Vasily
Ivanovich Surikov was born in Krasnoyarsk into a family of Siberian Cossacks,
whose ancestors came to conquer Siberia with Yermak in the 16th century
(The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak).
The future artist grew up among brave and solid people, in severe natural
conditions. Surikov said later that Siberia gave him the ideals of historical
characters, spirit, strength and health.
He received his first art lessons from his school teacher, N. V. Grebnev,
who, seeing the talent of the boy, started to work with him individually.
After finishing school in 1868, the young man left for St. Petersburg on
horse-back to join the Academy. He spent a year on his journey, because
on his way he made frequent stops in the ancient towns through which he
passed. In 1869, he entered the Academy of Art, where he studied excellently.
In 1874, Surikov painted his first historical work The Knyaz’s
(Grand Duke’s) Court of Law, in 1875 – Apostle Paul explains
the Christian Dogmas to Agripinna and his sister Berenice. That
year he received commissions for 4 big paintings for the Cathedral of Christ
the Savior in Moscow. To fulfill the commissions Surikov moved to Moscow,
where he settled permanently.
Moscow with its old architecture impressed the artist deeply. The views
of the Red Square, monasteries and cathedrals, Kitay-Gorod called to mind
dramatic historical events. “When I moved to Moscow, this center of the
nation, I immediately found my way in art.” – Surikov. On impulse, he started
the big historical canvas Morning of Strelets’
Execution (finished in 1881). This painting defined the main
direction of his work – depiction of Russians in turning points of their
history. The next big painting, Menshikov
in Berezovo, dealt with the personal drama of an outstanding
politician. Once a mighty courtier, the right hand of Peter the Great,
now an exile, Surikov’s Menshikov impresses the viewers with his strong
personality. Surikov’s wife sat for Menshikov's daughter, Maria, who is
beside her father wrapping herself in a fur coat .
After the collector of Russian art Pavel Tretyakov bought both of Surikov’s
canvases, the artist had money to go abroad. He visited Germany, Italy,
France, Austria, studying and admiring the rich collection and different
schools of painting, drawing and painting his impressions. The interesting
fact is that while getting foreign impressions, the artist thought out
his next work from Russian history Boyarynya
Morozova. On his return Surikov started the work on this canvas.
In 1887, Surikov’s wife died. Her death caused a deep depression: he
gave up painting, turned to religion, and left with his children for Siberia.
The atmosphere, familiar from childhood, and the caring attitude of his
friends restored him to life. In 1891, in Siberia, Surikov painted his
most joyous picture Taking of a Snow Fortress,
which shows a Siberian game in which a horseman must jump over a snow wall,
defended by young people with twigs and whips. This cheerful painting is
an exception in his art, all other paintings by Surikov are very serious.
After the Taking of Snow Fortress Surikov started painting
The
Conquest of Siberia by Yermak (1895). The battle of the 16th
century between the Cossacks under their ataman (commander) Yermak Timofeevich
and the troops of Kuchum-Khan, the ruler of Siberia, he showed with reliability
of a witness. Another big canvases, devoted to Cossacks is Stepan
Rasin (RAH-zin), which depicts the moment of the Cossacks return
from a successful campaign against Persia.
Besides historical pictures Surikov created many portraits and self-portraits
which show the gift of the master and his interest into the inner world
of his models.
Surikov executed only nine historical canvases out of hundreds of portraits,
studies, and sketches, but he is still considered Russia's greatest historical
painter.
Notes
Morning of the Strelets’ Execution.
The subject of the picture is the historical event of September 1698. The
Streltsy were regular troops. But they didn't remain politically impartial
and participated in many palace take-overs, supporting either this or that
leader. At the end of the 17th century they came out against the reforms
of Peter I the Great. Several
mutinies were suppressed; the last one happened while Peter I was abroad,
the tzar had to stop his travel and return to Russia. This time he decided
to get rid of the Streltsy forever. The executions, which started in 1698
went on for 2 years and took place in different parts of Moscow. The corpses
of the executed were kept on the spot of execution for a long time for
threatening of the population.
Boyarynya Morozova. Tzar Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov (1629-1676, tzar 1645-1676),
father of Peter I the Great,
started the reforms in Russia; one of them aimed to subordinate the church
to the tzar. As a result the Russian Orthodox Church split into Nikonians
(those who followed the new course, the name comes from the revolutionary
patriarch Nikon) and old-believers (they were headed by Avvakum). Besides
other changes, such as the revision of icons and holy books, there were
changes in the divine service. Also crossing oneself with three fingers,
instead of two, was introduced. (In the picture Boyarynya and her supporters
are shown with two fingers up, which means they are old-belivers).
Feodosiya Morozova, née Sokovnina (1632-1675), old-believer,
boyarynya. (boyarin for a man, boyarynya for a woman, denoted a person
of the highest nobility in old Russia. They were all descendants of the
Grand Dukes and princes of Russia. Their council, boyarskaya duma, was
a powerful body in old Russia). Boyarynya Morozova had secret connections
with Avvakum, helped his family, and incited people to rebellion. She and
her sister were arrested in 1671. First, the tzar planned a public execution,
but feared unrest and sent them out off Moscow. Boyarynya Morozova died
in prison in Borovsk.
Crossing
of the Alps by Russian Troops under Alexander Suvorov. The subject
of the picture is an episode of the Switzerland campaign of the Russian
army at the end of XVIII century. In April 1799, to assist the Austrians
against the French (the anti-France coalition included Russia, Austria,
Britain, Turkey, and the Kingdom of Naples) Russian troops under Alexander
Suvorov, after a quick and unexpected march, appeared in Italy and took
Milan; on May 26 they took Turin; on 17-19 June in the battle at Trebbia
they destroyed the army of Macdonald; on August 15 they defeated
Joubert at Novi. Northern Italy was freed from the French, and Suvorov
was ready to start war on French territory. But thanks to the narrow foresight
of the rulers, who demanded to continue the campaign into Switzerland,
the Europeans lost the chance of victory over France in the late 18th century.
After a terrible crossing of the Alps, in which the Russians lost more
soldiers than in military actions, the army was too weak for battle and
Suvorov retreated into Austria.
Yermak Timofeevich (?-1585), the Cossacks’
ataman (commander) in Urals. With his military campaigns of 1581-1585 started
the Russian conquests of Siberia. Killed in action against Kuchum-Khan
(?-1598), the last khan of the Siberian Khan-state, who escaped from the
Russians into Nogay Horde, where he was killed.
Stepan Razin (ste-PAHN RAH-zin) (c. 1630-
1671), Donskoy Cossack, ataman (commander). In 1662-63, he headed the Cossacks
in the campaigns against the Crimean Tatars and Turks, in 1668-69 – against
Persia. In 1670-71, Razin headed the Cossack revolt against tzarism in
the South of Russia, the Volga region. Thousands of serfs and local nations
joined the revolt. The rebel army counted up to 10 thousand, they captured
and burnt many towns and estates. After the defeat at Simbirsk, some other
atamans betrayed Razin and gave him up to the authorities. Razin was executed
in Moscow in 1671.
Menshikov, Alexander Danilovich
(c. 1660-1729), Russian field-marshal and statesman, prince (1707), born
of poor parents in Moscow. Entering the army in 1693, he distinguished
himself at the siege of Azov, and afterwards accompanied Peter
I the Great in his travels to Holland and England. He played an important
part during the war with Sweden (1702-13). At the capture of Marienburg
the peasant girt Marta Skavronskaya fell into Menshikov's hands and became
his mistress. He later introduced her to the tzar, who first made her his
mistress and then married her. She was baptized in the Russian Orthodox
Church and renamed Catherine. When Peter I died, Menshikov secured the
succession of Catherine I,
and during her reign and that of her young successor, Peter II, he governed
Russia with almost absolute authority. He was about to marry off his daughter,
Maria, to the young tzar when a plot of the old nobility led to his banishment
to the Siberian town of Berezovo and the confiscation of his estates.
Bibliography: Vasilii Surikov by V. Kemenov. Aurora. Leningrad 1978.
