B. P. Villevalde, received his artistic education at the Petersburg Academy of Arts (1838-42), his chose field of battle genre - very honorable in the era of Nicholas I. the painting Skills of the kind he learned from his teacher, A. I. Sauerweid. Life Villevalde wrote a spectacular large paintings dedicated to historical Russian victories as well as official events - the ceremonial opening of the monument "Millennium of Russia" in Novgorod or the entry of Emperor Alexander II in Moscow for the coronation. Yet he managed to refurbish and slightly battle genre. It is much more common than was made until applied to the present or of recent history; so, he repeatedly depicted the events of hard and long lasting Caucasian war (1817-64). Following the General trend of his time and obviously one's own inclinations to domestic realism, the artist tried to overcome the pomp and magnificence. He often went to the scene of hostilities, gaining experiences necessary for a truthful image of reality. From the broad picture of battles Villevalde quite willingly passed for the reconstruction of small, particular episodes, allowing a closer look into what is happening ("Episode from the Russo-Hungarian war", 1872; "the Battle of the river", 1881; "Battle etude", "Head of the military," both in 1880, etc.). In the last two decades of his life Villevalde actually transgressed the border battle genre in a series of small paintings dedicated to the campaign of the Russian army in Western Europe in 1813-15.; here he is with sympathy and sometimes with humor, unpretentious depict relationships that have developed between the Russian soldiers and local residents.
31 Dec 1818 (Pavlovsk, St. Petersburg province.) - March 11, 1903 (Dresden)
Professor of battle painting. Born in Pavlovsk in 1818, Originally studied art from a foreign artist Jungstedt, and joined the Academy in 1838, where he studied under the guidance of K. P. Bryullov and A. N. Sauerweid. Has all the academic medals (1838 - two 2 silver; 1839 - 1 silver; 1841 - 2 gold; 1842 - 1 gold for the program "Battle of Fershampenuaz", and the title of the class artist class IV). In 1842 was sent abroad pensioner of the Academy, but in 1844 was summoned to Russia by Imperial order, for the completion of works, the Emperor ordered Sauerweid, who died before executing them. 1845 - the academician. In 1848 he received the title of Professor 3rd degree for the program: "the Battle of Gigable" and "Battle of Paris" and since then he was Professor at the Academy of arts. In 1859 - Professor of degree 2, 1872 - Professor of degree 1, 1888 - Professor Emeritus. Villevalde finally devoted himself to the military genre. He rode in and collected on-site material for his paintings in the Hungarian campaign of 1849, on the Danube in 1854, at Sevastopol in 1855, in the Caucasus in 1860, in Asia Minor and on the Danube in the latest Russian-Turkish war. In 1894 he retired from the service at the Academy, leaving a member of the Academic Council. Died in Dresden 11 (23) April 1903 Most of his genre paintings is taken from campaign of 1812; all of them, mostly written by eyewitnesses or from the surviving documents. Most of these works is in the galleries and palaces of ladies of the Imperial family. Here is the name of several of his paintings: "the Battle of bystřice, 1849," "the Battle of Kars", "Attack of Warsaw", "Hunters Erevanskogo regiment on Gunib", "Battle at the Reservation", "the Battle of Grahova", "the Battle of Gravelotte in 1870", "the Battle of Bronnitsy", "Bashkirs in France in 1814", "Alexander I in Dresden on the terrace Bruhl", "Feat of cavalry regiment at the battle of Austerlitz", "Cossacks of Bautzen in 1813", "Prince Blucher and the Cossacks in Bautzen, after the battle in 1813", "Sad news (1813)", "Life hussars and the Savoyard (1813)", "Cossacks on the Rhine (1814)", "Cossacks everywhere at home (1815)", "do Not be afraid, we Cossacks. Saxony, 1813," "the Surrender of Shamil," "the Emperor Alexander I in the camp of the Bashkir troops to Balwinski altitudes, in Paris in 1814", "Solemn entry of the Emperor Alexander II in Moscow for the coronation in 1856," "On the banks of the Danube in 1877", "Passing Ulan in Bulgaria." A variety of compositions, often dramatic scenes, sometimes humorous tone, historical fidelity, typical figures - that the dignity of paintings Villevalde. We can say that Villevalde created batalicheskih Russian Russian genre and battle paintings. Under his leadership, formed almost all the best Russian battle. (V. Chuiko)
