Leo Tolstoy on the role of personality in history. As assessed by L.N.

Lesson objectives:

• teach students to compose a comparative description based on a group portrait;
• show the features of text construction comparative nature;
• enrich students’ speech with figurative and expressive means of the Russian language;
• introduce vocabulary related to the topic of the portrait painting into the students’ dictionary.

Technical support:

• Use of ICT tools:
• Microsoft program Word to create accompanying text for your presentation.

During the classes

1. introduction teachers

Preparing the teacher for the lesson. Material about the life and work of N.S. Leskova

The life of every family has its own traditions, those customs that determine the established patterns of behavior and everyday life. The family of the Russian artist Zinaida Evgenievna Serebryakova, who lived at the beginning of the 20th century, also had its own traditions. (slide number 2) One of them will be discussed in our lesson. Today we turn to one of the most famous paintings by Z. Serebryakova, “At Breakfast,” created in 1914. (slide No. 3)

What tradition? we're talking about on this artistic canvas? (Probably when the whole family gets together for breakfast)

Right. Previously in noble families It was customary for the whole family to gather during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A table was set for a meal (meal) in the dining room. Adults and children changed clothes for lunch and dinner and went down to the table.

The goal of our lesson is not only to describe the portrait painting and the characters depicted in it, but also to produce them comparative characteristics.

What is comparison and comparative characteristics?

Comparison- one of the types of reasoning where it is necessary to establish the similarities and differences between objects.

Comparative characteristics- identification of similar and different features in the character, appearance, speech, activities of compared people or heroes of a work of art. (slide number 4)

2. Conversation based on the painting(during the conversation, students make notes in drafts) (slide number 5)

1. Do you think the people depicted in the picture are relatives? (Yes, these are relatives. These are the artist’s children.)

2. By what signs did you determine that they were relatives? (The children are very similar, especially the girl and boy who are depicted in the foreground. They have almost the same eye color and oval face.)

3. What do these children have in common? (This is one family and at the moment they are united by the fact that they have all gathered to have breakfast together)

4. On the canvas there is a group of people (children) - several people sitting close to each other, together. The painting is made in the genre of a group portrait. What is a group portrait?

Group portrait- a type of portrait that depicts three or more characters in the same setting, connected by unity of action.

As we see, the picture depicts three children in the dining room of their house, connected by a single action - they are having breakfast. (Slide No. 6)

5. Judging by the picture, what kind of atmosphere reigns in the family? (Slide No. 7) (A good, friendly atmosphere. Peace reigns here. This can be seen from the expressions on the children’s faces. Most likely, everyone treats each other well, and the children in the family are very loved And children don't quarrel with each other).

6. Which of the children is older? (Probably the boy who is depicted in the background of the picture. He drinks water and does not pay attention to what interested his brother and sister so much).

7. Describe this boy. (slide number 8) (Thin facial features, straight nose, dark blond hair, eyebrows, a thin arc running above the eyes. A slight blush on his cheeks brightens his pale face. He lowered his eyes, and it is difficult for us to say what the expression of his eyes is, and we cannot determine the character of this boy. He is serious and focused. His face is a little sad.)

8. Now look at the second boy. (Slide No. 9) How is he different from the older one? (More sociable. He looked up from lunch, turned around and looked at us carefully. He was interested in something. The first thing that catches his eye appearance, are large, dark brown, expressive eyes outlined by thick eyelashes. It is clear that he is inquisitive.)

9. And them younger sister? (slide number 10) What distinguishes her from her brothers? Describe the girl's appearance. (She is also attentive, looking at us. She was so carried away that she even put her hand on the plate. She open face, huge brown eyes. One of the eyebrows is slightly raised, which also indicates the girl’s interest in what is happening. But at the same time she is serious. A small nose, a bright blush on the cheeks. A small mouth with thin scarlet lips. The girl is wearing a beautiful, elegant dark blue dress and a white apron decorated with lace, as if she was specially preparing for the fact that she would be painted; this distinguishes her from her brothers).

So, we are convinced that the children depicted in the picture have common features, and on the other hand, different. Can they be grouped according to common characteristics? To make it easier for you to cope with the task, let's make a table in which we highlight the similarities and differences of our heroes. (Slide No. 11)

10. Why do the younger children look at the viewer so carefully? (The first assumption is that they are posing for the artist, the second is that dad has come and they are looking at him).

3. Vocabulary and spelling work

How do you understand the following phrases (slide No. 12)

• peaceful scene (calm, orderly life);
• active state of children (their immobility, various actions);

Insert the missing letters into the words (slide No. 13): g e ice jug, soup bowl, adorable children, snow-white tablecloth, home tradition

Homework: write a comparative essay based on the painting-portrait of Z.E. Serebryakova “At Breakfast”.

They say there is women's literature. And there is women's poetry. I am convinced that there is. It cannot be otherwise. Women's nature cannot but be reflected in literature. And especially in poetry. And not only in literature, but in everything I touch female hand. And in art too. And in painting too. And it would be strange if it did not affect. And this does not mean that this literature or painting is qualitatively better or worse. She's just different. This is precisely its special charm and special appeal.

I repeat that it’s the same in painting. I remember the paintings of the French artist Vigée-Lebrun. She has excellent portraits. And mainly, royalty, which she created both at home, in France, and here, in Russia too. I don’t even need to look at the author’s signature under her creations. I am convinced that the brush was held here by a woman's hand. And you will feel it too.
You will feel it in to a greater extent when looking at the paintings wonderful artist Zinaida Serebryakova. You will feel this not only from the subjects of her paintings, but this is mainly family portraits, first of all, her children in the interior, but also for the special feminine tender warmth emanating from her images. And for that love, most often mother's love, which permeates these images.

I approach her paintings with a special feeling. I feel a wave of calm, quiet tenderness rising from the depths of my soul. Which relaxes and confuses me. I feel somehow awkward because I am inexorably frozen in a state of contemplative bliss. And I’m not the only one. So among the French who came with me on the excursion, I feel how they too come to the same state. But they don’t know who this artist is, or who these children are sitting at the dinner table, and in some tense fear they turned to us, strangers who disturbed them at lunch.

The artist's name was Zinaida Evgenievna Serebryakova. There are a lot of famous, even great artists who generally became artists, no one knows why or how. Well, nothing in their situation, in life and in the environment in which they grew up and were brought up, could contribute to the birth of a craving for painting in them. No one could have imagined how their fate would turn out in reality. Even their own parents. Only the whole chain happy occasions consistently led each of them to what they became. But you can’t say that about Zinaida. It would be monstrously unfair and strange if painting did not become her destiny. By kinship she belonged to two famous and famous names, Benoit and Lanceray. And this says something.

*****
Zinaida Serebryakova was born a long time ago. In 1884. Calculate how old she would be today. I was born on my parents’ estate with the name Neskuchnoye, which is so familiar to me. It reminds me of the place near which I spent my childhood. Neskuchny garden along the Moscow River. But the Neskuchnoye estate, where the artist was born, was very far away, near Kharkov. And today it is located on the Muromka River. Or rather the river, since it is only 31 km long. And it has nothing to do with the city of Murom. Today Neskuchnoye is a small village with an area of ​​0.5 sq. km. with 90 inhabitants. Residents of Neskuchny are very proud of the fact that the artist Serebryakova was born in their village. There are also Memorial plaque.

This region was called Novorossiya in those days. There was even such a curiosity when the city of Kharkov was the capital of Ukraine after the revolution. Today you know what is happening there.
****

Where did Lansere come to us with such a not very Russian surname? Yes, nothing surprising. The founder of this surname in Russia was not a Russian person. He was a major, don’t be surprised, in Napoleonic’s army. We all know what happened to this army. Ludwig Paul Lanseray was lucky. Survived. Incredibly lucky. Because how many thousands of his compatriots were not at all lucky. They died on the battlefields or froze in the fields of vast Russia. And imagine, Major Lanceray remained in Russia. Forever. And he made a wonderful career with us. Became State Councilor. And understand this in this way: General. This was the rank of 5th class in the table of ranks. And you had to address him with the words Your Highness. If only this official knew how his descendants would glorify his French name in Russia.

And Zina’s mother, Ekaterina Nikolaevna Benois, was also a representative of another very famous and glorious family. Who doesn't know her? And this surname also had French roots. The first of the Benois family came to Russia himself in 1794. This date will tell us why he left la douce France and moved to our cold lands. I think that he didn’t regret it either. Imagine, he became the chief confectioner at Russian empress Maria Fedorovna He got married with us too. In German. And they had many children. Eighteen. This figure reminded me that Countess Struyskaya, whose portrait was sung by Zabolotsky, who lived at the same time, also had 18 children. A common thing in those days. Be that as it may, the pastry chef became our founder large quantity artists who have distinguished themselves in various fields.

Well, do you think that the girl Zina could not have become an artist, having such relatives on her mother’s and father’s side? Zinochka was the youngest in the family. But she did not remember her father. Yes, and how to remember. He died at the age of 39. From tuberculosis. Terrible disease. Today it is almost forgotten. Let's remember Chekhov, wonderful artist Vasiliev, empress and wife of Alexander II, who died from the same incurable disease at that time. The disease affected all classes and ages.

After that, their mother took all the children, and there were four of them, to their parents in St. Petersburg. Since then they lived in a house that is still called the Benoit house. All her relatives lived there. But the village of Neskuchnoye was not forgotten. Sometimes in summer time the family was returning there. Why not? Picturesque place, river. Noble Nest.

At the age of 16, Zina graduated from high school. Well, the question asked by Mayakovsky was “where should I study then, what should I do?” But for her this question didn’t even arise. Only art, only painting. She enrolls in a private painting school. Why there? Because Repin himself taught the drawing class there. Once upon a time he himself learned excellent drawing techniques from Academician Chistyakov. There is a special conversation about him. We will definitely need to return to him.

But I studied a little. One month. And not of my own free will. The master left this school. His student also left. And then her mother, along with other children, took her to the south of Italy. She was concerned about the children's health. I was especially afraid that they would develop tuberculosis. She considered this disease almost hereditary. She had enough of the suffering she endured during her husband's illness. But the impulse to comprehend art had already been given. Therefore, Zina independently studied the monuments of Roman antiquity there and painted excellent watercolors. Returning to Russia two years later, she again began to study painting. This time the artist O.E. Braza.

I don't know this artist well. But in the Tretyakov Gallery I never pass by one of his creations. This is a portrait of Anton Chekhov. For me, this is best portrait favorite writer. Braz painted this portrait commissioned by Pavel Tretyakov himself. It is clear that he would not have turned to just any artist with such an order. I don’t know why, but it was this portrait that the writer himself did not like. He put it this way: “If I have become a pessimist and write gloomy stories, then my portrait is to blame for this...”. And he also expressed himself in a manner completely characteristic of him: “They say that both I and the tie are very similar, but the expression is as if I snorted horseradish.” And the artist tried so hard. I wrote it for two years.

Braz is not very famous today, but he was good professional artist. The same Benoit called him one of the best portrait painters of his time. It is quite possible that on his advice, Zinaida became his student.

As already mentioned, in the summer the Serebryakovs often went to their Neskuchnoye estate. It was there that something happened to her that could not help but happen to a girl her age. Fell in love. It's normal, of course. The soul was waiting for someone. But who did you fall in love with? In his cousin on the paternal side of Boris Anatolyevich Serebryakov. The love was passionate, sincere and mutual. What are you going to do here? And there was one more comma. Zina was baptized Catholic, and Boris was Orthodox. The church did not welcome such marriages in both cases. But the lovers finally found a priest who agreed to consecrate this marriage.

This is where I also have a question. Even in those days they knew that it was almost incest. And what does it lead to? This was also known. To degeneration, to damage to possible offspring. That is, the lovers could not help but know what danger they were exposing to the children who were to be born as a result of this marriage. I remember the story of another famous artist Toulouse-Lautrec. Same situation. He became the fruit of just such incest. Due to developmental pathology, he is adolescence became a cripple. And then I used it a lot. And not only wine, but also drugs. And he died at the age of 36. Without producing offspring.

This is why the church has always prevented such marriages. Zinaida took her husband’s surname, which is why she became known to all of us by that name. beautiful surname Serebryakova. And imagine, they had four children. And it passed. Incest did not affect their health. But they all had difficult destinies. But more on that later.

*****
And her husband had nothing to do with art or painting. He studied at the Institute of Railways. So what? I know quite a few families, and you also know how marriages among people of the same profession, especially creative ones, contrary to logic, can be especially unreliable and fragile. In addition to the natural problems of adaptation of two very different human personalities, creative problems are added. People existing in the space of one creative field rarely agree on how to cultivate the beds on the same field. And this is an additional stress in family relationships. So this was not the case in the Serebryakov family.

Unable to continue to comprehend the science of painting in Russia, she left for Paris. Where else? In those days, Paris was the artistic Mecca. It was there that the fountain of new ideas in painting flowed. In addition, almost the entire Benoit family already lived there. She entered the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. Maybe she was attracted by this name. The Academy sounds solid. Any training includes: required condition in any subject, discipline, order. I say this as a teacher by training. And systematic immersion in the subject of study. But at that Academy this was not even close. Disorder and freedom reigned in the sense of a lack of control over the entire learning process. The future artist gained much more knowledge from visits to the Louvre and various art salons, of which Paris was not poor.

She returned to Russia in the spring of 1906. Let's remember this time. The revolutionary time began with the execution of Palace Square Bloody January 9th. She returned to her estate in Neskuchnoye. And it certainly wasn’t boring there. The children have gone. The first to be born was the boy Zhenya, named after his grandfather. And then a year later another boy - Sasha. And since then she divided her time between teaching children and painting. And so, during breaks from teaching children, she wrote, probably, her most famous painting. Your self-portrait.

*****
Recently an exhibition of her works was held at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. So the main poster of this exhibition was this portrait. Yes, he is the most famous in the world. It’s simply called “Behind the Toilet.” Self-portrait" After that, she created many other paintings - genre scenes, nudes, of course feminine nature, just portraits, landscapes and even still lifes, but this work is most famous. Maybe because the self-portrait was the first from which the name Serebryakova became known, her original style, which can of course be copied, even made a fake, but no one except Serebryakova can call it her own.

Among other paintings, it will immediately attract our attention. From the first second. It seems to me that the appearance of a young woman, whose eyes look so intently at you, is almost indecently too intimate and sincere. It feels like you don’t even have the right to stop just like that in front of a portrait of a woman behind the toilet and plunge into a contemplative state. And the feeling is that Zinaida Serebryakova’s gaze is not addressed to you at all, but you received all the charm, all the charm emanating from her entire appearance is simply illegal. As if looking through glass, transparent only from your side. It’s as if she doesn’t even see you at all, but admires herself. That is, he does things that can only be done alone with himself. And it has remained that way for many years now. And how many more people will remain amazed by the transcendental sincerity of these slightly slanted eyes. I look at the portrait and hear in my soul the famous lines from one song:

You are my breath, my morning you are early
You and the burning sun and the rain
I'm exhausting myself
I will become the best. On this occasion
Just wait.

*****
The world waited. And I look at the portrait and hear her in all her radiance early youth and speaks of freshness to us all. Here I am. Such as there is. Admire me. I give it. And the world accepted this gift. And I was not disappointed. And in the picture we see morning, the very morning of an artist who is part of the history of our painting. Into the world of painting, which was already not poor in other portrait images. Find this portrait on the Internet. And you will understand even better what I wanted to say. This portrait was purchased by the Tretyakov Gallery. And this was already recognition of young talent. And a high honor.

Oddly enough, or maybe well, the most important thing in her life remained her family, children, husband. The bohemian party didn’t interest her at all. After the birth of boys, she had girls. In 1912, Tanya was born. And a year later Katenka. So, there were four children. And with this alone Zinaida was already happy. She raised children, but did not forget painting. She was a modest person by nature. In eternal doubt.

We believe that even her first works were marked with the stamp of talent. But she doesn't. I didn't believe it. I doubted everything. And it seems that her painting was only a means for her to reflect her worldview, which was all focused on her family, on her children. That's all.

Here's a look at her picture above the text. And for a long time I chose a painting from her rich creativity to place it at the head of this article. I chose this one. Why? Don't know. It just seemed to me that everyone already knew the self-portrait described above. This is, if you like, such a beautiful brand famous artist. Her business card. But for me Serebryakova is interesting not only as an artist. Or rather, yes, of course, and as an artist too. But only everyone great artist expresses his soul in his creations. In their main topics. So for the artist Serebryakova main topic– this is her family, these are her children. It is in them, in her paintings, that she herself is all, her soul. That's why I chose this one, it doesn't seem very good famous painting. It's called "At Lunch"

Who do we see in this picture? Two older boys. Senior brother Zhenya - he is holding a glass in his hands. His younger brother Sasha - he holds a spoon in his hand and turned to face us. And also their sister Tanya - she completely turned to us. There is no fourth child. That is, he is there, but the nurse still carries him in her arms. This is the little girl Katya. We also see the grandmother’s hand holding a ladle, with which she pours soup into a plate. The painting is called “At Lunch.” That’s what it began to be called when I acquired it.
Tretyakov Gallery. But it was originally called “At Breakfast”. Where does this confusion come from? Breakfast lunch. We know that soup is not eaten at breakfast.

It’s just that in French there are two names for two meals. Le petit dejeuner. And simply Le dejeuner. That is, just second breakfast. And in our opinion, lunch. So they changed the name. Adapted to our audience.

But look also at this table. It is already a wonderful still life in itself. Porcelain, silverware, those rolls. You look at everything with pleasure. What about children! It’s immediately obvious that it’s not simple. From the nobles. Barchuk. Oh, who would have known how their lives would change dramatically. And very soon.

And what is so special about this picture? Yes, nothing. But I am fascinated by the look of these children. Only a child could have such a look. He enters the world. He doesn't know this world. He only perceives it with all his senses. This look is not burdened with knowledge that will further enrich their lives. A life that, let us say in advance, will not be poor in various events. And here is almost the very beginning. There is also an undisguised exploring curiosity in this look. There is also an undisguised wariness in him. They already know that there is good and evil in the world. Known from fairy tales and from their still small personal experience. I am trying to come down from the heights of my no longer small age, and descend to the very time when I was about five years old. And remember how I myself saw and felt the world, into which an unknown force threw me. Does not work. I'm annoyed. I am annoyed that I can no longer overcome this chasm of time. Never. No longer given. Gone forever. I remember the lines.

Unfortunately or fortunately,
The truth is simple:
Never come back
To the same places
.Even if the ashes
Looks quite good
Can't find what we're looking for
Neither you nor me.

That is, good poet Shpalikov, persuades us not to return to childhood. That is, to the place where we all come from. And I would return. And who wouldn't come back? And Shpalikov himself wrote it like that, in his heart. This can be seen from the continuation of this poem. But it is no longer given to anyone. Well, let. But this portrait of children with such eyes turned to us allows me, albeit indirectly, to return to those very places. Where we all come from.

They will look at us through a huge layer of time. And thanks to this portrait they will look at it for a long, long time. I would like to say forever. Although we know that these children have already lived their lives for a long time. And I can't get rid of this sad thought.

*****
And then 1917 came. Revolution. Or a coup. Because this event turned everything upside down in the Serebryakovs’ lives. And it was the beginning of a whole series of misfortunes. Let us remember that the Neskuchnoye estate was located in Ukraine. And there, in the era of change, an indescribable mess began, to say the least. We read M. Bulgakov. Estates were ruined. Landowners were shot. There are no laws in a mess. Everybody dance. And everyone has their own party. Either atamans, or Germans and Poles. Red, white and even green. Fate is a turkey, and life is a penny.

And there are four children in the family. No time for painting. They left Neskuchnoye and moved to Kharkov. And in the city, you also have to live on something. Renting housing has become expensive. And they returned to Neskuchnoye again. By that time the estate had already been plundered. It's good that they didn't burn it. But, nevertheless, you have to live on something. And so the father of the family was so successfully offered a job in Moscow. And he was a railway engineer. He had often traveled on business trips before. Built railways. Later he invited his wife to Moscow. And they were already thinking about moving the children to the capital at that time. But here's a new problem. Grief. Boris Anatolyevich was returning home from another business trip. I rode with the soldiers in the same car. And he caught typhus from them. And burned in its flame. He died 12 days later, one might say, in the arms of his wife.

And then a new journey through torment. Where are the descriptions of Alexei Tolstoy? After the funeral, Zinaida returns to Neskuchnoye in Ukraine, where her children are waiting. And the revolutionary unrest was gaining strength. It was becoming dangerous to stay in Neskuchny. They collected the remaining belongings, just like the Rostov family, and left their family estate on several carts, Noble Nest. Fate protected them. Almost immediately the estate was burned

They arrived in Kharkov. And it’s already installed in it Soviet authority. At least there is some order. She was even offered a job. Take part in the “First Exhibition of Arts of the Kharkov Council of Workers’ Deputies.” She accepted, why not? And yet life was hard. For all. What about children? The eldest is 14, and the youngest is only seven. What childhood impressions remained with them after everything they experienced! Everything is in crimson tones. How they must have gone through all these indescribable troubles. And the child’s psyche must have suffered. Here is what Zinaida writes about this time:

“We live all the time dreaming of going somewhere, changing the insanely ridiculous present life, because mommy, the children and I are fussing all day long, working (that is, washing, washing floors, cooking, etc.) and not doing what we did all our previous lives, I don’t draw, the children don’t study.

And then I remembered my relative Alexander Benois. He invited her to St. Petersburg. And here I got a little lucky. She moved to St. Petersburg with hope with her entire family. That is, all six. She, four children and a grandmother. She settled in Benoit's house. Got some work. She painted commissioned portraits for cheap. And there are six of them. But you need to buy canvases and paints. But the civil war is not over yet. And war communism with its hyperinflation has just ended. And we need to buy food and clothes. Poverty. And at the same time, she manages to paint portraits. Look, for example, at the lovely portrait of Katenka, painted in 1923. It's called "In the Kitchen." Portrait of Katya” Take a look, you won’t regret it.

She couldn’t help but think that she needed to change something in her life. She writes to her uncle, who at that time was already living in Paris. “How I dream and want to leave in order to somehow change this life, where every day there is only acute concern about food (always insufficient and bad) and where my earnings are so insignificant that they are not enough for the most necessary things.”

And after that she still left. But she did not leave for political reasons. Like, for example, Bunin, who fled the Soviet Republic, cursing “ damn days" She left just to survive. And then she left for what she thought was a very short time. But it turned out forever.

She left alone. First alone, and then two more of her children approached her. And she would see the other two only after many, many years. But even there, in Paris, one might say, the same poverty awaited her. And from what she earned, she sends it to the children left in St. Petersburg. And what she creates on her canvases is clearly visible in how good artist She was. But who knew her then in Paris? And then promotion was needed. How long did it take for the Impressionists to develop? And who needs her in Paris, where the trend was not at all the realistic manner in which Serebryakova works. They reign there avant-garde movements. All sorts of Fauvists, pointillists, expressionists, abstractionists, etc.

She is one. She's lonely. He misses the children he left behind. Here’s what she writes: I’m always alone, I’m nowhere, I’m nowhere, I’m terribly sad in the evening...” Well, for some time now I’m not completely alone. One after another, two of her children came to her, who, like their mother, remained forever in France. Yes, and considering them Russians is also a question and tension. They were converted to Catholicism in childhood. They received French passports. That is, they became French citizens. They had strong French roots. They spoke French. Although they loved Russia. They considered it their first homeland. And they never angrily hissed at the Soviet of Deputies, as many of the White emigrants did.

And two of her children and their grandmother also remained in Leningrad forever. And now they slowly began to recognize her. There were more and more orders. Once she made a trip to Africa at the expense of a Belgian baron - a philanthropist. And she brought a lot interesting works from Morocco. And in Paris, bitter news awaited her. My mother died in Leningrad. This was told to her by her daughter Tanya, who remained in Russia. They broke up ten years ago. She had already somehow gotten used to the idea that even though they were separated, there were people in the world, somewhere far away, who were closest to her - a mother and two children. They live without any connection without it. But they live. And there is still hope that someday we will see each other. She, this hope, this consciousness alone that I live and exist, albeit falsely, but quenches the pain of separation. But now everything has become hopeless. And irrevocable. Nothing will happen anymore. Mom left. She doesn't exist. I was having a hard time. This is what she writes: “And why did I so selfishly leave you and her, my beloved, when my whole heart, my whole soul is connected with you. For a long time, for a long time, I have been languidly tormented by this fear of losing everything with my grandmother, and now it has happened.”

No, she was no longer poor in her thirties. Her two children had already become adults and were already earning their own living. And all on the artistic side. The eldest was studying book graphics, worked in the theater, and then as an artist in cinema. And the youngest also realized herself in art. In painting and sculpture of small forms. And yet Zinaida, with all her French roots and excellent knowledge French was drawn to Russia. Autumn was approaching. In her soul, it was as if two Motherlands coexisted. This is what she writes on the eve of the war: “Nothing came of my life here, and I often think that I did an irreparable thing by tearing myself away from the soil.”

Let's not forget that two of her children lived in Russia. And they also realized themselves in art. And they were not unhappy at all. They wrote about this to her in their letters. Well, how can we be here? The soul is torn in half. Or maybe it’s true that we need to go back? So the artist Bilibin has returned. And everything is fine with him there. But her Parisian children Alexander and Catherine did not at all express a desire to return. For what? Everything here is so well established and settled. And there we have to start from scratch, in this distant and no longer entirely understandable Russia. And then, there are examples of a different kind. Well, Bilibin was lucky. But it could have been different.

And then the war began. Let us remember that for France it began earlier than for us. France lost it shamefully within a few weeks. And the Wehrmacht troops marched at a brisk pace, as the Germans knew how to do, along the Champs Elysees. And many Parisians were present at this victorious fashion show. With tears in my eyes. Maybe Serebryakova was among them. And her life under occupation began. No, it was not at all the same life as, for example, the life of the inhabitants of surrounded Leningrad. And I had tourists from France, Parisians, who told me about that time. They suffered so much. Well, imagine, there was no usual coffee in the morning. And this is not a joke. I heard it with my own ears. So Zinaida continued to work. With my children. War was war, but there were orders. This meant there was something to live on. There was, of course, a risk. The Nazis rounded up Jews and emigrants. Especially from Russia. If they did not have documents, then prison awaited them, or even execution.

Well, what do you want from her? Well, she did not become Princess Obolenskaya. And she couldn’t become. Let us remember that the Russian princess was in the ranks of the Resistance. And she held a significant position in it. They arrested her, kept her in dungeons, interrogated her and tried to win her over to their side. They talked and asked, are you going to defend the Jewish-Bolshevik regime? She replied: I am Russian and I defend Russia. She was guillotined in Berlin. And her ashes are now in a Russian cemetery near Paris. Cemetery of Sainte-Genevieve-de-Bois.

Another woman. All of France knows her. And even if they don’t remember her name, I know very well the song of the French Resistance. This song is, as it were, the second after La Marseillaise, raising the spirit of patriotism among all French people. And the song was written by a Russian noblewoman. Her name was Anna Marley. Find this song on YouTube. It is sung by Mireille Mathieu. And she loved Russia - her Motherland. Although why should we love? The family was expelled from the country. Her father and uncle, a fleet admiral, were shot. And here you go.

And Zinaida valued her spiritual roots no less than them, and had no intention of breaking ties with the land, the soil, with the place from which she began. life path. But to join the Resistance... Well, where should she go – a woman who is no longer very young and in poor health.
*****
The war ended and correspondence between Zinaida and her children began again. And they have already become quite adults. For example, daughter Tatyana had her own son, Ivan. That is, the grandson of Baba Zina. And despite her poor health and advanced years, she works. That is, he paints pictures. And he travels a lot. I once came to London to see another distant relative of mine. WITH famous actor and director Peter Ustinov.

And she is again called to return to Russia. It’s not just the children who are calling, but also the Soviet government itself. Contacts are being established with her through the government. It is recognized by our authorities. And how can one not admit it? There was nothing behind her that could discredit her image in terms of loyalty to the USSR. Absolutely nothing. But her name was known all over the world. And France, after De Gaulle’s visit to the USSR, had a special appeal for us. So everything worked out well. In the mid-60s, we organized extensive exhibitions of her paintings. In Moscow, Kyiv, Leningrad. And it was a huge success everywhere. And she didn't even expect this. This means that she was not forgotten in her homeland. That she is loved and appreciated. That she is still part of this Motherland. This means that life was not in vain. And she will forever remain in the history of painting in Russia forever.

All this unspeakably excited her soul. And at the beginning, before the exhibition, this is what she wrote: “I can’t imagine which of my things could attract the attention of the public in the USSR.” And now he is in shock. Even more so than from meeting her with two children after almost forty years of separation, who came to Paris to visit their mother.

Zinaida Serebryakova lived long life. Life was not at all poor in various events. She died at the age of 83. She was buried in the same Russian cemetery of Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois. I have been to this cemetery more than once. But I didn’t find Serebryakova’s grave. Found the graves of many other celebrities. One in particular struck me. Nureyev's grave. This is a must see. Maybe you can find it on the Internet. Such an oblong hill, covered entirely with a carpet of multi-colored mosaics. In terms of vulgar luxury, it can only compete with Yeltsin’s tombstone at the Novodevichy cemetery. True, Nureyev returned. And he even went on stage, greeted with applause. He walked across this stage on foot. Because, due to a certain illness, he could no longer perform soul-filled flights, as in former times. And then he came back again. This time it was not himself, but only his image, which, like a phantom, swayed over the entire luxurious hall. Bolshoi Theater. But in what form? This sight made not only the ladies in the hall blush with shame, but also the muses on the ceiling above the magnificent chandelier. Well, God be with him.

Zinaida Evgenievna Serebryakova, her ashes remain in the Russian cemetery near Paris. Her death passed almost unnoticed in France. Almost not a line. But in our country this sad event was noticed and noted. There were articles. And there was a big obituary. It said that “the work of Z.E. Serebryakova rightfully entered the golden fund of Russian art.” And it is right!

“At Lunch” (the second name is “At Breakfast”) is one of the most famous works female artists. The date of its writing is 1914. Today the original painting is in the State Tretyakov Gallery, and its reproduction and description can be found in this publication.

Brief biography of the artist

Before making “At Lunch” by Serebryakova, a few words should be said about its author. Zinaida Evgenievna was born in 1884 near Kharkov. Her parents were graphic artist Ekaterina Benois and sculptor Eugene Lanceray. Children's and teenage years she spent in St. Petersburg. The girl grew up surrounded creative people and since childhood I have been drawing enthusiastically.

In 1905, Zinaida Evgenievna married railway engineer Boris Serebryakov. The couple had 4 children: sons Zhenya and Sasha and daughters Tanya and Katya. The artist was widowed early and in 1924 she left for Paris, remaining there forever. While living in France, she continued to write, putting her whole soul into her works. The predominant part of her paintings were portraits. Serebryakova died in 1967, leaving behind a solid creative legacy.

Main characters

All her life, painting remained the meaning of life for Zinaida Evgenievna. Serebryakova portrayed her children Zhenya, Shurik and Tanya at dinner. Youngest daughter artist Katyusha was still too small at that time and could not pose. The canvas captures the moment when the children were having lunch (or breakfast) in the dining room. A beautifully set table indicates that the Serebryakov family adhered to European traditions.

The description of Serebryakova’s painting “At Lunch” should start with characteristics of three its main characters. The boys depicted on the canvas are the same age, their sister is several years younger than them. Zhenya drinks water thoughtfully. It is clear that he is not so much tormented by thirst as simply interested in the contents of the glass. At this time, the grandmother (only her hands are depicted in the picture) pours soup into his plate with a ladle. The rest of the kids look carefully towards the viewer. There is a plate filled with soup in front of Shurik. He had already managed to eat a little of it, but something made him tear himself away from the food and turn back. Little Tanya’s plate is empty, and she waits patiently for her grandmother to pour her soup. The girl carefully fixed her gaze on the same point as her brother. Curiosity can be read in the children’s large and expressive eyes.

Character and appearance of children

Not only talented artist, but Zinaida Evgenievna Serebryakova was also a subtle psychologist. “At lunch” is not easy story picture, in it the author conveyed each of her children. Her eldest son Evgeniy grew up as a calm and dreamy boy, Shurik was restless, and her daughter Tanyusha was a very active and curious girl. These of each of the children are clearly visible on the canvas.

Continuing the description of Serebryakova’s painting “At Lunch,” it is worth paying a little attention appearance brothers and sisters. The boys are dressed in blue shirts, the girl is dressed in a snow-white sundress, under which a dark blouse is visible. It is clear from their clothes that after lunch they were going for a walk. All the children are very similar faces. Tanyusha has her hair neatly combed, but Shurik and Zhenya’s hair sticks out in different directions.

Dinner table

The description of Serebryakova’s painting “At Lunch” allows us to see in Russians before the revolution. A snow-white tablecloth, napkins and beautiful dishes in those days were everyday attributes, without which not a single family meal was complete in decent houses. In addition to a large tureen, bowls and glasses, on the table you can see a decanter of water, a yellow jug, a sugar bowl, a salt shaker and small plates with fresh buns and chocolate cookies.

Despite the absence bright colors, the artist did a very good job sunny picture. Serebryakova dedicated “At Lunch” to her children, so every stroke on the canvas is made with a special touch. The painting exudes warmth and comfort. Looking at her, you can understand that the real happiness of any woman lies in her babies.

Other children's portraits by the author

“At Lunch” is not the only work in which Serebryakova painted her children. After the death of her husband, the artist created her most tragic picture « House of cards" Here she depicted grown-up and orphaned sons and daughters. Their faces show undisguised sadness and despair.

Children's themes slide into the films “Zhenya”, “Tanya and Katya. Girls near the piano”, “Portrait of A. Cherkesova-Benois with her son Alexander”, “Katya in fancy dress” and many others. According to the artist A. N. Benois, Zinaida Evgenievna’s uncle, she had no equal in painting portraits of children.

Is Pierre so supportive? Why did he change his original opinion? 3) As assessed by L.N. Tolstoy's role of personality in history? What importance does he attach to the private and social life of man? 4) Crossing of the Polish lancers across the Neman. How does the writer reveal his attitude towards Bonapartism in this scene?

1. How did Tolstoy show the importance of the common collective principle in the military life of soldiers?
2. Why was there confusion and disorder in the movement of the Russian army?
3. Why did Tolstoy describe the foggy morning in detail?
4. How did the image of Napoleon develop (details), who looked after the Russian army?
5. What does Prince Andrey dream of?
6. Why did Kutuzov sharply answer the emperor?
7. How does Kutuzov behave during the battle?
8. Can Bolkonsky’s behavior be considered a feat?

Volume 2
1. What attracted Pierre to Freemasonry?
2. What underlies the fears of Pierre and Prince Andrei?
3. Analysis of the trip to Bogucharovo.
4. Analysis of the trip to Otradnoye.
5. For what purpose does Tolstoy give the ball (name day) scene? Did Natasha remain “ugly, but alive”?
6. Natasha's dance. A property of nature that delighted the author.
7. Why did Natasha become interested in Anatole?
8. What is the basis of Anatole’s friendship with Dolokhov?
9. How does the author feel about Natasha after betraying Bolkonsky?

Volume 3
1. Tolstoy’s assessment of the role of personality in history.
2. How does Tolstoy reveal his attitude towards Napoleonism?
3. Why is Pierre dissatisfied with himself?
4. Analysis of the episode “retreat from Smolensk”. Why do the soldiers call Andrei “our prince”?
5. Bogucharovsky revolt (analysis). What is the purpose of the episode? How is Nikolai Rostov shown?
6. How to understand Kutuzov’s words “your road, Andrey, is the road of honor”?
7. How to understand Andrei’s words about Kutuzov “he is Russian, despite the French sayings”?
8. Why is Shengraben given through the eyes of Rostov, Austerlitz - Bolkonsky, Borodino - Pierre?
9. How to understand Andrei’s words “as long as Russia is healthy, anyone could serve it”?
10. How does the scene with the portrait of his son characterize Napoleon: “The chess is set, the game will begin tomorrow”?
11. Raevsky’s battery – important episode Borodin. Why?
12. Why does Tolstoy compare Napoleon to darkness? Does the author see the mind of Napoleon, the wisdom of Kutuzov, positive traits heroes?
13. Why did Tolstoy depict the council in Fili through the perception of a six-year-old girl?
14. Departure of residents from Moscow. What is the general mood?
15. Scene of a meeting with the dying Bolkonsky. How is the connection between the fates of the novel’s heroes and the fate of Russia emphasized?

Volume 4
1. Why did the meeting with Platon Karataev return Pierre’s sense of the beauty of the world? Analysis of the meeting.
2. How the author explained the meaning guerrilla warfare?
3. What is the significance of the image of Tikhon Shcherbatov?
4. What thoughts and feelings does the death of Petya Rostov give rise to in the reader?
5. What does Tolstoy see as the main significance of the War of 1812 and what is the role of Kutuzov in it according to Tolstoy?
6. Determine the ideological and compositional meaning of the meeting between Pierre and Natasha. Could there have been a different ending?

Epilogue
1. What conclusions does the author come to?
2. What are Pierre's true interests?
3. What underlies Nikolenka’s relationship with Pierre and Nikolai Rostov?
4. Analysis of Nikolai Bolkonsky's sleep.
5. Why does the novel end with this scene?

the writer consisted of the drama of Russian life. He dreamed that these two principles would unite, so that Russia would become united. But being a realist writer, he depicted the reality that he saw and which he assessed from the point of view of his artistic and historical views. How was it reflected historical views writer in the story "After the Ball"?

called war and peace. Tolstoy’s views on war. (3 sentences approximately)

2) the main part (the main image of the war of 1812, the thoughts of the heroes, war and nature, the participation in the war of the main characters (Rostov, Bezukhov, Bolkonsky), the role of commanders in the war, how the army behaves.

3) conclusion, conclusion.

Please help, I just read it a long time ago, but now I didn’t have time to read it. PLEASE HELP

As in the novel “War and Peace” by L.N. Tolstoy solves the question of the role of personality in history?

According to L.N. Tolstoy, history is created not by individual, even super-genius individuals, but by the will of the people. The spirit of a nation is formed from many individual wills, on which the outcome depends historical events. This was proven by the Patriotic War of 1812, when, in the face of a foreign threat, the entire nation united and found a “common life.”

Which folk types drawn by L.N. Tolstoy in the novel "War and Peace"?

L.N. Tolstoy shows different representatives people. But he notes two polar types national character. One is capable of rebellion (Bogucharov’s men), the other is non-resistance (Platon Karataev). Between them is the creator, jack of all trades Tikhon Shcherbaty, the brave elder Vasilisa, and elder Dron.

What are the views of L.N. Tolstoy embodied in the image of Platon Karataev?

In the image of Platon Karataev L.N. Tolstoy embodied the morality of the patriarchal peasantry he idealized and the theory of “non-resistance to evil through violence.” Karataev leaves the impression of beauty and simplicity, a unique spiritual harmony. Its appearance constantly emphasizes roundness as a sign of completeness. He is convinced that everything happens at the behest of God, therefore there is no need to resist anything, one must accept the world as it is. The main thing in Platon Karataev’s behavior is passivity and contemplation. Although L.N. Tolstoy presented the image of Karataev as positive example, but it also shows that the soldiers do not admire Karataev, they even treat him condescendingly. It was not the passive Karataevs who won the war with the French. Karataev - Tolstoy's ideal of complete dissolution in common life, a type of "swarm man".

What L.N. What does Tolstoy call “the hidden warmth of patriotism”?

IN Patriotic War 1812, the spiritual strength and fortitude of the people manifested themselves, their true patriotism, who did not need either pompous words or beautiful gestures. Everyone, as one person, understood that “it was impossible to be a Frenchman,” everyone directed their actions against the enemy - this was the source of victory that L.N. Tolstoy called it “the hidden warmth of patriotism.”

What is the significance of the contrast between Napoleon and Kutuzov?

L.N. Tolstoy recognized the role of personality in history, but believed that it only then determines historical movement when her will coincides with the will of her people. It was this philosophy that was reflected in the antithesis Napoleon - Kutuzov. According to Tolstoy, there is no and cannot be greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth. Napoleon is selfish, ambitious, people mean nothing to him - they are just figures in the games he plays. He is interested in soldiers only as a means of achieving personal glory. Unlike him, Kutuzov does not think about his own glory. He knows how to catch general direction national spirit and direct it to victory. Kutuzov lives according to the moral standards of the people. It was thanks to the combination of the will of the people and the art of Kutuzov that Napoleon first felt the approach of defeat. Russian troops first won a moral victory, and then a historical military one.

What is the meaning of the terms “inner man” and “outer man”?

The concepts of “inner man” and “outer man” are born in the mind of Pierre Bezukhov during the period of his disappointment in Freemasonry. “The inner man” is the “soul in life”, a folk feeling, naturalness. " Outer man" - "superfluous", dust and deadness of the soul, artificiality. The embodiment of the “inner man” is Kutuzov, the “outer man” is Napoleon.

What is Tolstoy's ideal woman?

The ideal of Tolstoy's woman emerges from the epilogue of the novel War and Peace. Natasha's interests are focused only on the house, children, and husband. L.N. Tolstoy is an opponent women's emancipation. His ideal of a woman is close to patriarchal ideas.