Nikolay
Nikolaevich Karazin

Born in Kharkov province in a noble family. V. Karazin grandfather was the founder of Kharkiv University. In the 1860 – 1870s was in military service, the participant Bukhara and Khiva trips. In 1876 – 1878 he participated in the Serbian-Turkish campaign as an artist-correspondent. He had the order, he was awarded the Golden arms. In 1865 – 1867 - an auditor in St. Petersburg Academy of arts (B. Villevalde). С1870 professionally engaged in painting, the ethnographic drawing, literature. Since 1879 – member of the Russian geographical Islands. In 1885 he received the title of honorary member AH, 1907 – academician of the Academy of arts. Was widely known and popular in Russia in the second half of NINETEENTH century Lived and worked in St. Petersburg.

The grandson of a public figure, the founder of Kharkiv University Vasyl Nazarovych Karazin Kharkiv national University and the famous Russian historian, author of the "Acts of Peter the Great" Ivan Ivanovich Golikov. Was born in November 1842 in the Sloboda of Novo-Borisoglebskaya Bogodukhov County Kharkov province. To ten years was raised in the suburban estate of his grandmother, then was assigned to studies in the 2nd Moscow cadet corps, from which in 1862 was released in the officers in Kazan Dragoon regiment. Since the regiment Karazin involved in suppression of the Polish insurrection of 1863-64 and for the difference in the cases near the poryts'k and in Wolf's post was awarded the order of St .. Anne's 4-th degree with the inscription "For bravery". Since childhood, feeling a great attraction to painting, Karazin in 1865 he retired with the rank of captain and entered the Academy of fine arts, where he worked for two years under the guidance of the famous painter of battle BP Villevalde. In 1867 Karazin left the Academy to take part in the campaign to Bukhara. Specific again to the service as a Lieutenant in the 5 th Turkestan line battalion, Karazin went to Turkestan, and commanded a company, distinguished himself in the battle at the villages Uhum and Hayat, during the assault Chapan-ATA heights near Samarkand, under Urgut and Kara-Tyube. In these cases Karazin received the order of St. Vladimir 4-th degree with swords and bow, the rank of captain and a cash award. But the special courage he displayed in battle on Zirabulakski heights (2 June), where, at the head of his polybutelene, on the orders of General Abramov, led the attack and swift attacks have detained the main forces of Bukhara. In this resistant and difficult battle Karazin had to participate in the melee, during which kick butt he had broken sword. When, at the end of the battle, General Kaufman saw Karazin in the hand of only one hilt from the sword, then said to him: "You messed up your weapon; I'll send you another". The next day Karazin received a gold sword with the inscription "for bravery". In Turkestan, he met with VV Vereshchagin. In 1870 Karazin was transferred to the 4-th Turkestan line battalion and in the same year, newly retired with the rank of captain and uniform. From this time begins the literary and artistic activity Karazin Kharkiv national University, where he devoted the rest of his life. Extremely impressionable and observant, Karazin with particular interest the true artist was closer to the new nature of Central Asia, to types and manners of the natives. Military campaigns gave him the opportunity for a close study of the life of a Russian soldier. His first paintings, reproduced in policypage was placed in the "world pictures" for 1871 Karazin Also created the first Russian art postcards issued by the Community of St. Catherine. In 1874 and 1879 Karazin, as an expert on the region, it was suggested that the Russian geographical society to take part in scientific expeditions in Central Asia to study the Amu Darya basin. For the drawings that were attached to the journals of these expeditions, Karazin were awarded top honors at the geographical exhibitions in Paris and London, he was elected a member of the Russian geographical society. Serbo-Turkish and Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78, Karazin was a war correspondent-Illustrator. His sketches in pen, pencil and watercolor from life, gave a vivid picture of a camp and military life of our troops on the Balkan theatre of war. These illustrations were published in the best foreign publications and delivered Karazin fame. In the 80-ies of the XIX V. Karazin, by Imperial order, was sent to Turkestan for drawing up sketches for paintings that he was commissioned to write on the theme of the March of Russian troops in Khiva and Bukhara. The result of this trip was the creation of Karasinym seven large battle paintings: "the Capture of Tashkent", "the Entry of Russian troops in Samarkand, June 8, 1868" (GRM), "the Taking of a Mahram", "Khiva campaign of 1873. The transition of the Turkestan detachment through the dead Sands to the wells of Adam-Krylgan" (GRM), "the First appearance of Russian troops on the Amu-Darya. Crossing Turkestan detachment at Sheikh-Aryk", "Zirabulak" and "Teke expedition of 1881. The storming of Geok-Tepe" (RM). However, not battle paintings won a big name Karazin. Nervous by nature, lively, agile and always active, he loved to paint large paintings, which require long and diligent work. His glory first in Russia galerist and best graphic artist-Illustrator, he earned his countless works in watercolor, pencil and pen. Having a rich imagination and great artistic taste, Karazin differed extraordinary rapidity and ease of operation. The ability to work and his productivity was amazing. The world works Karazin — mainly the Eastern outskirts of the Empire. Nature of Middle Asia and Asian types — a favorite story of his artistic works. In watercolor painting Karasin have created their own special style. His paintings and drawings can immediately find out: strong lighting effects, striking contrasts, a few special dark color, excellent composition and endless imagination[1]. With special skill Karazin depicted horses, what could be rivaled only by the Crickets. Literary works Karazin comprise 25 volumes, many of them first appeared in the magazine "Case" 1880-ies. Most of his novels and short stories dedicated to the artistic image on the outskirts of the Central Asian East. The best and most famous novels are: "On the distant suburbs", "greedy", "Bipedal wolf", "In the reeds" and others. They have a lot of space devoted to military events of the era of the conquest of Turkestan. One of the greatest novels Karazin — "In the smoke of gunpowder" — on the war for the liberation of Serbia. Edited Karazin and his illustrations have appeared two editions of "Chancellor" by Jules Verne (1875 and 1876); he designed books N. Gogol, DV Grigorovich, Dostoevsky, N. Nekrasov, A. S. Pushkin, L. N. Tolstoy, I. S. Turgenev and many others. In 1904-1905 p. P. Soikin published the complete collection of literary works of N. N. Karazin Kharkiv national University, Karazin in 1907 was elected a member of the Academy of Arts.

The rest of your life Karasin did not break ties with the military, with a special love recalled his military and camp life and although never wore the military uniform, but never parted with the signs of their military differences. A few years before the death of Karazin for his services in Russian painting received the honorary title of academician. Died 19 Dec 1908 in Gatchina and buried in the cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra.