Chesme fight. Aivazovsky and sea battles on his best canvases General characteristics of the work
Ivan Aivazovsky’s painting “The Battle of Chesme” was created in 1868. It is the only canvas describing the events of the Chesme Battle. For painting the canvas, the artist was awarded the Catherine Order. The painting is included in the list of “Top 200 Best Paintings” according to Maxim magazine.
History of creation
The idea came to Aivazovsky’s mind after a trip he made in 1866. The artist spent the whole year traveling with his wife, Anna. For the first time, the creator came across the dates of the battle, and then decided to study the issue personally. By order of the emperor, the artist was provided with data from the archive. A personal servant was assigned, whose duties included monitoring the artist’s work.
The painting was planned to be delivered by Navy Day. A militaristic policy was beginning in the country, and Aivazovsky’s desire to paint a picture about the Battle of Chesma was received with a bang. After its delivery, the artist received a monetary reward and was assigned to the order that was popular at that time.
Features of the picture
The work was drawn in two stages. The main element was oil. First, the outlines of the ships were created. It was important to preserve their structure while depicting the view historically correctly. At this stage, the work was redrawn twelve times. Aivazovsky could not accurately capture the condition of the masts, and was extremely worried about this.
Then the background was formed. The artist managed to capture the fire and the flame rising to the sky right away.
The artist spent a couple of months painting the image of sailors drifting on the wreckage. The painting was painted in a year and three weeks, after which it was varnished and handed over to the emperor's envoy. The grand opening took place at the Peterhof Palace.
Writing style
The picture is painted with short strokes, the brush is turned a couple of centimeters to the left. The base of the tip is used when the middle part is not used. Therefore, a feeling of neat strokes is created, without excessive application of paint. The image of the ships was leveled using a scraper; straight lines were smoothed with a slipway.
The Battle of Chesme is one of the most important episodes of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. During the night, Russian ships were able to “lock” in Chesme Bay and destroy most of the Turkish fleet.
I.K. Aivazovsky was not a participant in the grandiose Battle of Chesma, which took place on the night of June 25-26, 1770, but on his canvas he convincingly captured the picture of the naval battle.
The canvas “Chesme Battle” was painted by the artist in 1848 and dates back to the early period of the great marine painter’s work.
“The Battle of Chesme” is a battle painting permeated with passionate pathos and drama. In the foreground is the silhouette of the flagship of the Russian flotilla. In the depths of Chesme Bay there are Turkish ships dying from explosions. We see how they burn and drown - fragments of the masts fly away, the flames of the fire rage, illuminating the dark night with tragic light.
Turkish sailors, who miraculously survived the explosion, are clutching the wreckage of a wooden ship, trying to stay afloat, and calling for help. Rising upward, the blue smoke of the fire mixes with the clouds. The mixing of the elements of fire, water and air resembles some kind of hellish fireworks. From above, the moon looks somewhat detached at everything that is happening.
Despite the cruelty of what is happening, the film “Chesme Battle” makes a great impression. It is clear that the painter himself, in the process of creating the canvas, experienced a feeling of joyful excitement, intoxication with the brilliant victory won by the Russian sailors. The painting is distinguished by its virtuoso technique, skill and boldness of execution.
The painting “The Battle of Chesme” by I.K. Aivazovsky is one of the paintings glorifying one of the most glorious pages in the history of the Russian fleet.
In addition to the description of the painting by I.K. Aivazovsky “The Battle of Chesme”, our website contains many other descriptions of paintings by various artists, which can be used both in preparation for writing an essay on the painting, and simply for a more complete acquaintance with the work of famous masters of the past.
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In the history of the Russian fleet, the Battle of Chesma is one of the glorious heroic events. Aivazovsky himself, of course, could not have witnessed these events that unfolded on the night of June 26, 1770. But at the same time, the artist was very reliably and convincingly able to reproduce the picture of a naval battle on his canvas. Ships burn and explode, fragments of masts fly up to the sky, rising bluish-scarlet flames mix with the clouds, the moon calmly contemplates what is happening from above. Its calm and cold light seems to emphasize the hellish mixture of fire, sea and water. The feeling is as if Aivazovsky himself, when creating this picture, was experiencing the ongoing event, during which the Russian sailors won. Despite the cruelty of what is seen in the picture, it leaves the impression of a grandiose fireworks display and grandeur. The plot of the film was one of the episodes of the Russian-Turkish war, in which Russia fought for dominance in the Black and Mediterranean seas. The Turkish fleet at that historical period was considered the strongest. But after several military battles, he disappeared in panic into Chesme Bay. Pursuing the enemy, Russian ships blocked the exit from the bay, and in one night completely destroyed and burned the entire Turkish fleet. The Russian fleet lost only 11 sailors that night, while the Turks lost 10 thousand. Human. Russia has never experienced such a victory in the history of naval battles. Count Alexey Orlov commanded the events, and Catherine II, being the empress. She ordered the erection of a monument to the heroes who participated in the Battle of Chesme in Tsarskoye Selo. The monument was made in the form of a column, which still stands today in the center of a large pond. The allegorical sculpture is completed by the silhouette of a double-headed eagle, which breaks the marble crescent. Aivazovsky, wanting to feel the scale of a naval battle, took part in some wars, after which he created many battle-themed paintings. Aivazovsky’s painting “The Battle of Chesme” demonstrates the brilliant skill of the painter, his technique and courage of execution. Also in 1848. Aivazovsky painted the painting “The Battle of the Cheos Strait,” which was a worthy match for the Battle of Chesma, glorifying the victory of the Russian fleet. Aivazovsky was the brightest of the last representatives of the romantic mood in Russian painting. This was especially evident in his pathetic heroic naval battles.
Aivazovsky's sea battle is undoubtedly one of the most common themes depicted in his canvases. The legendary painter admired the exploits of the heroic sailors who defended their Fatherland, and gladly glorified them in his paintings. Thanks to his work, it was possible to perpetuate the memory of many events and glorious episodes from the history of the Russian fleet. The artist owes his world fame to many masterpieces.
Aivazovsky’s painting “Chesme Battle”, description of the best masterpiece
Ivan Aivazovsky’s canvas “” is deservedly called one of the most striking and famous works of the greatest marine painter among those dating back to the early period of his work. It is dedicated to the most significant episode of the Russian-Turkish war, which at the end played a decisive role in the signing of a peace agreement between the countries.
The canvas takes us back to the distant year 1770, on the night of June 25-26, when the ships of the Russian flotilla managed to block a significant part of the Turkish ships in Chesme Bay and destroy them. Aivazovsky’s painting “The Battle of Chesme” became the best description of the grandiose battle; in it, the author managed to perfectly combine two opposing feelings: to reflect the drama of the event for one side and to “imbue” literally every stroke with a feeling of triumph, heroism, and brilliant victory.
In the foreground of the picture the outlines of the flagship of the Russian fleet loom proudly, and inside the bay Turkish ships are burning and exploding, and fragments of masts are scattered.
The black-gray smoke rising from the scarlet flame mixes with the clouds through which the moon breaks through, and seems to be absolutely calmly observing, shedding its cold light, everything that is happening below.
The viewer’s attention in Aivazovsky’s painting “The Battle of Chesme” is captured by a group of people in the water - these are Turkish sailors who were able to escape after the explosion of their ship. They try to grab hold of the wreckage of its masts and hold on, calling in vain for help.
Describing Aivazovsky’s painting “The Battle of Chesme”, it should be noted how it amazes with its high skill, virtuosic technique and realistic images.
Here the colors are brilliantly collected, conveying the tragedy and triumph of the situation, emphasizing the powerful mixture of elements: water, fire and air.
Aivazovsky's canvases about the Battle of Sinop
Among the best paintings of the famous painter, who devoted many works to describing military battles during the Crimean War, two more dedicated to the Battle of Sinop are confidently included.
The battle took place in November 1853, after the Turkish state declared war on Russia. The fleet under the command of Nakhimov set off in the direction of the enemy’s shores and, coming as close as possible, destroyed all the Turkish ships based in Sinop Bay in a few hours.
On one canvas - "" - Aivazovsky captured the early morning and the very beginning of a victorious battle for the Russian fleet: the sea, small waves on which sailing ships sway, the sky covered with gray clouds and the first clouds of smoke from cannon shots.
On the second canvas, dedicated to the Battle of Sinop, Aivazovsky depicted. The Turkish ships, burning with a bright flame, throw burnt chips into the black, but already calm water. Not far away, Russian ships stood proudly, enjoying their triumph.
The famous painting “The Battle of Navarino” by Aivazovsky
The famous canvas by Aivazovsky, written by the author in 1846, depicts one of the most significant events in the history of the Russian fleet and the events that glorified it. History takes us to October 1827, when a battle took place with the Turkish-Egyptian fleet in Navarino Bay.
In the foreground is the famous Russian flagship Azov, it was badly damaged as a result of the battle, but at the same time decides to board the enemy ship. As a result, Russian sailors move to the enemy deck to destroy it.
With a skillful brush, the master conveyed the tragedy and heroism of the event, despite the raging fire and clouds of smoke, fragments of the masts of broken ships, the activity of the battle - no one doubts the outcome.
Other paintings
22. To Aivazovsky’s painting “The Battle of Chesme”
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The most beautiful paintings by Aivazovsky can be listed and shown, but I want to introduce you to the last painting by Aivazovsky, which was included in the seven wonderful paintings of the artist-painter. In 1848, Aivazovsky produced another oil masterpiece “Chesme Battle” (Chesme Battle on the night of June 25-26, 1770) - the size of the painting is 220 x 188. It is currently in the Feodosia Art Gallery.
The artist showed on canvas one of the most heroic battles in the history of the Russian fleet, which took place on the night of June 25-26, 1770. How accurately he conveys what he himself did not see, but the sailors experienced all this! All around, ships are burning and exploding, masts are bursting into flames, and their debris is flying into the air. Scarlet fire mixes with gray water, just like our Russian sailors mix with Turkish ones. The bright moon looks down on the battle, as if predicting the upcoming victory over the Turkish fleet. But on the canvas above in the clouds, I noticed the face of an old man, or perhaps the Lord himself, calling for calm, as if looking even further into the sky, from where, from behind heavy clouds, the appearance of the moon can be seen, foreshadowing future calm.
The Battle of Chesme is a heroic episode in the history of the war between the Turkish and Russian navies, which was fought during 1768–1774. From June 25 to June 26, 1770, at night, Russian ships managed to “lock in” the Turks and defeat the enemy fleet. During the battle, 11 Russian sailors died heroically, and approximately 10,000 enemy people were killed. This victory is considered unprecedented in the entire history of battles of the Russian fleet.
The artist Ivan Aivazovsky, naturally, did not take part in this heroic battle, but he painted a unique work of art, in which he very well showed the pride and joy of the sailors of the Russian fleet. The canvas was created by the artist in 1848. This is a battle spectacle, imbued with drama and passionate pathos. In this work of painting, the artist showed brilliant skill and a unique technique of execution, which he learned from K. P. Bryullov for many years. When you first look at the picture, you feel the joyful excitement of the brilliant fireworks. Probably, Aivazovsky was the last artist who was able to so competently present the romantic direction in Russian painting. The painting “Chesme Battle” is located on the most glorious pages of the history of the Russian fleet.
The beauty of the sea is also revealed by the artist in battle scenes with warships. The paintings of the 1840s are very remarkable: Aivazovsky painted a picture of a major naval battle of a squadron of united Russian ships in alliance with English and French ships with ships of Turkey and Egypt attacking the united squadron - “The Naval Battle of Navarino on October 2, 1827”, 1846; naval battle and attack of Russian ships that drove Swedish ships through the ranks - “Naval Battle of Reval on May 9, 1790”; 1846; a small ship with a few shots decided the outcome of the victory over two strong Turkish ships, “Brig Mercury” - after the victory over two Turkish ships, the ship meets with the Russian squadron, 1892.
