Who is Aivazovsky by nationality? Aivazovsky and the biography of the artist. Unusual paintings by a marine painter

Outstanding Russian artist Ivan (Hovhannes) Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (Ayvazyan) was born on July 17 (29), 1817 in the Crimean city of Feodosia into a poor Armenian family. He lived long life, visited many countries, participated in various expeditions on land and sea, but each time he invariably returned to his hometown. The painter died on April 19 (May 2), 1900 and was buried there, in Feodosia.

In contact with

Classmates

Origin

The artist’s father was the merchant Gevork (Konstantin) Ayvazyan. He came to Feodosia from Galicia, where he had moved from Western Armenia, and wrote his last name in the Polish manner - Gaivazovsky. Here my father married a local Armenian woman, Hripsima. Family legend says that among the artist’s Armenian paternal ancestors there were also Turks, but there is no documentary evidence of this. In addition to Ivan, the family had four more children, two daughters and two sons. Ivan's brother Sarkis (in monasticism - Gabriel) became a famous historian and archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In 1812, a plague epidemic broke out in the city. My father's trading business suffered greatly and he went bankrupt. By the time of Ivan’s birth, little remained of the family’s former prosperity.

Childhood and youth

Aivazovsky's artistic abilities were revealed already in early childhood . Fortunately, this did not go unnoticed. There were people in the city who paid attention to the talented boy and took part in his fate. The architect Y. H. Koch, who lived in Feodosia, gave him initial drawing lessons and recommended him to the local mayor A. I. Kaznacheev, whose support allowed the future artist to first graduate from the Simferopol gymnasium and then enroll at government expense in Imperial Academy arts of St. Petersburg.

August 28, 1933 Aivazovsky arrived in St. Petersburg and began studying at the Academy. His teachers were the landscape painter M. Vorobyov, the marine painter F. Tanner, and the battle painter A. Sauerweid. Success accompanied the young artist, even despite the conflict with F. Tanner. In 1933, he was awarded a silver medal for the landscapes “View of the seaside in the vicinity of St. Petersburg”, as well as “Study of air over the sea”. In September 1837 followed new success— Large gold medal for the painting “Calm.”

In the spring of 1838 Ivan Konstantinovich was sent by the Academy to Crimea and spent two summers there. At this time, the artist not only painted landscapes on nautical theme, but also witnessed the fighting. The painting “Detachment Landing in the Subashi Valley” established him as a capable battle painter and was subsequently purchased by Emperor Nicholas I. In the fall of 1839, Aivazovsky successfully completed his studies at the Academy of Arts and received the right to travel abroad, where he spent four years (from 1840 to 1844 years). In addition to Italy, where he began his journey, the artist visited Holland, Switzerland, England, France, Spain, Portugal and all this time he worked a lot and hard.

During this time, Aivazovsky’s work received recognition not only in Russia. His paintings were awarded the Gold Medal of the Paris Academy of Arts. Pope Gregory XVI not only purchased his painting “Chaos”, but also awarded the artist a special award. This was a period of rapid and successful professional development of the young painter. He learned a lot in Europe, gained invaluable experience there, and his talent and successes were adequately appreciated.

When Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky returned to Russia in 1844, at the age of 27, he was already a recognized master and received title of painter of the Main Naval Staff of Russia. By this time he had developed his own original creative manner. Memories of how Aivazovsky painted pictures have been preserved. Throughout his life, the artist traveled a lot, and his impressions of what he saw gave rise to themes for new works. On outdoors he worked only briefly, making only basic sketches. Aivazovsky spent most of his time in the studio, where he completed the painting, while giving free rein to improvisation.

Painting Career

In 1847 Ivan Konstantinovich became a member of the Imperial Academy of Arts. By this time, his creative style had already been determined. Of course, he was primarily known as a marine painter, but he also wrote a lot on other topics. Seascape, battle scenes, landscapes of Crimean and other coastal cities, as well as portraits, although there are few of them - creative heritage the artist is truly multifaceted. However, it is obvious that in most of his most famous works the nautical theme is decisive.

After returning to Russia, Aivazovsky refuses tempting job offers in the capital and leaves for Feodosia. He is building a house on the city embankment. This is his home - now and forever. The artist often travels to St. Petersburg on business and exhibits his works there in winter. Travels a lot around Europe, participates in expeditions. The most fruitful time begins creative period in the life of Ivan Konstantinovich. His works are successful, his paintings sell well, and his career is developing rapidly.

Aivazovsky becomes a wealthy man. In addition to the house in Feodosia, he acquired an estate in the nearby village of Sheikh-Mamai and a house in Sudak, next to the dacha of the Armenian composer A. Spendiarov. The wealth that came made it possible to freely dispose of relatively large funds, but did not change the character of Ivan Konstantinovich and did not affect his active public position.

Family

In 1948 Ivan Konstantinovich marries Yulia Yakovlevna Grevs, the daughter of an English doctor in Russian service. From this marriage four children were born - Elena, Maria, Alexandra and Zhanna. However, the marriage was short-lived. After living together for 12 years, the couple separated. It is interesting that some of Aivazovsky’s grandchildren also became artists.

In 1882 the artist marries again. His wife was Anna Nikitichna Sarkisova-Burnazyan. Anna Nikitichna was Armenian by nationality, younger than husband for 40 years and very beautiful woman. Her portraits written by Aivazovsky speak about this better than any words.

Confession

Coming soon public acceptance, and then state awards and differences. He was a member of the Academies of Arts of several states, awarded Russian and foreign orders, received the rank of actual privy councilor, which corresponded to the rank of admiral in the navy, and in 1964 became a hereditary nobleman. The artist's talent and hard work received worthy appreciation from his contemporaries.

For a long life in the biography of Aivazovsky interesting a lot of facts have accumulated. He received many awards and treated them with respect. However, after the massacre of Armenians in Turkey in 1894 - 1896, he demonstratively threw all his Turkish orders. An insatiable thirst for travel led to the artist almost drowning in the Bay of Biscay. During the Crimean War, only a sharp order from Admiral Kornilov forced the painter to leave besieged Sevastopol. All these facts emphasize the integral character of Aivazovsky, who was not only a famous artist, but also always had a civic position.

In total, Aivazovsky wrote more than 6,000 works during his life - a unique case in the history of painting. His creative legacy is enormous, everything famous works it is simply impossible to list. Here is just a small list of the artist’s most famous works:

There were cases when he painted several paintings on the same theme. This side of his work sometimes displeased critics. On this occasion, Ivan Konstantinovich said that in this way he corrects noticed errors and improves his works.

The artist's paintings are in many museums around the world, and also belong to private individuals. The most large collection located in the Feodosia Art Gallery named after. I.K. Aivazovsky. The largest collections of his works are also stored in other art galleries in Russia:

• in the State Russian Museum
• in the Tretyakov Gallery
• at the Central Naval Museum
• at the Peterhof Museum-Reserve

A significant collection is also in the National Art Gallery of Armenia.

Traveling a lot around the world, often visiting St. Petersburg, Aivazovsky was well acquainted with many famous Russian cultural figures. K. Bryullov, M. Glinka, A. Pushkin - this list alone sufficiently characterizes the artist’s personality. Such outstanding representatives of the naval elite as the famous admirals F. Litke, V. Kornilov, M. Lazarev also treated him with respect.

The artist's biography would be incomplete without mentioning about his charitable activities. IN ordinary life he was very friendly and man of heart, who sincerely cared about the prosperity of Feodosia. Ivan Konstantinovich did a lot for the city and its residents. He not only invested his personal funds in various city projects, but was often their initiator. His influence on cultural life Feodosia was huge.

With the active participation of Aivazovsky and largely at his expense, Art Gallery, concert hall, library, art school opened. The artist did a lot of archeology, supervised the excavations of burial mounds, and, entirely at his own expense and according to his own design, built the building in which the Feodosia Museum of Antiquities is located. Ivan Konstantinovich bequeathed the art gallery he created in his house with all the exhibits there to his hometown.

Memory

The townspeople treated their famous countryman with respect and love. Aivazovsky was the first to become an honorary citizen of Feodosia . Several monuments have been erected in his honor in the city.. In addition, monuments to the outstanding artist were erected in other cities:

• in Simferopol
• in Kronstadt
• in Yerevan

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky is a famous Russian marine painter, author of more than six thousand canvases. Professor, academician, philanthropist, honorary member of the Academies of Arts of St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Rome, Stuttgart, Paris and Florence.

Was born future artist in Feodosia, in 1817, in the family of Gevork and Hripsime Gaivazovsky. Hovhannes’s mother (the Armenian version of the name Ivan) was a purebred Armenian, and his father came from Armenians who migrated from Western Armenia, which found itself under Turkish rule, to Galicia. Gevork settled in Feodosia under the name Gaivazovsky, writing it down in the Polish manner.

Hovhannes's father was amazing person, enterprising, savvy. Dad knew Turkish, Hungarian, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian and even Gypsy languages. In Crimea, Gevork Ayvazyan, who became Konstantin Grigorievich Gaivazovsky, very successfully engaged in trade. In those days, Feodosia grew rapidly, acquiring the status of an international port, but all the successes of the enterprising merchant were reduced to zero by the plague epidemic that broke out after the war with.

By the time Ivan was born, the Gaivazovskys already had a son, Sargis, who took the name Gabriel as a monk, then three more daughters were born, but the family lived in great need. Repsime's mother helped her husband by selling her elaborate embroideries. Ivan grew up as a smart and dreamy child. In the morning, he woke up and ran to the seashore, where he could spend hours watching ships and small fishing boats entering the port, admiring the extraordinary beauty of the landscape, sunsets, storms and calms.

The boy painted his first pictures on the sand, and after a few minutes they were washed away by the surf. Then he armed himself with a piece of coal and decorated the white walls of the house where the Gaivazovskys lived with drawings. The father looked, frowning at his son’s masterpieces, but did not scold him, but thought deeply. From the age of ten, Ivan worked in a coffee shop, helping his family, which did not at all prevent him from growing up as an intelligent and talented child.

As a child, Aivazovsky himself learned to play the violin, and, of course, constantly drew. Fate brought him together with the Feodosia architect Yakov Koch, and this moment is considered to be a turning point, defining in the biography of the future brilliant marine painter. Noticing the boy's artistic abilities, Koch supplied young artist pencils, paints and paper, gave the first drawing lessons. The second patron of Ivan was the mayor of Feodosia, Alexander Kaznacheev. The governor appreciated Vanya’s skillful playing of the violin, because he himself often played music.

In 1830, Kaznacheev sent Aivazovsky to the Simferopol gymnasium. In Simferopol, the wife of the Tauride governor, Natalya Naryshkina, drew attention to the talented child. Ivan began to visit her home often, and the socialite put her library, a collection of engravings, and books on painting and art at his disposal. The boy worked incessantly, copied famous works, drew etudes and sketches.

With the assistance of the portraitist Salvator Tonchi, Naryshkina turned to Olenin, the president of the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, with a request to place the boy in the academy with full board. In the letter, she described in detail Aivazovsky’s talents, his life situation and attached drawings. Olenin appreciated the young man’s talent, and soon Ivan was enrolled in the Academy of Arts with the personal permission of the emperor, who also saw the drawings sent.

At the age of 13, Ivan Aivazovsky became the youngest student at the Academy in Vorobyov’s landscape class. The experienced teacher immediately appreciated the magnitude and power of Aivazovsky’s talent and, to the best of his ability and ability, gave the young man a classical art education, a kind of theoretical and practical basis for the virtuoso painter that Ivan Konstantinovich soon became.

Very quickly the student surpassed the teacher, and Vorobiev recommended Aivazovsky to Philip Tanner, a French marine painter who arrived in St. Petersburg. Tanner and Aivazovsky did not get along in character. The Frenchman dumped all the rough work on the student, but Ivan still found time for his own paintings.

Painting

In 1836, an exhibition was held where the works of Tanner and the young Aivazovsky were presented. One of Ivan Konstantinovich’s works was awarded a silver medal, he was also praised by one metropolitan newspaper, but the Frenchman was reproached for mannerisms. Philip, burning with anger and envy, complained to the emperor about a disobedient student who had no right to exhibit his works at an exhibition without the knowledge of the teacher.

Formally, the Frenchman was right, and Nicholas ordered the paintings to be removed from the exhibition, and Aivazovsky himself fell out of favor at court. The talented artist was supported by the best minds of the capital, with whom he managed to make acquaintance: President of the Academy Olenin. As a result, the matter was decided in favor of Ivan, for whom Alexander Sauerweid, who taught painting to the imperial offspring, stood up.

Nikolai awarded Aivazovsky and even sent him along with his son Konstantin to Baltic Fleet. The Tsarevich studied the basics of maritime affairs and fleet management, and Aivazovsky specialized in the artistic side of the issue (it is difficult to write battle scenes and ships without knowing their structure).

Sauerweid became Aivazovsky's teacher in battle painting. A few months later, in September 1837, the talented student received gold medal for the painting “Calm”, after which the leadership of the Academy decided to release the artist from the educational institution, since it could no longer give him anything.

At the age of 20, Ivan Aivazovsky became the youngest graduate of the Academy of Arts (according to the rules, he was supposed to study for another three years) and went on an paid trip: first to his native Crimea for two years, and then to Europe for six years. Happy artist returned to his native Feodosia, then traveled around the Crimea, participated in the amphibious landing in Circassia. During this time he painted many works, including peaceful seascapes and battle scenes.

After a short stay in St. Petersburg in 1840, Aivazovsky left for Venice, and from there to Florence and Rome. During this trip, Ivan Konstantinovich met with his older brother Gabriel, a monk on the island of St. Lazarus, and became acquainted with. In Italy, the artist studied the works of great masters and wrote a lot himself. He exhibited his paintings everywhere, and many were sold out immediately.

The Pope himself wanted to buy his masterpiece “Chaos”. Hearing about this, Ivan Konstantinovich personally presented the painting to the pontiff. Touched by Gregory XVI, he presented the painter with a gold medal, and the fame of the talented marine painter thundered throughout Europe. Then the artist visited Switzerland, Holland, England, Portugal and Spain. On the way home, the ship on which Aivazovsky was sailing was caught in a storm, and a terrible storm broke out. For some time there were rumors that the marine painter had died, but, fortunately, he managed to return home safe and sound.

Aivazovsky had the happy fate of making acquaintances and even friendships with many outstanding people of that era. The artist was closely acquainted with Nikolai Raevsky, Kiprensky, Bryullov, Zhukovsky, not to mention his friendship with the imperial family. And yet connections, wealth, fame did not seduce the artist. The main things in his life were always family, ordinary people, and his favorite job.

Having become rich and famous, Aivazovsky did a lot for his native Feodosia: he founded an art school and an art gallery, a museum of antiquities, and sponsored the construction railway, the city water supply, fed from his personal source. At the end of his life, Ivan Konstantinovich remained as active and active as in his youth: he visited America with his wife, worked a lot, helped people, was involved in charity work, improvement of his native city and teaching.

Personal life

The personal life of the great painter is full of ups and downs. There were three loves, three women in his destiny. Aivazovsky’s first love was a dancer from Venice, world celebrity Maria Taglioni, who was 13 years older than him. The artist in love went to Venice to follow his muse, but the relationship was short-lived: the dancer chose ballet over the young man’s love.

In 1848, Ivan Konstantinovich Great love married Julia Grevs, the daughter of an Englishman who was the court physician of Nicholas I. The young couple went to Feodosia, where they had a magnificent wedding. In this marriage, Aivazovsky had four daughters: Alexandra, Maria, Elena and Zhanna.

In the photo the family looks happy, but the idyll was short-lived. After the birth of her daughters, the wife changed in character, suffering from a nervous illness. Julia wanted to live in the capital, attend balls, give parties, host social life, and the artist’s heart belonged to Feodosia and ordinary people. As a result, the marriage ended in divorce, which did not happen often at that time. With difficulty, the artist managed to maintain relationships with his daughters and their families: his grumpy wife turned the girls against their father.

The artist met his last love at an advanced age: in 1881 he was 65 years old, and his chosen one was only 25 years old. Anna Nikitichna Sarkizova became Aivazovsky's wife in 1882 and was with him until the very end. Her beauty was immortalized by her husband in the painting “Portrait of the Artist’s Wife.”

Death

The great marine painter, who became a world celebrity at the age of 20, died at home in Feodosia at the age of 82, in 1900. The unfinished painting “Ship Explosion” remained on the easel.

Best pictures

• "The Ninth Wave";
• "Shipwreck";
• "Night in Venice";
• "Brig Mercury attacked by two Turkish ships";
• “Moonlit night in Crimea. Gurzuf";
• "Moonlit Night on Capri";
• "Moonlit Night on the Bosphorus";
• "Walking on the Waters";
• "Chesme fight";
• "Moonwalk"
• "Bosphorus on a Moonlit Night";
• "A.S. Pushkin on the Black Sea coast";
• "Rainbow";
• "Sunrise in the Harbor";
• "Ship in the middle of a storm";
• "Chaos. World creation;
• "Calm";
• "Venice Night";
• "Global flood".

Goda priest Armenian Church city ​​of Feodosia recorded that “Hovhannes, son of Gevorg Ayvazyan” was born to Konstantin (Gevorg) Gaivazovsky and his wife Repsime. A native of southern Poland - Galicia - Gevorg Ayvazyan wrote his first and last name in the Polish way - Konstantin Aivazovsky.

Among the famous marine painters of all times and peoples, it is difficult to find someone who could more accurately convey the majestic power and attractive charm of the sea than Aivazovsky. This greatest painter The 19th century left us a unique legacy of paintings that can instill a love for Crimea and a passion for travel in anyone who has never even been to the shores of the sea. In many ways, Aivazovsky’s biography is a secret; he was born and raised in an environment inseparably connected with the sea.

Youth in the biography of Aivazovsky

Describing the biography of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, we must first note that he was born in Feodosia, on July 17, 1817, into a merchant family of Armenian origin.

Father - Gevork (in Russian version Konstantin) Ayvazyan; I.K. Aivazovsky. Father's portrait	Mother: Hripsime Ayvazyan. I.K. Aivazovsky. Portrait of a mother	Aivazovsky portrayed himself as a boy painting his hometown. 1825

At birth the boy was named Hovhannes (this is an Armenian word form male name John), and the modified surname for the future famous artist inherited thanks to his father, who, having moved in his youth from Galicia to Moldova, and then to Feodosia, wrote it down in the Polish style of “Gayvazovsky”.

The house in which Aivazovsky spent his childhood stood on the outskirts of the city, on a small hill, from where there was an excellent view of the Black Sea, the Crimean steppes and the ancient mounds located on them. From an early age, the boy was lucky enough to see the sea in its different characters (kind and menacing), to watch fishing feluccas and large ships. The environment awakened his imagination, and very soon the boy discovered his artistic abilities. Local architect Koch gave him his first pencils, paints, paper and his first few lessons. This meeting became a turning point in the biography of Ivan Aivazovsky.

The beginning of the biography of Aivazovsky as a legendary artist

From 1830, Aivazovsky studied at the Simferopol gymnasium, and at the end of August 1833 he went to St. Petersburg, where he entered the most prestigious Imperial Academy of Arts at that time, and until 1839 he successfully studied landscape direction in the class of Maxim Vorobyov.

The very first exhibition in the biography of Aivazovsky, the artist, which brought fame to the young talent at that time, took place in 1835. Two works were presented there, and one, “Study of Air over the Sea,” was awarded a silver medal.

Then the painter devoted himself more and more to new works, and already in 1837. famous painting“Calm” brought Aivazovsky a big gold medal. In the coming years, his biography and paintings will be displayed at the Academy of Arts.

Aivazovsky: biography at the dawn of creativity

Since 1840, the young artist has been sent to Italy; this is one of the special periods in Aivazovsky’s biography and work: he has been improving his skills for several years, studying world art, actively exhibits his works at local and European exhibitions. After receiving a gold medal from the Paris Council of Academies, he returned to his homeland, where he received the title of “academician” and was sent to the Main Naval Headquarters with the task of painting several paintings with different Baltic views. Participation in battle operations helped the already famous artist, write one of the most famous masterpieces - “” in 1848.

Two years later, the painting “” appeared - the most striking event that cannot be missed, even when describing the most short biography Aivazovsky.

The fifties and seventies of the nineteenth century became the brightest and most fruitful in the painter’s career; Wikipedia describes this period of Aivazovsky’s biography quite extensively. In addition, during his life, Ivan Konstantinovich managed to become known as a philanthropist involved in charity work, and made a huge contribution to the development of his native city.

At the first opportunity, he returned to Feodosia, where he built a mansion in the style of an Italian palazzo and exhibited his canvases to the audience.

Aivazovsky Feodosia

At the dawn of his creative life, Ivan Konstantinovich neglected the opportunity to be close to the Tsar’s court. At the Paris World Exhibition his works were awarded a gold medal, and in Holland he was awarded the title of academician. This did not go unnoticed in Russia - twenty-year-old Aivazovsky was appointed artist of the Main Naval Staff, and he received a government order to paint panoramas of Baltic fortresses.

Aivazovsky fulfilled the flattering order, but after that he said goodbye to St. Petersburg and returned to Feodosia. All the officials and the capital's painters decided that he was an eccentric. But Ivan Konstantinovich was not going to exchange his freedom for a uniform and the carousel of St. Petersburg balls. He needed the sea, a sunny beach, streets, he needed sea air for creativity.

One of the city's attractions is the Aivazovsky fountain in Feodosia in the Kirovsky district, to which a water supply has been installed. The fountain was built with the artist’s money and according to his design, and then donated to the residents.

Unable to continue to remain a witness to the terrible disaster that the population of my native city experiences from lack of water from year to year, I give him 50,000 buckets a day as his eternal ownership clean water from the Subash source that belongs to me.

The artist loved Theodosia fiercely. And the townspeople answered him good feelings: they called Ivan Konstantinovich “father of the city.” They say that the painter loved to give drawings: paintings by Aivazovsky in Feodosia, many residents unexpectedly ended up in their homes as precious gifts.

Water from the artist's estate came to Feodosia, traveling a 26-kilometer route through a pipeline built by the city.

He opened an art gallery, library, and drawing school in his hometown. He also became the godfather of half of the babies of Feodosia, and allocated a portion of his substantial income to each.

In the life of Ivan Konstantinovich there were many contradictions that did not complicate his life, but made it original. He was Turkish by origin, Armenian by upbringing, and became a Russian artist. He communicated with Berillov and his brethren, but he himself never went to their parties and did not understand the bohemian lifestyle. He loved to give his works as gifts, and in everyday life was known as a pragmatic person.

Museum of Antiquities, built by Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky

Aivazovsky Museum in Feodosia

The Aivazovsky Gallery in Feodosia is one of ancient museums in the country. Located in the house in which the outstanding marine painter lived and worked. The building was designed personally by Ivan Konstantinovich and built in 1845. Thirty-five years later, Aivazovsky created Big hall, attached to it. This room is intended to display his paintings before the paintings were sent to exhibitions in other cities and abroad. 1880 is considered the year of the official foundation of the museum. Feodosia Aivazovsky Gallery address: st. Golereynaya, 2.

During the war, the building was destroyed by a ship's shell.

At the time of the artist, the place was famous far abroad and was a unique cultural center in the city. After the painter's death, the gallery continued to operate. By the will of the artist, it became the property of the city, but local authorities cared little about it. The year 1921 can rightfully be considered the second birth of the gallery.

In the 19th century, Aivazovsky's art gallery in Feodosia stood out among others architectural structures terrain. The museum stands on the very seashore and resembles an Italian villa. This impression is even stronger when you notice the dark red paint on the walls, the sculptures of ancient gods in the bays, and the gray marble pilasters that run around the façade. Such features of the building are unusual for Crimea.

Aivazovsky's house, which became an art gallery after his death

When designing a house, the artist thought out the purpose of each room. This is why the reception rooms are not adjacent to the residential section of the house, while the artist's room and studio were connected to exhibition hall. High ceilings, parquet floors on the second floor and the bays of Feodosia visible from the windows create an atmosphere of romanticism.

My sincere desire is that the building of my art gallery in the city of Feodosia, with all the paintings, statues and other works of art in this gallery, be the full property of the city of Feodosia, and in memory of me, Aivazovsky, I bequeath the gallery to the city of Feodosia, my native city.

The center of Feodosia's art gallery are 49 canvases left by the painter to the city. In 1922, when the museum opened its doors to Soviet people, only these 49 canvases were in the collection. In 1923, the gallery received 523 paintings from the collection of the artist's grandson. Later the works of L. Lagorio and A. Fessler arrived.

The legendary painter died on April 19 (old style) 1900. He was buried in Feodosia, in the courtyard of the medieval Armenian church of Surb Sarkis (St. Sarkis).

If you ask a person far from art which of the great painters he can name, then his answer will certainly include the name of the magnificent Russian artist - marine painter Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky. Besides paintings sea ​​elements Aivazovsky left a great many works on other subjects. The artist traveled a lot different countries and always drew what impressed him.

Childhood

The artist's surname originally sounded like Ayvazyan, and his baptismal name was Hovhannes. His parents, Armenians by origin, lived in Feodosia. It was in this city, in the family of the merchant Gevork (Konstantin) and his wife Repsime, on July 17, 1817 (the date of birth of Aivazovsky is indicated according to the old style) little son Hovhannes. The artist had three sisters and a brother, Sargis, who later adopted and received the name Gabriel.

The Aivazovsky family origins in Galicia, where the artist’s ancestors moved from Armenia. His grandfather Grigor and grandmother Ashkhen owned land in the area of ​​​​the city of Lvov. Unfortunately, more accurate information about the origin of the family has not been preserved. The artist’s father, after a quarrel with his brothers, ends up in Feodosia and changes his last name to Gaivazovsky.

The first years of Aivazovsky’s life were spent in Feodosia on the Black Sea coast; already in childhood he began to be interested in painting and music. A little boy painted his first paintings on the white walls of houses in Feodosia with black coal. His abilities were noticed by the architect Yakov Koch, who began to teach the boy and helped him, after receiving an education at a district school, to enter the Simferopol gymnasium.

Studying in St. Petersburg

In the autumn of 1833, Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky arrived in St. Petersburg. He is accepted at public expense into the Imperial Academy of Arts. At first he studied with M. Vorobyov in the landscape class, and then was transferred to assistant to the marine painter F. Tanner, a Frenchman by birth. By this time, Aivazovsky had received a silver medal for the landscapes “View of the Seaside in the Vicinity of St. Petersburg” and “Study of Air over the Sea,” which were presented to the public at an academic exhibition.

Quarrel with teacher

In the biography of the marine painter Aivazovsky there was interesting case which happened between him and his teacher. Working as Tanner's assistant, Ivan Aivazovsky did not have the right to work independently. But the young artist, despite the agreement with the teacher, continued to paint his own landscapes, and at the 1836 exhibition at the Academy of Arts he exhibited five paintings. Critics were delighted with Aivazovsky's work, which cannot be said about Tanner, who was so offended by the success of his student and assistant that he complained to Emperor Nicholas the First himself. The young painter’s works were immediately removed from the exhibition.

Six months later, Aivazovsky was assigned to the class of Professor Sauerweid, a specialist in battle painting. After studying with the professor for several months, in 1837 the artist received a large gold medal for the painting “Calm” he painted. The result of Aivazovsky’s creativity and his successes at the Academy of Arts was the decision to release him from his studies two years earlier than expected, and to send him to the Crimea for this time independent work, since the Academy had already taught the young master everything it could.

Return to Crimea

Returning to Crimea in 1838, Aivazovsky tried to work hard and productively. Two years of Aivazovsky's life were devoted to working on seascapes and battle scenes. For this purpose, he takes part in military operations and observes the landing of military troops on the coast of Circassia. The painting “Detachment Landing in the Subashi Valley” painted by him was the result of these observations and had big success at the emperor's. Nicholas purchased the painting from the artist and used it to glorify the exploits of the fleet.

By the fall of 1839, Aivazovsky returned to St. Petersburg to receive a certificate. In addition, he receives rank and personal nobility. In the summer of 1840, together with his friend V. Sternberg, he went on a trip to Italy.

Practice in Italy

During the time spent in Italy, Aivazovsky managed to visit Rome, Florence, Venice, where he met Gogol. He visits the island of St. Lazarus, where his brother Gabriel lives in a monastery. The brothers have not seen each other for many years. Aivazovsky leaves his painting “Chaos” as a gift to the monks. The Creation of the World,” the plot of which is based on biblical events.

While working on the shores of Italy, Aivazovsky developed his own method of painting. The artist had a very well developed visual memory, he had a rich imagination, so he worked little in the open air and completed his paintings in the studio. Italian works created by Aivazovsky were a great success in society. The English artist gave a very good feedback. The works were noted at the Paris Academy and awarded a gold medal.

Ninth wave

After working in Italy, Aivazovsky continues to tour Europe. He visits Switzerland, Holland, England, France, Portugal, Spain. The artist always keeps an album with him and sketches seascapes and nature along the coast. While traveling through the Bay of Biscay, the ship the artist was on is caught in a severe storm. The ship miraculously survived, but newspapers announced the death of the artist in the waters of the bay. Aivazovsky survived and continued to work. Eight years after this sea adventure, in 1850, the master painted the painting “The Ninth Wave,” in which he reflects his experiences and impressions of the storm that happened to him in the Bay of Biscay.

Unusual paintings by a marine painter

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky spent a lot of time traveling around the world. In all countries, he made sketches and sketches of subjects that interested him. One of the most unusual works for a marine painter is a painting painted after visiting the opening of the Suez Canal. Aivazovsky’s work is called “The Great Pyramid of Giza.”

Another unusual painting for Aivazovsky was painted in 1837: the canvas is called “View of the Grand Cascade in Peterhof.”

While visiting Constantinople, the artist painted the painting “Oriental Scene”. On it, the master depicted a plot, the action of which takes place in a small coffee shop located in the Ortakoy mosque. The painting was created in 1845. Another painting, “Oriental Scene,” was also painted in Constantinople a year later.

In addition to landscapes, Aivazovsky painted excellent portraits. An example of this is the painting with a portrait of grandmother Ashkhen, painted in 1858.

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky was a very successful painter. Rarely has an artist achieved such fame during his lifetime. The master had a large number of awards, he had the rank of admiral, and in 1864 he was awarded hereditary nobility.

Aivazovsky's life in Feodosia

In 1845, Aivazovsky submitted a petition to the main naval headquarters, where he worked as a painter, and to the Academy of Arts, where he was a professor, with a request to allow him to stay in Crimea to complete the work begun there. Having received permission, Aivazovsky begins to build a house in his beloved Feodosia. Despite constant trips around the world, Aivazovsky always told his friends that his home was in Feodosia.

The artist unfolds very active work for the improvement of the city. He opens art school and an art gallery. The years of Aivazovsky’s life in his hometown have a very beneficial effect on the development of Feodosia. The city becomes a center of painting and culture in the south of the country. The artist opens a school of painters, training in which is aimed at developing the talents of landscape artists. In addition to the development of the Cimmerian school, Aivazovsky participates in the creation concert hall and libraries in Feodosia.

Not only an artist

Everyone knows that Aivazovsky was a marine painter, but few people know that the master seascapes was an archaeologist and was a member of the Odessa Society of History and Antiquities. According to the project he created and with his funds, it was built Archaeological Museum Antiquities, located on Mount Mithridates. Unfortunately, the museum was destroyed during the war in 1941.

The artist helped organize the construction and development of the railway, which opened in 1892. Thanks to his efforts, the largest trading port on the Crimean coast, located in the master’s hometown, was built.

The story of the Subashinsky spring

Aivazovsky's family was quite rich. The artist owned the Subashinsky spring with crystal clear water. In 1886, the master’s hometown suffered from a lack of drinking water. Aivazovsky turned out to be a very generous person: seeing the suffering of the residents of Feodosia due to the lack of clean water, he allowed them to use his source. For these purposes, a water supply system was laid, since the distance from the city to the source was 25 miles. In the city, according to the artist’s design, a fountain was created; any resident could take from it as much water as he needed, and absolutely free. Nowadays, this fountain bears the artist’s name.

Master's Will

The years of Aivazovsky’s life were filled with creativity and improvement of his native Feodosia. One of the wonderful gifts to the city was an art gallery. The Aivazovsky Museum, opened in the artist’s house, is also famous, where paintings are exhibited that, according to Aivazovsky’s will, should not leave Feodosia.

At the end of his life, the artist created the painting “Sea Bay” - this is his last completed work. The day before his death, Aivazovsky begins work on the painting “The Explosion of a Turkish Ship,” but does not have time to complete it.

Aivazovsky was married twice, and two of his grandchildren became painters. Michael Latri was a representative of the Cimmerian school, a painter and ceramic artist. Alexey Ganzen, like his great grandfather, was a marine painter.