Biography B Kustodiev

Latest news biography Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev is a Russian artist who worked in the genre of realism. He became a witness to a difficult period in the history of the Russian Empire, survived 2 revolutions and a civil war. But even in the most hopeless times, the author’s canvases were beamed with light, joy and love of life. Neither criticism, nor political phenomena, nor a severe ailment could modify the creative thirst for the master.

Childhood and youth Boris was born in Astrakhan on February 23 on March 7 in the family of a seminary teacher. The boy’s father Mikhail Kustodiev died when he was a baby, so exclusively his mother was engaged in his upbringing. Remaining the widow with 4 children, Ekaterina Prokhorovna managed to have the necessary income, a friendly and warm atmosphere always reigned in the family.

Mom taught children to love art and instilled interest in literature, painting and theater. Thanks to this, Little Borya easily found his vocation. When the exhibition of the Winter Vasnetsov, Valentina Serov, Vasily Polenova, who visited her boy, was shocked by the paintings of painters, came to the city and, from that moment on, firmly decided to become an artist. Before getting the opportunity to be realized in an interest in the profession, Boris was forced to graduate from the spiritual school, and then enter the theological seminary.

The mother believed that the son should become a priest and follow in the footsteps of his father. As a result, Kustodiev gave preference to art. To fulfill his dream, the young man decided to take drawing lessons. His mentor was Pavel Vlasov, who graduated from the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. In Astrakhan, the master organized a creative circle. A native of a large family fell into it.

Here the teenager learned the basics of craft. Subsequently, the teacher convinced the ward of the need to continue his studies in Moscow. But Boris entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. The talented guy managed to turn out to be the ward of Ilya Repin, which was a great success. At that time, stagnation was outlined in the pedagogical field in painting. Emperor Alexander III planned the reform of art education and wanted to invite the Wanderers as ambassadors of new trends.

Repin was among them. Boris Kustodiev recalled that other mentors were often limited to recommendations like “here it is necessary more gilding”, and one of them used the definition of “Suitcase! Upon completion of training, the young man remained in the workshop of Ilya Efimovich. The senior student defended the thesis perfectly and, having received a gold medal, could count on an internship abroad.

On the trip, the graduate went accompanied by his wife and newborn son. Portrait was one of Boris's favorite genres. He revealed the character of the image depicted by means of interior details and background. In Kustodiev’s canvases there are decorativeness and entertainment, among which there is a place and household scenes. Of particular interest to the author was the provincial life depicted in landscapes.

At the International Exhibition in Munich in the Portrait of Ivan Bilibin, the pupil of the Imperial Academy was awarded a small gold medal.

During this period, Repin received an order for the painting “The Grand Council of the State Council” and invited Ivan Kulikov and a native of Astrakhan to the joint work. It brought him a gold medal of the Academy of Arts and the opportunity to go as a “pensioner” to France. Paris discovered Boris all the charm of European culture. He worked a lot, inspired by everything that surrounded him.

It is curious that during his stay in the French capital, the author began to use a bright palette of colors. After the portrait painter with his family, he visited Spain, who had a less impression on him. He was delighted with the works of Francisco Goya and Diego Velazquez and is unpleasantly surprised by what was happening in Corrida. The museum of contemporary art was not impressed by the painter.

Returning to his homeland, Boris worked a lot with rapture, enjoying the beauty of his native lands, like many creative personalities. True, Petersburg of that time began to absorb revolutionary sentiments. Kustodiev quite rarely spoke about politics, but sympathized with compatriots with anti -government views. When Ivan Bilibin invited him to enter the editorial of the Satiric magazine Zhupel, the master of the brush happily agreed.

The theme of his debut drawing “Entry” Repin’s ward chose the suppression of the uprising on Krasnaya Presnya. Then followed by cooperation with the Hell Mail magazine. In the first issue, Boris Kustodiev created caricatures for government officials, whom he had previously helped to portray at a "solemn meeting of the State Council." Both publications later closed, and the illustrator did not touch only out of respect for his talent.

The work was timed to the anniversary of the Finland Regiment. Kustodiev also set about the image of Tsarevich Alexei Romanov at the time of the representation of the regiment. Despite the opposition attitude, Boris agreed to write paintings for public individuals. So from the revolutionary and caricaturist he became the portrait of the emperor.Further, the author set about the canvas “Reading the Manifesto” “The Liberation of the Peasants”, dedicated to the signing by Emperor Alexander II of the decree on the abolition of serfdom.

In the image of the protagonist, Boris captured the actress of the Moscow Art Theater Faine Shevchenko. Already under the Soviet regime, in M, the author’s creative biography was replenished with a portrait of “merchant for tea”. This time, Baroness Galina Aerkas served as a genius model. In M, Boris Kustodiev presented to the public a next work called “Bolshevik”, on which a giant revolutionary with a red flag in his hands goes along the street filled with a crowd to the church.

At this time, the illustrator also became a designer of the performance of the Mariinsky Theater “Enemy Power”. The opera was set by Fedor Chaliapin. After a while, the ward of Repin put his hand to the portrait of the legendary singer. Subsequently, a graduate of the Imperial Academy painted the painting "Russian Venus." Young people met at the estate of Vysovo. The chosen ones called the first son Cyril.

Kustodiev was fascinated by his family, and the personal life of the spouses was happy. They bought a piece of land near Kineshma on which they built a house. The landscape painter liked to engage in household chores, carpentry and economy. In the family, replenishment took place: the daughter of Irina was born. After 2 years, the son Igor was born. The boy, unfortunately, died of meningitis, without living even a year.

During this period, the master found a tumor in the spinal canal. He was overwhelmed with impressions of Austria, Germany and Italy. After returning, Boris Mikhailovich and Julia moved to St. Petersburg. The wife supported Kustodiev in illness, went with him to clinics and doctors, remained nearby during operations. The death of the painter worked a lot, and the ailment from which he suffered was progressed.

Several operations were carried out, but temporary relief was replaced by new torment. During one of them, it was necessary to make an important decision: doctors were going to cut their nerves and chose, immobilize their arms or legs. The wife insisted that her husband be left with efficient hands. Since then, Boris Mikhailovich was chained to a wheelchair, but continued to work.

This period of creativity includes its most positive works. Showing the vitality, courage and courage, Kustodiev did not spare himself. The portrait painter died on May 26 at 49 years old. The cause of death was the consequences of the disease and inflammation of the lungs. In the last days of his life, he worked on the sketch of a tripticha entitled "The Joy of Labor and Rest." Proshinskaya raised children on her own.

She survived her husband for 15 years and died in m.