The collection of works by artists of Bessarabia in the late XIX - early XX centuries in National Museum of Art, a prominent place is occupied by the paintings, painted by Paul Piskareva, whose activity is at the origins of modern Moldavian art. Critic Pauline Kolomeets believes that it is difficult in few words to define such a multifaceted work of this brilliant artist as he worked in different genres and types of art. For her it seems to be a realistic romantic: a romantic's perception of nature, but the realist in its understanding and interpretation.
- It is remarkable, "she says," what muralist and Illustrator at the same time cleverly uses the characteristics of the majestic epic landscapes and intimate feast in the faces of Madonnas with babies, making it spiritually close to Mikhail Vrubel and Victor Vasnetsov. Of course, the works of this great artist is still very little studied and it is hoped that his work will finally find their Explorer and P. A. Piskarev will appear before the audience in the same multi-faceted, we know as professionals.
FROM THE ARCHIVE.
The "Bessarabian word" 1.02.1937 city newspaper published a letter to the rector of the ascension Church of Chisinau Archpriest John Bivol, in which he appealed to the painter P. A. Piskareva with these words: "I Feel the need to Express my sincere gratitude on my own behalf and on behalf of the parish Council, churchwardens and parishioners for the joy You gave us artistic painting of our Church of the ascension, by which our Church came to life and became a decoration of the city."
Of particular interest, in our opinion, is the work of the artist as Director-founder of the first (!) in Chisinau, a private school of artistic crafts and applied arts, created on the basis of his workshop. The purpose of this school, under its Charter from 1.03.1907, was "to give experienced craftsmen, to spread art education among them and contribute to the development of the taste for fine art in all sectors of society."
It all started in 1898... After graduating from the Odessa drawing school (at that time there taught artists who have graduated from the St. Petersburg Academy of arts K. K., Konstanti, A. A. Popov, etc.) Pavel Piskarev, at the invitation of the Kirillov iconostasis of the wizard, comes to Chisinau. Here in the house Yaroslavl on the corner of Alexander (Stefan cel Mare) and Michael (Pushkin), he opens an art Studio, performing all sorts of decorative work: paintings, copies of paintings by famous artists, portraits from cards and nature icons, icon-stands, iconostases, stamping images, the painting of the churches and plans and estimates of iconography, designs and sketches, painting of walls, ceilings, cabinets, decorations, furniture, grids, crosses, monuments. Already held lessons in drawing, painting, sculpture, and pyrography.
PAGES OF THE BIOGRAPHY.
Parents P. Piskareva Alexei logvinovich and Anna were farmers Kaluga province Mosalsky district lunevsky the parish of the village of Davydovo. The desire to educate children forced the head of the family to decide on a bold move - to move with his family (four children) to Odessa. The future artist was then 5 years old. His life is similar to the fate of many artists of Russia, who received an art education, worked in the province. This brilliant man has lived an interesting, eventful life. He died in 1949 in Chisinau.
Alas, not all of the artist's work saved, there are always people and time were favorable to them. The Cathedral, located in the center of the city, which means, in plain sight, could not protect, under its arches, iconography and ornament P. Piskareva. Something managed to be rescued, to be restored. Restorer Victor Agapitov, fascinated by the works of such a gifted artist, narrated:
- Showing himself a good scholar of iconography, Piskarev has earned a favorable attitude on the part of the Archbishop of Kishinev and Khotyn Seraphim, which, according to the documents, ask him to do the painting of the Cathedral in Bolgrad, Izmail, Reni, Belgorod-Dnestrovsky. Later, in the 20-ies-30-ies., he painted churches in the towns of Targovishte and Ackerman, in the villages of Singera and Zahoriany. And ascension (St. G. Ureche, 58, below the center of the market) and the cathedrals is generally a special conversation! It was a pleasure to work with: very strong master. When restaurerede such artists, the inspiration comes, I want to create. We tried to do something in his style - very interesting. As a painter in this style - he is perhaps the only... the Mural, designed for focused, in-depth contemplation, silent prayer, communication with God, is at the same time as a window to the past, through which you can see the worldview of our predecessors, their aesthetic and ethical ideals. But this is only possible provided that the artist is talented. And the talent of P. A. Piskareva was recognized even by his contemporaries.
Despite the fact that P. A. Piskarev often "remained in the shadows" as if the Romanian authorities (because originally from Russia) and Soviet (because I was writing icons), he left the clearest traces on land of Moldova. Paintings, historical paintings, portraits, still lifes at the National Art Museum, as well as icons and frescoes of the ascension Cathedral in Kishinev testify to this.
(Independent Moldova. 2005-01-14. The author - Tatiana Dobrynina)
