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Pavel
Alexandrovich Svedomsky

Russia • 1849−1904

Pavel Aleksandrovich Svedomsky (June 19, 1849, St. Petersburg - September 9, 1904, Davos, Switzerland) - Russian artist-academic, master of historical genre.

Features of the artist Pavel Svedomsky: Academician by education and mainstream, Pavel Svedomsky consciously rejected the latest trends in the visual arts, which emerged en masse at the end of the 19th century. However, he did not like Renaissance masters either. Most of his works were devoted to ancient mythological subjects, which was quite natural - the whole creative life of Pavel Alexandrovich was held mainly in Rome, and the Italians always adored salon art. Svedomsky was known and valued abroad, in Italy and France, in the United States, while at home they preferred not to notice his outdated “sugary academism”, although they noted the undisputed mastery of the artist.Pavel Tretyakov He highly appreciated the work of Pavel Svedomsky and acquired the picture “Medusa” for his gallery.

Famous paintings by artist Pavel Svedomsky: "Jellyfish", "Kiss", "Two Romans with a tambourine and flute", painting of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev.

Creativity Pavel Svedomskogo and his life path tightly intertwined with the fate of hisbrother Alexander (1848 - 1911), which was only a year older. The father of future artists, Alexander Svedsky, was a forester in the Perm province. Children were born in St. Petersburg. After the father’s early death, the mother took the children to the Mikhailovsky Plant family estate; She dreamed of making of the sons of mining engineers - the estate was supposed to contain deposits of iron ore. Children dreamed of brushes and paints, and, as Pavel Svedomsky recalled, they simply pulled off their first paints in a shop in the city of Sarapul, where their mother regularly shopped. As punishment for misconduct, the mother sent her sons to return the box, but the owner of the shop not only did not scold the future artists, but also presented them with new colors and albums.

Still, the brothers entered the Mining Institute, but two years later, after the mother re-married, the whole family moved to Düsseldorf, and the Svedomskies entered the Düsseldorf Academy of Arts. When the family moved to Munich, the brothers began to visit the workshop of the famous realist painter Mihai Munkachi, who was remembered all his life with great gratitude and respect. In 1873, Paul received the title of Honorary Free Communion from the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Having reached the age of majority, the brothers set off on a journey through Europe, and in 1875 found themselves in Rome, where they settled forever. 2-3 summer months “the kindest and sweetest Svedomsk painters” were spent on the family estate, the rest of the time they enjoyed the mild Italian climate and worked on the paintings in the huge workshop where they lived. The corners of Rome and its environs now and then appeared in the paintings of Pavel Svedomsky, as well as the elegant Italian models, who went out in historical costumes on the Spanish Steps in the morning. In the evenings, the brothers went to the famous cafe Greco, and soon became acquainted with all the regulars.

In 1879, Pavel Alexandrovich was awarded the Academy of Fine Arts with a large incentive medal for the painting “Julia in exile”, and his paintings “Moscow is burning” and “Daughter of Camellia” were awarded the silver medal of the Academy of Arts. In 1889, Pavel Svedomsky was awarded a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris for his painting “1793. Jacquerie.

Coming in the summer to his estate, Pavel Aleksandrovich switched to Russian topics and continued to work. Here he painted the paintings “Poor Bride”, “The Dance of the Scythians”, "Holy fool", "Evening", "Fire in Moscow. 1812 ”,“ Borodino ”,“ Execution of Ermak ”- the last work of the master.
Shortly after arriving in Rome, the Svedomsky met and became friends with the artist Wilhelm Kotarbinskyand when he fell ill with typhus - they took an active part in his fate. For some time Kotarbinsky lived with Svedomsky and worked in their workshop. When a few years laterAdrian Prakhov invited Svedomsky to take part in the painting of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev, the brothers recommended their friend Kotarbinsky to Prakhov. The three artists worked on many scenes, executed 18 frescoes and 84 figures of saints. In the same place, in the Vladimir Cathedral, they worked on the paintings. Viktor Vasnetsov,Mikhail Vrubel and Mikhail Nesterov. Work has been going on for ten years.

"Soboryane" regularly gathered in the salon Emilia Prakhova, hotly discussed the work and made sketches - often right on the tablecloth. As historian and traveler Vladimir Dedlov recalled, “Svedomsky, when he writes, works. Kotarbinsky - dreams. Adrian Prakhov introduced his "wards" to many rich people of Kiev, including the Tereshchenko family, who began to make orders for paintings. Nikolai Adrianovich Prakhov recalled: “When it happened, someone asked my father why he invited P. Svedomsky, whose paintings are so different from Vasnetsov, he answered:“ Vasnetsov writes icons, and Svedomsky paintings to which the worshipers are allowed to stand back during service. The entire middle part of the cathedral is painted by Viktor Mikhailovich, and by Pavel Alexandrovich - side ships. They do not interfere with one another and the difference in styles does not violate the decorative integrity of the painting of the walls of the cathedral. ”

Pavel Aleksandrovich Svedomsky left no descendants. He died in Davos, where he was treated for throat consumption, and was buried in Rome at the Monte Testaccio cemetery.

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