Natalia Tsarkova's "little secret" - tips. last supper

News from the world of art

Little secret, 1995. Oil, Rome, artist’s collection

The title "Little Secret" indicates the mystery or mystery hidden in this painting. What is Natalia Tsarkova’s secret? In a clock symbolizing the transience of time? IN chess game, personifying the struggle between light and darkness? In the figures of two characters of the Commedia dell'Arte, Pierrot and Pulcinella, or in a golden cage in which a beautiful bird is imprisoned?

Ministry of Culture Russian Federation invited the artist Natalya Tsarkova to hold personal exhibition in the State historical museum. The artist plans to implement this project soon. Natalia Tsarkova is known as the only woman in the world who painted portraits of four Popes. She has been the official portrait painter of the Vatican since the late 1990s. Her works hang in Vatican palaces, churches and museums different countries peace. At an exhibition of portraits of popes in Washington, organized in 2005, Tsarkova’s portraits were the only works by a living artist - other paintings were by Raphael, Caravaggio and Velazquez.
Natalia Tsarkova was born in Moscow in 1967. Studied painting in Krasnopresnenskaya art school, then at the Moscow Secondary Art School at the Institute. Surikov. At the same time, she entered the newly opened Ilya Glazunov Academy. She was on Glazunov’s course the only girl, the best in the portrait class. It was thanks to Glazunov that she first came to Italy. And soon she returned there to organize an exhibition of her works in 1994. The paintings were successfully sold. She decided to stay for several months, but received one order after another and postponed her departure. First she became a portrait painter for a number of aristocratic families, and then she was invited to work at the Vatican. Her first work was a portrait of John Paul II.
This Pope, despite 21 years on the Holy See, has not yet had an official image. Later this portrait was printed on official documents of the Synod of Rome catholic church. Tsarkova painted a total of three portraits of Pope Wojtyła. The first portrait was exhibited in the Vatican Museums, the second was commissioned cultural center named after John Paul II in Washington, and the third is located in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo.
Portraits by Tsarkova are realistic, and their details indicate the works and personal characteristics of the heroes. In the portrait of Francis I, the pontiff is depicted with a wounded but already bandaged lamb in his hands - a symbol of mercy, in addition, this is a reference to the parable of the lost sheep.

On the left - "The Merciful Shepherd", 2013. Oil, artist's collection. On the right - "Saint John Paul II", Vatican Museum

A portrait of Benedict XVI is on display in the Vatican Museums. There are a lot of symbols in this portrait. First of all, this is the throne of Pope Leo XIII, on which Benedict XVI is depicted. The red color of the mantle symbolizes faith and love, and the red folder with the pope’s speech symbolizes dialogue as the only way come to peace.

Natalia Tsarkova's studio is located in one of the most "Russian" quarters of Rome, near Piazza Barberini. A stone's throw away is the house where Gogol lived and wrote." Dead Souls"On the contrary, across the road, near the “four fountains,” was the apartment of Karl Bryullov, who wrote “The Last Day of Pompeii” in Rome. Alexander Ivanov and Orest Kiprensky lived not far from Barberini. Central location in the studio, completely hung with paintings, the “Last Supper” is dedicated.
Natalya wrote her version of "The Last Supper". Unlike traditional iconography, Jesus Christ is depicted half-turned, and his gaze is directed directly at the viewer. He looks reproachfully, but at the same time with love. Picture Russian artist was given a special honor: its first show took place in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan next to famous masterpiece"The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Last Supper, 2002. Oil, artist’s collection

Once upon a time, Russian artists were specially sent to Italy to learn from local masters, and this led to brilliant results. Russian painting has taken its rightful place in world art. A unique national school classical and realistic painting. And now painters from Russia also come to Italy, but not for experience, but for success.
It is interesting that Russian contemporary realist artists are in demand and successful in the world. According to the West, the classical art school, which implies work, study, patience, has already been lost in Western Europe. There is not even a hint of the level that still exists in Russia. And the European aristocracy prefers to have their images for posterity in a classic, recognizable manner.
Apparently, this is why there are many Russian names among contemporary court artists. You can name the St. Petersburg artist Ivan Slavinsky, who made a name for himself in France, and for 10 years worked under contracts with European galleries. Georgy Shishkin is an artist of Monaco, the Prince of Monaco wrote about him: “I’m glad that this artist great talent chose the principality for his art." The name of the Russian artist Sergei Pavlenko, a graduate of the St. Petersburg art academy, is known to the British for a very good reason - he is the author of the ceremonial portrait of Elizabeth II and other portraits of the royal family.
The information was published in the Italian magazine AVRVM.

– Natalya, the question suggests itself: are you going to write Benedict XVI, who was elected a month ago?

– The idea is already in the air. The Vatican is talking about her. And I really want this myself. Painting a portrait of the new Pope is incredibly interesting. Benedict XVI has an unusually expressive face, and what are his eyes worth... But it’s too early to do that now. For a portrait to be successful, I need to properly study the person, penetrate into his world.

- Wait. Didn't you know the Pontiff when he was Cardinal Ratzinger?

– I knew Cardinal Ratzinger very well. However, the Pope is a special hypostasis; it leads to colossal internal changes. This is not my discovery. The mysterious, largely mystical restructuring of personality that occurs after election has been known since ancient times.

– It seems to me that it is generally difficult to be Pope after John Paul II, who is about to be canonized.

– John Paul II was very humane, this is his strength. I'll probably never fully understand that he's gone. IN last time I saw the Pope before Catholic Christmas. He received me in his personal library, where he met many of his guests, including Vladimir Putin. I brought the painting “Our Lady of Light” to show and talked about it for a long time. Dad could practically no longer speak, but he listened very carefully and answered with his eyes. I understood him well. Dad left my painting in the library. In this he did me a great honor. The next day I was interviewed in St. Peter's Square and the Italian journalists asked me to wish the Pope a Merry Christmas at his native language. They told me later that Dad watched the program and was very happy that I addressed him in Russian.

– Did he know Russian?

- I understood well. Once, before a meeting with the Pope, his secretary asked me to address him exclusively in Russian: John Paul II liked the sound of our language, and in general he was interested in Russia. Sometimes he spoke entire phrases in Russian. For example, during our first conversation he said goodbye: “Long live Russian art!»

– They say that the late head of the Catholic Church made an exceptional impression on people.

– There are many cases where, upon seeing John Paul II for the first time, someone began to cry or even lost consciousness. What can I say... When the Pope's body was put out for farewell, people were willing to spend sixteen hours on their feet for the sake of some minutes, or rather seconds, next to him.

– Were you in this line?

- No. I was allowed out of line, and not just for goodbyes. I drew him.

- Right there? Is your drawing finished?

“It was finished at the Pope’s deathbed.” I won’t add anything; any detail created later will look unnatural.

– Will you give this unique drawing to the Vatican Museum? Will you sell? Will you keep it as a souvenir?

– There were several drawings. I will give them to the former secretary of the Pope, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, who dedicated himself to the service of John Paul II.

– I saw a photograph in which you are standing next to John Paul II, showing him a portrait. At the same time, the Pope was telling you something. What if it's not a secret?

“Of course, I was very worried before his arrival. What will he say about my work? After all, there were a lot of portraits of the Pope. No one is prohibited from writing the pontiff. On average, they brought him two paintings a week. Of course, this was different. I didn't write to Dad own initiative, it was an official order from the Vatican. I was curious what he would say about me.

- Well?

“Expressive,” Papa remarked. - I like". And then... A number of cardinals and two secretaries of John Paul II were present during our conversation. They began to show me signs so that I would reveal to the Pope the mystery of the painting. They already knew about it, but they decided not to dedicate the Pope ahead of time, maintaining the effect of surprise. On the sparkling hilt of the Pope's staff a reflection appears with Jesus in his arms. The Virgin Mary was the patroness of the Pope; it was from her that the prophecies that accompanied him in life came.

- Was dad surprised?

“He was shocked. Italian newspapers later wrote that I foresaw the third secret of Our Lady.

– The Secret of Our Lady?

– In Italy this story is known to everyone. In Russia, they may not have heard of it. In 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three Portuguese teenagers, and from her they heard three predictions: about the revolution in Russia, about the Second World War. But the third prophecy remained a secret. The girl, one of these children, took a vow of silence and kept her secret until her death. This prediction became known relatively recently. It was about “a man in white robes falling down as if dead.”

– Attempted assassination of the pontiff?

– Your “Last Supper” was hung next to “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. I think you need to be very a brave man to decide to write it after a genius.

– It took me a long time to gain courage. I bought the canvas and it sat clean in the studio for a year. And then insight came. I realized how I should write it. And nowadays you can contact well-known topics. But the question is in interpretation. My painting was called “The Last Supper of the Third Millennium.” Do you know why? In today's world, Christ can no longer look at bread and wine, he cannot look at heaven. I have the Son of God sitting at the table, his back to us, and turning over his shoulder. He seems to ask: “People, what are you doing? Come to your senses!

– As far as I know, you have a dream to show the film in Russia, but a sponsor has not yet been found.

– Russian Minister of Culture Alexander Sokolov was in my studio. He liked The Last Supper, and it is possible that the issue of her trip to Russia will be resolved at the government level. I think my “Evening” definitely needs to visit Russia, because it was written by a Russian.

Once upon a time, Russian artists were specially sent to Italy to study with relevant masters.
You could say that it was Government program which led to brilliant results. Russian painting has taken its rightful place in world art.

Natalya Tsarkova (1967), a young Russian artist, a graduate of I. Glazunov’s studio and the Surikov School, has lived and worked in Rome since 1994. When she first came to Italy to visit a friend, no one knew her name. Several paintings that she took with her quickly attracted the attention of Italians and were immediately sold to private collections. Soon orders for portraits began to appear from aristocrats, politicians, artists and simply wealthy Italians. But real glory and his career took off after painting two portraits of Pope John Paul II,
which the Vatican has recognized as official images of the Roman Pontiff.

So the Russian artist, Muscovite Natalya Tsarkova became the only
in the world of painting, which managed to paint portraits of three Roman
Pope: John Paul I (acceded to the throne in 1978 and died later
33 days), John Paul II and Benedict XVI, became official
artist of the Vatican.
Tsarkova paints portraits of dads from photographs, because for dad
You're not supposed to pose.

By amazing coincidence, Natalia Tsarkova’s studio is located in
one of the most “Russian” quarters of Rome, near Piazza Barberini.
A stone's throw away is the house where Gogol lived and wrote Dead Souls.
Opposite, across the road, near the "four fountains", there was an apartment
Karl Bryullov, who wrote “The Last Day of Pompeii” in Rome.
Alexander Ivanov and Orest Kiprensky lived not far from Barberini.
Her work schedule includes meetings with dukes and lords. European
nobles line up to order a portrait from Natalya.

The central place in the studio, completely hung with paintings, is reserved
“The Last Supper” - Natalya doesn’t want to part with this work yet,
despite numerous offers from private collectors
and museums. Tsarkova's monumental painting "The Last Supper" became
another notable milestone in her work. The picture is amazing
unexpected angle and artistic solution of one of the most
famous religious stories. The painting by the Russian artist was
was given a special honor: its first show took place in the refectory of Santa
Maria Della Grazie in Milan next to the famous masterpiece
"The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Last Supper

Tsarkova’s painting was first shown before Easter in Rome, and it was
the message of peace was blessed by Pope John Paul II himself.
At a ceremony in Milan, together with the artist, the purple veil was torn from the canvas by the keeper of the archives and library of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Giorgio Maria Meia, who had specially arrived from the Vatican, who then, in a lengthy speech, spoke very flatteringly about the merits of the painting and even traced the spiritual connection between the authors of the versions of “The Secret” supper" -
from the great Leonardo to this miniature Russian woman...

“In fact, I didn’t change anything in this well-known evangelical story, I just “went in” with reverse side. Jesus sits at the table opposite the apostles and looks half-turned directly at the viewer from behind. In the corner of the canvas, in the image of a maid, I depicted myself, looking through the slightly open door. This is also incompatible with the traditional canons of the “Supper,” but in this way I wanted to emphasize the connection with today. This is a view from the 3rd millennium.
A large white canvas lay in my studio whole year,
before the solution to the picture arose. Ideas appeared spontaneously
like insights in the process of work. I redid many details several times. And in the role of the apostles, I decided to portray my Italian friends and acquaintances. For example, the person who posed for Christ for me is Count Pippi Morgia, a light designer by profession.
It was he who recently created the lighting for the Roman Trevi Fountain and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, and about fifteen years ago he organized Russian tours Italian singers, in particular Toto Cutugno.

Natalya Tsarkova presented Benedict XVI with a special gift for his 85th birthday - a children's book "The Secret of a Small Pond", in which the pontiff is one of the main characters.
"The Mystery of the Little Pond" is the story of a small red fish that swims during the summer in the pond of the gardens of Castel Gandolfo. The fish takes a liking to Benedict XVI, who comes to her daily while reciting the rosary and feeds her.
The book is decorated with illustrations in the style of medieval miniatures. The Vatican Publishing House plans to release the book in Spanish, English, German, Russian and Italian.

Her work was admired by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now
the artist began working on a portrait of the new Pope Francis.

Once upon a time, Russian artists were specially sent to Italy to study with relevant masters.
We can say that it was a government program that led to brilliant results. Russian painting has taken its rightful place in world art.

Natalya Tsarkova (1967), a young Russian artist, a graduate of I. Glazunov’s studio and the Surikov School, has lived and worked in Rome since 1994. When she first came to Italy to visit a friend, no one knew her name. Several paintings that she took with her quickly attracted the attention of Italians and were immediately sold to private collections. Soon orders for portraits began to appear from aristocrats, politicians, artists and simply wealthy Italians. But real fame and rise in career occurred after painting two portraits of Pope John Paul II,
which the Vatican has recognized as official images of the Roman Pontiff.

Last Supper

“In fact, I didn’t change anything in this well-known gospel story, I just “went in” from the reverse side. Jesus sits at the table opposite the apostles and looks half-turned directly at the viewer from the back. In the corner of the canvas in the image of a maid, I depicted myself looking through the slightly open door. This is also incompatible with the traditional canons of the “Supper,” but in this way I wanted to emphasize the connection with today. This is a view from the 3rd millennium.
The large white canvas lay in my studio for a whole year,
before the solution to the picture arose. Ideas appeared spontaneously
like insights in the process of work. I redid many details several times. And in the role of the apostles, I decided to portray my Italian friends and acquaintances. For example, the person who posed for Christ for me is Count Pippi Morgia, a light designer by profession.
It was he who recently created the lighting for the Roman Trevi Fountain and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, and fifteen years ago he organized Russian tours of Italian singers, in particular Toto Cutugno.

Her work was admired by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now
the artist began working on a portrait of the new Pope Francis.

Larisa Zelentsova

International Alliance Strategic Projects BRICS

Natalya Tsarkova is that mysterious and little-known artist in her homeland, Russia, who found her place in the sun in sunny Rome; the first woman to receive the title of official portrait painter of the Pope. And if you consider that she is Orthodox, then the degree of respect shown by the Vatican to the Russian artist truly has no boundaries. The fact that she is not Catholic has never caused any problems. As the artist herself notes, she felt that through art she could become that link between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, which these two faiths have been lacking for so long.

Born in Moscow in 1967. She studied painting at the Krasnopresnenskaya Art School, then at the Moscow Art School at the Institute named after. Surikov. At the same time, she entered the newly opened Ilya Glazunov Academy. In Glazunov’s course, she was the only girl who was the best in the portrait class. Lives and works in Rome since 1994. When she first came to Italy to visit a friend, no one knew her name. Several paintings that she took with her quickly attracted the attention of Italians and were immediately sold to private collections. Soon orders for portraits began to appear from aristocrats, politicians, artists and simply wealthy Italians.

But real fame and a rise in his career occurred after painting two portraits of Pope John Paul II, which the Vatican recognized as official images of the Roman Pontiff. Thus, the Russian artist, Muscovite Natalya Tsarkova became the only one in the world of painting who managed to paint portraits of three popes: John Paul I (acceded to the throne in 1978 and died 33 days later), John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The artist is currently working on a portrait of Pope Francis.

By amazing coincidence, Natalia Tsarkova’s studio is located in one of the most “Russian” quarters of Rome, near Piazza Barberini. A stone's throw away is the house where Gogol lived and wrote Dead Souls. Opposite, across the road, near the “four fountains,” was the apartment of Karl Bryullov, who wrote “The Last Day of Pompeii” in Rome. Alexander Ivanov and Orest Kiprensky lived not far from Barberini.

The central place in her studio, completely hung with paintings, is given to "Last Supper"- Natalia does not want to part with this work yet, despite numerous offers from private collectors and museums. The monumental canvas, 220x150 cm, became another notable milestone in her work.

The picture amazes with its unexpected perspective and artistic solution to one of the most famous religious subjects. This painting by the Russian artist was given a special honor: its first official display took place in the refectory of Santa Maria Della Grazie in Milan next to the famous masterpiece “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. Tsarkova’s painting was first shown before Easter in Rome, and Pope John Paul II himself blessed it as a message of peace. At a ceremony in Milan, together with the artist, the purple veil was torn from the canvas by the keeper of the archives and library of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Giorgio Maria Meia, who had specially arrived from the Vatican, who then, in a lengthy speech, spoke very flatteringly about the merits of the painting and even traced the spiritual connection between the authors of the versions of “The Secret” supper" - from the great Leonardo to this miniature Russian woman Natalia Tsarkova.

In Italy this painting was called “The Last Supper of the Third Millennium.” On the fresco Leonardo da Vinci Christ looks at the bread; in other authors, at the sky. In Tsarkova’s painting, Christ has turned and looks at the world with a tragic gaze, with reproach and at the same time with love and understanding. Looks at each of us. In the soul.

In the corner of the canvas, in the image of a maid, she depicted herself looking through the ajar door. This is incompatible with the traditional canons of the “Supper,” but in this way the artist wanted to emphasize the connection with the present day. This is a view from the 3rd millennium.

Natalya decided to portray her Italian friends and acquaintances in the role of the apostles. For example, the person who posed for Christ for her is Count Pippi Morgia, a light designer by profession. It was he who created the lighting for the Roman Trevi Fountain and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. “Judas” - Milanese fashion stylist Gilermo Mariotto; the brilliant Roman lawyer Vittore Cordella, whose noble profile and thick head of long graying hair represent St. Andrew the First-Called. Natalia wrote St. John from Count Andrea Marini, Philip from the professor of architecture Count Dario del Bufalo. And the models for the images of Simon, Thaddeus and Thomas were, respectively, the Grand Prior of the Order of Malta Franz von Lobstein, Count Romano del Forno and Prince Nicolo Borghese.

In 2008, on the occasion of the Canonization of Blessed Father Giacomo from Lebanon, the artist was commissioned to create his official multi-figure portrait. This painting was blessed by the Pope at the Vatican and placed in the Church of Santa Maria del Marse in Beirut, where the saint's relics are kept.

Tsarkova is not just a portrait painter, she also paints the faces of saints. Among her famous works this kind occupies a very significant place portrait of the Italian missionary nun Beata Assunta Marchetti (Beata Assunta Marchetti, 1871-1948 ), who contributed to the founding of the organization of missionary sisters of St.. Carla Borromeo,carried out obedience in Brazil, was beatified in San-Paulo October 25, 2014. Her portrait hangs in the Cathedral of Sao Paulo (Catedral da Se) and is revered by Brazilians as an icon.

Natalya Tsarkova is a multidisciplinary and versatile artist. On the one hand, she paints portraits of popes and the faces of canonized saints, and on the other, portraits of the first persons of the state, royal families And biblical stories. Her paintings carry a special deep energy that does not leave indifferent any contemplator of her masterpieces, which are a vivid reflection and embodiment of the deep Russian soul, in an eternal search for self-expression and building bridges between the peoples of the world.