Искусство-русские художники-Кустодиев

B.M.Kustodiev

Russian Soviet artist

Birth

• 23 February 1878, Astrakhan -

- 26 May 1927, Leningrad

Was born in the family of a professor of philosophy, history of literature, and logic at the local theological seminary.

• "The whole tenor of the rich and plentiful merchant way of life was there right under my nose... It was like something out of an Ostrovsky play."

Art studies

• Between 1893 and 1896, Kustodiev studied in theological seminary and took private art lessons in Astrakhan from Pavel Vlasov, a pupil of Vasily Perov. Subsequently, from 1896 to 1903, he attended Ilya Repin’s studio at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. He first exhibited in 1896.

• "I have great hopes for Kustodiev," wrote Repin. "He is a talented artist and a thoughtful and serious man with a deep love of art; he is making a careful study of nature..."

Travelling

• In 1903, he married Julia Proshinskaya (1880–1942).

• During 1904-1909 he visited France and Spain on a grant from the Imperial Academy of Arts. After that he travelled to Spain, then to Italy, he visited Austria and Germany, and again France and Italy. During these years he painted many portraits and genre pieces. However, no matter where Kustodiev happened to be –he missed a lot his motherland. After five months in France he returned to Russia.

Career

• The Russian Revolution of 1905, which shook the foundations of society, evoked a vivid response in the artist's soul. He contributed to the satirical journals « Zhupel » and « Adskaya Pochta ». At that time, he first met the artists of « Mir Iskusstva » , the group of innovative Russian artists. He joined their association in 1910 and subsequently took part in all their exhibitions.

Stage design

• The artist was also interested in designing stage scenery. He first started work in the theatre in 1911, when he designed the sets for Alexander Ostrovsky's «An Ardent Heart». Such was his success that further orders came pouring in. In 1913, he designed the sets and costumes for «The Death of Pazukhin» at the Moscow Art Theatre.

• His talent in this sphere was especially apparent in his work for Ostrovsky's plays; «Family Affair», «A Stroke of Luck», «Wolves and Sheep», and «The Storm». The atmosphere of Ostrovsky's plays—provincial life and the world of the merchant class—was close to Kustodiev's own genre paintings, and he worked easily and quickly on the stage sets.

The last moments

• In 1923, Kustodiev joined the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia. He continued to paint, make engravings, illustrate books, and design for the theatre up until his death of tuberculosis on 28 May 1927, in Leningrad.