Konstantin
Apollonovich Savitsky

Konstantin Apollonovich Savitsky (25 may [6 June] 1844, Taganrog, Russian Empire — January 31 [13 February] 1905, Penza, Russian Empire) – Russian artist-itinerant, known primarily for the paintings, which depicted the hardships of peasant life and aspirations of the peasants.

Features of the artist Konstantin Savitsky: a carefully constructed composition, interest in the peasant theme, displaying the hardships of peasant life, a skillful connection of a plurality of characters in one picture, dull, discreet color. In cases where use bright, contrasting colorsthey have a Savitsky work on balancing each other, not gain.

Famous paintings of Konstantin Savitsky: "Meeting of the icon", "On war", "Repair works on the railway". Not a picture Savitsky, but no doubt aware of his work – bears in the picture Shishkin "Morning in a pine forest".

Savitsky was born in the family of a military doctor. The boy had poor health, and for a long time he had to spend in bed, was addicted to drawing. Coast was 15 when he became an orphan. Uncle sent him to a private boarding school in Livonia (now – Latvia). By the time the boy had definitely dreamt of the St. Petersburg Academy of arts. Eighteen years old he left the Board and became auditor at the Academy. The clash of expectations and reality happened very quickly and was very unpleasant – Savitsky was not ready to learn at the Academy, and he was transferred to drawing classes preparatory "school Exchange". The St. Petersburg drawing school for the Academy of arts was located in the customs buildings at the Exchange, hence the name.

About your education in this school Sawicki recalled that, in fact, was left to himself. In order to earn a living, wrote to the stencil icon. At this time he became friendly with the brothers Zhemchuzhnikova and their buddies Lev Lagorioand Alexander Beydemancalled their teachers. In the Academy, he returned in 1867, and the year passed the first and second class and immediately transferred to the third field. The Academy Sawicki was an excellent student, was awarded five silver medals. In 1871, he received a small gold medal of the Academy for his painting "Cain and Abel". Dreamed of a large gold medal, giving the opportunity of internships in Europe. However, this did not happen – according to one version, he was expelled from the Academy due to the fact that too actively collaborated with the Association of traveling exhibitions, on the other – because it is not passed on time exam. It is possible that both versions are true, one was the cause, the second was the reason. Petition for reinstatement was rejected. Sawicki immersed himself in the Affairs of the Wanderers, he became close friends with Shishkin, Repin, Kramskoyand Stasov.

Third traveling exhibition with great success exhibited picture Savitsky "Repair work on the railroad". The first time Pavel Tretyakovthanks to what the artist received a coveted opportunity to travel to Europe, where at that time as fellows of the Academy of arts were good friends Ilya Repin and Vasily Polenov. In France, in this, the year 1874 was held the first exhibition of the Impressionists. Savitsky new direction was not close, he too was an itinerant to become a little bit impressionist, but the environment of their influence. In his works of the period noticeable increased attention to the intricacies of the transmission of light and air.

In 1870, being the student of the Academy, where he married Catherine Mitrokhina, the girl progressive views. Alas, advanced Outlook did not save her life: Katherine is very jealous of her husband, and in 1875, the year in Paris Savitsky's wife committed suicide. It is unknown whether she had any reason to be jealous, but we know that the artist is very grieved at her death. From the letter of Ivan Kramskoy: "Terrible, terrible grief befell me, I lost everything that was best and dearest in the world". Savitsky was unbearable to stay in France, he returned to Russia and stopped in sisters in Dinaburg (now Daugavpils in Latvia). There gradually came to, even occasionally out in Petersburg and Paris. Dinaburg four-year period, many researchers consider the pinnacle of creativity Savitsky. His best paintings are created in Dinaburg. In these years, he wrote, illustrated journals. Especially he managed the painting, depicting the difficult lives of the peasants. Savitsky was even called "Nekrasov in painting".

In 1880, he felt healed enough to return to the light, and settled in St. Petersburg. The artist smiled, and personal happiness in 42 years, he married 19-year-old Valerie Dumoulin. To this marriage were born seven children, son George in the future became a famous Soviet artist(ahere he is very young and seriously quarreling with the mother).

The Association of traveling exhibitions from the very moment of creation occupied a significant place in the life of Konstantin Savitsky, and in 1891 in Moscow, he immersed himself in the Affairs of the Wanderers. Led and teaching – first at the Moscow school of painting, sculpture and architecture, and in 1897 – in they headed the Art school in Penza. Then he received a thoroughly reformed by the time the Academy of arts, the title of academician. In Penza Savitsky worked until his death.

Not to mention in the biography of Konstantin Savitsky an embarrassing moment. Today he is known in particular as the author of the famous bears in the painting by Shishkin "Morning in a pine forest". For this reason go all sorts of rumors – the signature of Savitsky on canvas-no. It really is not, but not because Ivan Shishkin tried to hush up the fact of participation of Savitsky in the creation of paintings. The name of the second author jammed bought "Morning" Pavel Tretyakov. Shishkin honestly gave the fourth part of the fee, that is a thousand rubles, Savitsky. With Shishkin they were good friends, and Sawicki, even baptized his youngest son, Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin. By the way, about bears. Son of George Savitsky was one of the best animalists of his time, and he Konstantin Apollonovich loved animals – at one time he lived two dogs and eleven Canaries.

Author: Alain Grosheva