cruelty, but killed the ideal...” Ge achieved the main thing: the death sentence is ready to be signed not by the crowned executioner, who is free from doubts, but by the father, wounded to the very heart , a politician who has weighed everything, but is still a hesitant person. Russian historical painting has never known such multidimensional characters.
Portrait of A.G. Slyusareva. (Gapka with oxen). 1875.
In the portrait is Agafya Ignatievna Slyusareva, later the wife of N. N. Ge, the artist’s son
Portrait of A.A. Potekhin. 1876
The portrait of playwright A. A. Potekhin is the last canvas of the St. Petersburg cycle. The author of “peasant” dramas, a man who experienced a lot, who knew the Russian village firsthand - this is Potekhin on canvas. It’s as if some internal strings are stretched to the limit, a heavy knotted hand with swollen veins is tightly grabbed by another, eyebrows are convulsively drawn together - this is the most intense image of Ge of the 1870s, full of tragic anguish. The calm thoroughness of the pictorial manner has exhausted itself here; one more step and it will explode.
Late paintings by Nikolai Ge
In 1875, Nikolai Ge left St. Petersburg forever and moved to Ukraine, where he bought a small farm. In 1884 Ge painted a portraitL. N. Tolstoy,whom he metin Moscow in1882 .
This was followed by a new series of paintings by Ge on religious subjects - “Exit from the Last Supper” (1889), “What is truth?” (1890), “Judas” (Conscience) (1891), “Sanhedrin” (1892) and “The Crucifixion” in several versions.
"What is truth?" Christ and Pilate. 1890.
Ge inwas the first to paint a picture-parable. Everything in it is exaggerated, even poster-like, the conflict is exposed. The artist broke not only with the church, but also with the centuries-old pictorial canon- “it is impossible to paint a “beautiful” Christ after tens of thousands of Christs, Hussians, and Bruns have been burned and killed.” Again his canvas aroused furious controversy. “How could it happen that the government allowed the public exhibition of a blasphemous picture, deeply offending religious feelings, and at the same time undoubtedly tendentious,” he wroteChief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod of PobedonostsevAlexander III. Ge's painting "What is truth?" soonwasprohibited. TolstoyI liked the pictureand he persuaded Tretyakov to buy it, but the painting remained in storage for a long time.
At this time, Ge painted portraits of Likhacheva, Kostychev, N.I. Petrunkevich, and a self-portrait. He makes drawings for L. N. Tolstoy’s story “How People Live” and sculpts a bust of L. N. Tolstoy.
Self-portrait. 1893.
Road in the forest.
Bridge in Vico
Portrait of N.I. Kostomarov. 1870.
The outstanding Russian painter Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge became a generally recognized master of portraiture, as well as the creation of canvases on historical and evangelical subjects. An artist of extraordinary talent, he took a strong place in history Russian art as a representative of the then new realistic direction.
Childhood and youth
Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge, the artist whose portrait is presented at the beginning of the article, was born on February 27, 1831 on the Ivanovsky farm in the Chernigov province, into a landowner family. He owes his surname, which is unusual for Russian ears, to his grandfather, who immigrated from France at the end of the 18th century. In the original it is written - Gay. The birth of the child coincided with a terrible cholera epidemic that raged in many Russian provinces and claimed the life of his mother when Nikolai was first born. From that time on, all care of him was entrusted to one of his father’s serf women.
According to the traditions of that era, its elementary education the boy received a home, and was later brought to Kyiv, where he entered the gymnasium. There is evidence that already at that time teachers noted his extraordinary talent for drawing, but his father had other plans for him. After graduating from high school, he strongly recommends that his son enroll in the Faculty of Mathematics at Kiev University.
From university to the Academy of Arts
Nikolai did not dare to resist his father’s will, but he chose St. Petersburg University as his place of study, not Kiev, where he was enrolled in the Faculty of Mathematics. However, this was not what Nikolai Ge dreamed of. An artist, and not a mathematician, lived in his soul and declared himself more and more clearly. He spent all his free time from classes in the Hermitage, copying paintings by recognized masters.
The result was quite predictable - in 1850 Nikolai left the university and became a student. Here he ended up in the class of an excellent teacher, and a very famous St. Petersburg artist in those years, P. Basin. He spent six years within the academy, learning the secrets of craftsmanship and trying to imitate the painters whose works made a particularly strong impression on him.
His main idol of those years was Karl Bryullov, and, according to many art historians, the artist Nikolai Ge was clearly influenced by his work. Received in 1857 for successfully writing thesis the right to travel to Europe at the expense of the academy, he leaves Russia. During his travels he visits Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy.
Success and recognition
In Rome there is a meeting with another of his idols of those years - A. Ivanov, who worked on sketches for biblical stories, whom Nikolai Ge sincerely admired. Abroad, as before, he devotes a lot of time to painting portraits. One of his most successful works of that period is a portrait sketch of his wife, created in 1858. But its main theme remains biblical and classical subjects.
In 1861, having returned from abroad, Nikolai Ge shows his new picture“The Last Supper,” which was something of a sensation. Despite the enthusiastic reception of the public, the censorship reacted to it with extreme hostility, accusing the author of promoting materialism and nihilism. It was even forbidden to make copies of it.
Everything changed when Emperor Alexander II personally bought the painting for his collection, which immediately made the artist popularly known. In turn, the Academy of Arts, recognizing the high merits of the canvas and expressing solidarity with the opinion of the sovereign, hastened to encourage Nikolai Ge. The artist was awarded a professorship.
Back in Italy
Inspired by success and already officially recognized, the artist Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge returned to Italy in 1864, where he created many sketches on subjects from the New Testament. One of the most striking events of that Italian period becomes his meeting with Herzen and work on his portrait.
It is impossible not to recognize the riskiness of this undertaking, because Herzen was officially listed as a state criminal hiding abroad from justice, and the creation of his portrait could be regarded as a political gesture. However, this particular painting, executed in record-breaking short term- in just five sessions - is recognized as the best portrait he painted. To the great chagrin of Nikolai Nikolaevich, his painting “Messengers of the Resurrection,” completed and sent to his homeland, was not successful with the public. In 1869 the artist returned to Russia.
The last St. Petersburg period
Finding himself in the thick of life in the capital, Ge joined the union of future Peredvizhniki artists and actively participated in the preparation of their first exhibition, which opened in 1871. On it he shows the public his most famous masterpiece today, “Peter I interrogates Tsarevich Alexei in Peterhof.” The painting, which received well-deserved recognition from visitors to the exhibition, was purchased by P. Tretyakov, the most famous Russian collector and philanthropist.
Over the next four years, spent in creating a gallery of portraits of the most prominent representatives Russian intelligentsia. Among them are I. Turgenev, N. Nekrasov and a number of others. During the same period, the light he created saw the light sculptural portrait V. Belinsky.
Departure for Ukraine
In 1875, Nikolai Nikolaevich left St. Petersburg forever and, having moved to Ukraine, acquired a house in the Chernigov province. Researchers believe the reason for his departure was creative dissatisfaction and financial problems, worsened by that time. Finding himself far from the noise of the capital, Ge almost completely stopped painting and devoted himself entirely to issues of religion and morality. Only extreme need forces him to take up a brush and paint commissioned portraits of local rich people.
Creative upsurge at the end of the artist's life
In 1882 Ge went to Moscow. This was the beginning of a new creative upsurge, marked by the creation of such paintings as “Exit from the Last Supper”, “Judas”, “What is Truth” and other works on gospel themes. One of his last paintings is a self-portrait of the artist, painted by him a year before his death. The artist Ge, whose biography is inextricably linked with his work, died on June 13, 1894. According to researchers, his main merit can be called the creation of a realistic direction in paintings based on gospel subjects. With this, the Russian artist Ge made a contribution to world painting.
