» Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich

Creativity and biography - Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich

Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich (1753/1755-1824) - Russian painter, one of the founders of the national urban landscape. Born in St. Petersburg. The son of a watchman at the Academy of Sciences. Alekseev’s great talent was already evident in early childhood. In 1766-73. studied at the Academy of Arts, first in the “painting of flowers and fruits” class, and only then in the landscape class, which was much more in line with his inclinations. In 1773, for one of the landscapes he received gold medal, which gave him the right to travel to Italy. For three years in Venice, the artist worked on theatrical scenery and painted landscapes (“Schiavoni Embankment in Venice,” 1775). Returning to St. Petersburg, Alekseev worked as a decorator at a theater school (1779-1786), but this occupation did not interest him. All free time he devotes himself to copying the works of G. A. Canaletto, B. Bellotto, C. J. Berne in the Hermitage. These copies brought success to the painter, thanks to which he was able to leave his job as a decorator and take up landscape painting. The artist writes watercolor sketches from life, and uses them to create views of cities. One of his most famous works is “View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress” (1794, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow). The mirror surface of the Neva, encased in granite; boats floating on the river; majestic buildings on the opposite shore, reflected in the mirror of the water; the high sky with light snow-white clouds - everything gives the landscape a majestic and monumental look. And at the same time, it is a living and emotional image of a beautiful northern city, unique in its individuality. Alekseev’s landscapes embodied the poetry of everyday city life, its real and ideal features. For his work “View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress,” the painter received the title of academician.

In 1795 he was sent by the Academy “to take pictures” to the Crimea (Bakhchisarai), Nikolaev and Kherson. Watercolor sketches made there became the basis for large paintings. During a year and a half business trip to Moscow and around the provinces (1800-01), based on many watercolor sketches, he created a number of large canvases (“View of Red Square”, “View of the Military Hospital”, “Kremlin at the Stone Bridge”, “Iveron Gate”, etc.) . Since 1812, the artist depicted only St. Petersburg. In 1800, by order of Paul I, the artist painted views of Moscow. Alekseev's cityscapes represent the picturesque beauty of the ancient Russian city ("Parade in the Moscow Kremlin. Cathedral Square", c. 1800, State historical museum, Moscow). The artist stayed in Moscow for about a year. At this time, he painted many watercolors and paintings depicting the streets of Moscow and its environs, monasteries and churches. Executed with almost documentary precision, these works brought the master extraordinary popularity, which led to orders from the Russian nobility. Among the customers were members of the royal family.

From 1803 until the end of his life, Alekseev taught “perspective” painting (landscape) at the Academy of Arts, being a member of its council. Despite his serious illness, he worked until the end of his days. In one of their latest works emotionally and authentically depicted the flood in St. Petersburg on November 7, 1824. Since 1802, he again turned to the theme of St. Petersburg. The artist paints the majestic and beautiful architecture of the city, the wide expanses of the Neva, but now in his landscapes more and more space is given to man. The painting of this period is distinguished by a clearer pattern, warm shades of paint and dense texture (“View of the Strelka Vasilyevsky Island from the Peter and Paul Fortress", 1810).

Over time, interest in the aging landscape painter from his contemporaries waned. The forgotten artist died in poverty. Alekseev’s works are not only aesthetic discoveries of the “pioneer” of the genre of Russian urban landscape in painting, but also the most valuable historical documents. Students outstanding master there were famous Russian painters S. Shchedrin and M. Vorobyov.

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An artist who created a name for himself with a new genre in Russian art- genre of urban landscape. The amazing talent and general style of his paintings are one of the best in world painting. Name amazing artist- Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich.

Biography

Alekseev Fedor Yakovlevich was born in 1754 ( exact date birth is missing in historical sources) in a poor family. In 1766, his father petitioned to enroll his son in the Academy of Arts, and his request was granted. Fyodor Alekseev begins his studies in the class of painting flowers and fruits, after which he is transferred to the landscape class, and in 1773 he successfully graduates from the Academy. For the best writing of a programmatic landscape, he is awarded a gold medal. The talented young man is sent to Venice to continue his studies to specialize in decorative painting. This special type writing scenery for the theater. During his studies, Fyodor Alekseev, in addition to his main occupation, was enthusiastically studying Venetian artists depicting landscape, such as Canale, Guardi, and engravings by Piranesi, who at that time lived in Rome. But with his craving for new knowledge, the artist displeased the academic authorities.

The road to art

After finishing his specialization in Venice, artist Fyodor Alekseev returns to St. Petersburg and gets a job as a painter at a theater school. The approximate dates of this period of his life are 1779-1786. Due to his passion for landscapes, in addition to theatrical scenery, Fyodor Alekseev was greeted rather coolly in his homeland and was denied further training to obtain the title of academician. But the artist sets himself the goal of showing the Academy what he is capable of, and along with this work, the artist combines copying landscapes by Canaletto, Bellotto, Robert and Berne in the newly opened Hermitage.

Thanks to successful work in the Hermitage, he leaves his service at the school. His creative reproduction of the originals so beautifully repeated their pictorial system that the works gained great success. Successful activities brought Fyodor Alekseev fame, the nickname “Russian Canaletto”, for which the Academy gives the artist the opportunity to independently paint his paintings. Of course, they were landscapes.

The originality of the works of the artist Fyodor Alekseev

Having proven his ability to draw independently, the artist paints a series of famous paintings with views of St. Petersburg. Some of the most significant: “View of the Peter and Paul Fortress and Palace Embankment” (1793) and “View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress” (1794).

Using the knowledge that he acquired in Venice, Fyodor Alekseev creates his own image of a solemn and at the same time living city. At the same time, in his paintings he preserves the laws of classicism that were important in the 18th century and combines the ideal and the real. For his work in 1794, the artist Fyodor Alekseev was given the title of Academician of Perspective Painting.

Creative path

After receiving the honorary title, Fyodor Alekseev receives the task of drawing the places where Empress Catherine II was in 1787. The artist recreates on his canvases the beauty of such southern cities as Nikolaev, Kherson, Bakhchisarai.

And in 1800, Emperor Paul I himself instructed Fyodor Alekseev to paint Moscow. During the time that the artist spent in this city (slightly more than a year), he brings several paintings and large number watercolors depicting views of Moscow streets, monasteries, and suburbs. But the most important thing is the unique images of the Kremlin. Among them, the most popular were “Red Square in Moscow” and “Boyar Square, or the Bed Porch and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior behind the Golden Lattice in the Moscow Kremlin.”

Moscow works are so distinguished by their accuracy and documentation that they attract new buyers of paintings to the artist. Among them famous people, and members of the imperial family.

The artist's fame as a landscape painter

Since the 1800s Fyodor Yakovlevich becomes the head of the perspective painting class at the Academy of Arts and again paints on his favorite topic - St. Petersburg. At the same time, the artist travels a lot around Russia and captures views of provincial cities.

Appears in his paintings more life, it seems that now the images will come to life. They become like documentary historical photographs. All more of an artist depicts people. They come to the foreground of paintings with palaces, embankments and streets. People with their daily activities, carts, workers. The details are painted even more clearly, heavier, the color scheme looks warmer, and the painting takes on a special richness. Works of that time include “View of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg”, “View Promenade des Anglais from the side of Vasilievsky Island" and others. In warm colors, with a subtle depiction of the smallest details.

The paintings of Fyodor Alekseev are distinguished by their special “warm” light and movement. The sky takes on a delicate azure hue, and the clouds take on the pinkishness of the setting sun.

The last years of the artist's life

No one is eternal, and over time, the fame of Fedor Yakovlevich Alekseev begins to fade, and the public forgets him. The famous landscape painter dies in 1824 great poverty. He leaves behind a wife and children, and the Academy of Arts provides financial assistance for organizing the funeral and for the continued existence of the family.

Despite the sad end of his life, the artist Fedor Yakovlevich Alekseev is one of the most famous creators of the urban landscape genre. There are queues for his paintings at the Tretyakov Gallery, State Hermitage, Russian Museum. His works are studied in educational institutions. He is remembered, and in the world of painting his name is highly valued, and the biography of Fyodor Alekseev is an example of the fact that you need to follow your calling, no matter what.

Fyodor Yakovlevich Alekseev can rightfully be considered creator of the city landscape in Russian painting. Having mastered in Italy all the secrets of the craftsmanship of his famous contemporaries, the Venetian landscape painters - Canaletto, Belotto and Guardi, the young artist returned to his homeland and was fascinated by the austere and slender beauty of St. Petersburg. He was able to feel the scale of the capital on the Neva, and this gave his canvases a special solemnity and elation.

The dim northern light, the high pale sky, and the humidity of the air determined the exquisite silvery-blue color scheme of it. the best landscapes. But even among his masterfully executed paintings, the landscape of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress stands out for its subtlety and poetry, which does not interfere with the documentary accuracy in the depiction of architecture.

Behind the wide mirror of the deep Neva, along which boats and rafts silently glide, magnificent palaces and the continuing fence of the Summer Garden are lined up along the embankment.. The clarity of the lines is softened by distance, moisture-saturated air, and their reflections in the river tremble and melt. This classic view of St. Petersburg evokes a feeling of grandeur and at the same time grace. The State Tretyakov Gallery came from the collection of Alexander Sergeevich Taneyev.

Painting:

Artist: Fyodor Yakovlevich Alekseev (1753/55 – 1824)

Date of painting: 1794

Painting dimensions: 70X108 cm

Permanently exhibited: Tretyakov Gallery. Lavrushinsky lane, 10, room 6

“View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress” in the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery

About this painting, now stored in the Tretyakov Gallery, the poet Konstantin Batyushkov wrote with admiration: “ Look now at the embankment, at these huge palaces, each more majestic than the other! These houses are one more beautiful than the other! …How majestic and beautiful this part of the city is!»

The foreground of the picture is occupied by the wall of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Turning to the urban landscape, Fyodor Alekseev created an ideal harmonious world in the picture. Water, air and architecture merge into one inextricable whole. Poetry and noble, restrained admiration fill the landscape. A contemporary of the artist wrote enthusiastically about “harmony and transparency, which constitute the main advantage of his brush.”

Academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts Fyodor Alekseev- the first master of urban landscape in Russian painting. In lyrical paintings executed with great subtlety, he captured the austere appearance of St. Petersburg, the picturesque beauty of Moscow, and the poetry of everyday city life.

From 1803 until the end of his life, Fyodor Alekseev taught perspective painting in the landscape class of the Academy of Arts. His students were famous artists and future eminent teachers M.N. Vorobyov, F.F. Shchedrin, S.F. Shchedrin.

“Red Square in Moscow” Fedor Alekseev. 1801. Tretyakov Gallery

Unfortunately, the end of the life of the honored master was sad. He died in poverty November 11, 1824, three days after creating his last sketch of the flood in St. Petersburg (at Bolshoi Theater). He was buried at the Smolensk Orthodox Cemetery in St. Petersburg. Money for funerals and help large family allocated by the Academy of Arts.

Biography of Fedor Yakovlevich Alekseev

Fyodor Yakovlevich Alekseev is the first master of urban landscape in the history of Russian painting.

His father served as a watchman at the Academy of Sciences, which in the mid-18th century was the leading art center. The boy's father, Yakov Alekseev, sends his son to the Academy of Arts.

In the period from 1766 to 1773, Alekseev studied at the Academy of Arts.

In 1767 he was among the students of the class of ornamental sculpture, led by Louis Rolland, then in the “painting class” of G. Fandermint and A. Perezinotti.

In 1773, the artist received a small gold medal with a sword for a programmatic landscape. In honor of this event, he was sent to Venice to paint theatrical scenery.

In Italy, the artist studied with such masters as D. Moretti and P. Gaspari. But he soon abandoned all the teachers and independently turned to the urban landscape common in Venice.

He studies the famous landscape painters A. Canale, F. Guardi, and is interested in landscape and fantastic engravings by D. B. Piranesi. Upon returning to his homeland, he was not offered any program to obtain an academic title. He was sent to work as a decorator at the theater school, where he worked from 1779 to 1786.

While working at the school, he copied landscapes by A. Canale, B. Bellotto, G. Robert and J. Bernet from the Hermitage collection. Thanks to this, he quits his hated job. The copies were very successful and brought great success to the artist. They brought the artist the fame of the “Russian Canaletto” and the long-awaited opportunity to move on to painting original landscapes.

Among his works of the 1790s. especially famous are “View of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Palace Embankment” and “View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress.” Alekseev created a sublime image of a majestic, beautiful city. The main attention in the paintings is given to the image of the water surface of the Neva, boats gliding along it and the high summer sky with floating clouds.

For the painting “View of the Palace Embankment from the Summer Garden to the Marble Palace” in 1794, the Academy of Arts awarded Alekseev the title of academician and he was sent to the south of Russia “to photograph views of the areas” that Catherine II visited in 1787.

The journey lasted 2 years, and the artist created many watercolors, from which he painted oil paintings in St. Petersburg: “View of the city of Nikolaev”, “View of the city of Bakhchisarai” and others. The best was “View of the city of Bakhchisaray”. This is how landscapes of southern cities appear - Nikolaev, Kherson, Bakhchisarai.

In the paintings of the southern cycle there are some common features, which allow one to judge the artist’s movement from perspective to the classicist organization of the canvas. The composition is organized clearly and logically.

And another characteristic feature of southern paintings is the appearance of staffage. All details are depicted very vividly, forming entertaining genre scenes. They serve as unique units of scale, allowing one to imagine the size of buildings, squares, and the height of trees.

Starting from these works, staffage became a mandatory part of all the artist’s works. He seems to “populate” the city with people and buildings. These are not just mirages, these are solid structures made of stone, inhabited by many people.

In 1800, at the request of Emperor Paul I, Alekseev painted views of Moscow. Alekseev painted his paintings based on detailed watercolor sketches from life. The artist enthusiastically studies ancient Russian architecture.

He has been living in Moscow for more than a year. Here he created a number of paintings and many watercolors with views of Moscow streets, monasteries, suburbs, but mainly various images of the Kremlin.

The image of a fabulous, holy Russian city amazed people. Moscow works attracted Alekseev huge amount customers, among whom were the most distinguished nobles and members of the imperial family.

In 1802, Alekseev became the head of the class of perspective painting at the Academy of Arts. Among his students were Sylvester F. Shchedrin and M.N. Vorobyov.

He again returns to his favorite topic of St. Petersburg. Now his passion for the harmony of the holistic space of the artist’s paintings has been replaced by a great interest in people, their lives against the backdrop of the luxurious palaces of the Neva. People with their daily activities now occupy the entire foreground of the paintings. These are “View of the English Embankment from Vasilievsky Island”, “View of the Admiralty and Palace Embankment from the First Cadet Corps”, “View of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg”, “View of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island from the Peter and Paul Fortress”.

Gradually the public begins to forget the aging artist. He was a magnificent artist, who through hard work proved his right to be a landscape painter, in great poverty, leaving a large family.

He died in poverty in St. Petersburg on November 11, 1824, leaving a large family without funds. The Academy gave money for his funeral and benefits for his widow and small children.

Alekseev is the first master of urban landscape in Russian painting. In lyrical paintings executed with great subtlety, he captured the austere appearance of St. Petersburg, the picturesque beauty of Moscow, and the poetry of everyday city life.

He was attracted by the landscape, in which architecture played a huge role. He traveled a lot and already at the beginning of the 19th century he painted views of the provincial cities of Russia and Moscow.

Most famous works masters: " Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin" (1780s), "View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress" (1794), "View of the Resurrection and Nikolsky Gates from Tverskaya Street in Moscow" (1811).

Fyodor Yakovlevich Alekseev (between 1753-1755, St. Petersburg - November 11 (23), 1824, St. Petersburg) - Russian painter, contemporaries called him “Russian Canaletto”. The greatest master of Russian veduta.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE ARTIST

Son of the watchman of the Academy of Sciences. In 1764, at the request of his father, he was admitted to study at Imperial Academy arts, before that he studied at the garrison school.

In 1767, among the students of the class of ornamental sculpture, led by Louis Rolland, then in the “painting class” of Heinrich Fondermint and A. Perezinotti.

In 1773-1777 he improved as a theater artist in Venice, where he also painted landscapes (“Schiavoni Embankment in Venice”, 1775, Art Museum BSSR, Minsk).

In the 1790s. made landscapes of St. Petersburg (“View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress,” 1794, Tretyakov Gallery), for which in 1794 he received the title of academician.

In 1802, Alekseev became the head of the class of perspective painting at the Academy of Arts. Among his students were Sylvester F. Shchedrin and M.N. Vorobyov.

To “take views” he traveled to Kherson, Nikolaev, Bakhchisarai (1795), Poltava, Voronezh, Orel and then painted paintings using watercolor sketches from life (“Square in Nikolaev”, Russian Museum, St. Petersburg).

The image of a fabulous, holy Russian city amazed people. Moscow works attracted a huge number of customers to Alekseev, among whom were the most distinguished nobles and members of the imperial family. In 1800, at the request of Emperor Paul I, Alekseev painted views of Moscow. Alekseev painted his paintings based on detailed watercolor sketches from life. The artist enthusiastically studies ancient Russian architecture.

While in Moscow in 1800-1802, he painted two paintings from life (“Red Square with St. Basil’s Cathedral,” Museum of the Institute of Russian Literature of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Leningrad, and “View of a Military Hospital,” not preserved) and a number of watercolors.

In the 1810s. created new series Petersburg landscapes (“View of the Promenade des Anglais”, Russian Museum).

Gradually the public begins to forget the aging artist. He died in poverty in St. Petersburg on November 11, 1824, leaving a large family without funds.

CREATION

Alekseev is the first master of urban landscape in Russian painting.

In lyrical paintings executed with great subtlety, he captured the austere appearance of St. Petersburg, the picturesque beauty of Moscow, and the poetry of everyday city life. He was attracted by the landscape, in which architecture played a huge role. He traveled a lot and already at the beginning of the 19th century he painted views of provincial towns in Russia.

Alekseev's creativity appeared important stage in the formation of the traditions of the national school picturesque landscape. His works, attractive to his contemporaries and descendants with their sublimity and artistic perfection of images, preserved the appearance of Russian cities at the turn of the 18th century - XIX centuries, becoming the most valuable historical documents of the era.

In the paintings “View of the Exchange and the Admiralty from the Peter and Paul Fortress” (1810, State Tretyakov Gallery), “View of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg”, “View of the Admiralty and Palace Embankment from the First Cadet Corps” (1810s, State Russian Museum) the main new heroes have become architectural structures capitals built at the beginning of the 19th century. The view of the Exchange, crowned by the spit of Vasilievsky Island, is distinguished by the complexity and dynamism of the construction.

The artist chose a point of view that his contemporaries called “happy.” It made it possible to capture in a single space the magnificent buildings that personified the power and prosperity of the young city.

The architectural "avenue" has become an image of an urban environment full of noise and movement. An important role in St. Petersburg species early XIX centuries play scenes from the life of city dwellers, filling the images with charm and human warmth.

In the paintings of the southern cycle (“View of the city of Nikolaev”, “View of the city of Bakhchisarai”, etc.) there are certain common features that allow us to judge the artist’s movement from perspective to the classicist organization of the canvas. The composition is organized clearly and logically. And one more characteristic feature southern paintings - the appearance of staffage. All details are depicted very vividly, forming entertaining genre scenes. They serve as unique units of scale, allowing one to imagine the size of buildings, squares, and the height of trees.