The Russian Museum is a unique collection of cultural heritage objects in the field of Russian painting. The collection of the museum includes thousands of paintings on various subjects - the works of artists of the past and present. Among the many masterpieces, there are those that stand out especially for their uniqueness and their effect on the viewer. You should definitely see them live!
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"The Last Day of Pompeii", Karl Bryullov, 1833
For the full historical accuracy of the canvas, the artist personally attended the excavations of the city of Pompeii, and also consulted with archaeologists and historians many times. The painting was painted by the painter for six years. As a result, Bryullov was awarded a gold medal from the Paris Academy of Arts.
"The Knight at the Crossroads", Viktor Vasnetsov, 1882
Vasnetsov decided to paint this picture, as he was a fan of Russian folklore. The masterpiece was created based on the epic “Ilya Muromets and the robbers”. There are about ten versions of the painting "A Knight at the Crossroads", including a trial version of the painting "A Warrior in a Helmet with Chain Mail". The masterpiece breathes with severity, and the viewer has a feeling of hopelessness, the end of all roads.
"The Ninth Wave", Ivan Aivazovsky, 1850
The painting is considered one of the best works by Aivazovsky. Emperor Nicholas I purchased it for his collection. The artist masterfully conveyed the realism of the seascape. The sky in the picture had to be rewritten, but in the end it turned out to achieve an incredible effect in the image of the rays making their way through the clouds.
"Barge Haulers on the Volga", Ilya Repin, 1873
"Barge Haulers on the Volga" is a painting from the early period of Repin's work, as well as the most famous canvas of the Itinerant artist, dedicated to the difficult life of the people. The inspiration for the creation of the work was the barge haulers who were first seen by the artist, who worked on the Neva. They made a strong impression on Repin, since their hard life contrasted with the well-being of other sectors of society.
"Moonlit Night on the Dnieper", Arkhip Kuindzhi, 1880
Kuindzhi, who is recognized as a master in working with light and shadow, thought for a long time over the artistic solution of the image of the great Dnieper. The canvas surprises the audience with its unique light contrast: black shadows are complemented by light highlights. For the first time in the history of Russia, an exhibition of one painting was organized especially to show the masterpiece in St. Petersburg.
The Cossacks, Ilya Repin, 1891
Another masterpiece by Ilya Repin, dedicated to the legend of the times of the Russian-Turkish war. Tradition says that at the request of the Ottoman Sultan, the Cossacks had to submit to him, but the answer from the Cossacks was a letter full of ridicule. Almost all the characters in the picture were sketched from sitters.
"Defense of Sevastopol", Alexander Deineki, 1942
The Great Patriotic War was reflected in the painting by Alexander Deineka. The main feature of the masterpiece is the disproportionality of the figures. Against the background of the German invaders, the defenders of the homeland look like giants. Deineki noted that the picture seemed to him "real" and that he would like to see all his pictures.
"Passage of Suvorov through the Alps", Vasily Surikov, 1899
Vasily Surikov is famous for his historical paintings that adorn the walls of not only the Russian Museum, but also the Tretyakov Gallery. The painting "Suvorov's Crossing the Alps" was created by the artist specifically for the centenary of the Swiss campaign of Suvorov, in order to emphasize the heroic feat of the soldiers. To achieve maximum reliability in the image of the Alps, Surikov personally traveled to Switzerland.
"The conquest of Siberia by Yermak Timofeevich", Vasily Surikov, 1895
Another masterpiece by Surikov, depicting the battle of the squad of Yermak Timofeevich and the troops of the Siberian Khan Kuchum. Two troops, like two raging elements, collide with each other. The abundance of depicted historical details testifies to the skill of the artist. The large-scale canvas became the main event at the twenty-third exhibition of the Association of the Itinerants and was soon acquired by Emperor Nicholas II.
"Black Circle", Kazimir Malevich, 1923
The most famous painting by Malevich - "Black Square" became a real sensation for the Russian avant-garde. However, the "Black Circle" is also of no less interest to critics and art connoisseurs. Malevich painted several versions of the painting, which were shown at various exhibitions. "Black Circle" and "Black Square" were the beginning of such a trend in painting as Suprematism.
"Guests from overseas", Nicholas Roerich, 1902
Nicholas Roerich, who became famous for his Himalayan landscapes, also painted paintings on folk subjects. The artist came up with the idea of the canvas while traveling along the “great waterway” to Novgorod. The style of writing shows the influence of Kuindzhi. However, Roerich did not just copy, but, being guided by the principles of modernity, combined the aesthetics of the past with modern perception.
"Six-winged Seraphim", Mikhail Vrubel, 1904
Demons and mysterious, mystical creatures are Vrubel's favorite motifs. "Six-winged Seraphim" is considered an illustration to Pushkin's poem "The Prophet". The work scares visitors with its gloom. Some experts attribute this to the fact that at the time of writing the canvas, Vrubel was deeply depressed and often experienced hallucinations.
"At the door of the mosque", Vasily Vereshchagin, 1873
Vereshchagin is a unique painter who has repeatedly visited the battlefield. Thanks to his experience, Vereshchagin managed to paint a picture that most realistically shows the character of the eastern states. "At the Doors of the Mosque" belongs to the Turkestan series of works by Vereshchagin, which he wrote under the impression of a trip to Central Asia.
"Portrait of Ida Rubinstein", Valentin Serov, 1910
The painting is a vivid example of Russian Art Nouveau painting. Ida Rubinstein, a famous dancer and actress, posed for the picture. According to the author, he found in her the embodiment of the Ancient East. Despite the fact that the painting was purchased and transferred to the Russian Museum, Serov's teacher Ilya Repin did not approve of the portrait.
"Death of the Commissar", Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, 1928
The picture shows one of the moments of the civil war. The peculiarity of the work "The Death of the Commissar" is that in it death on the battlefield is shown as commonplace. The composition contains blue, green and ocher colors, which gives the impression of a plastically solid work.
In addition to the above pictures, we advise you to get acquainted with such masterpieces as:
- "Suprematism" (Kazimir Malevich);
- "The merchant's wife at tea" (Boris Kustodiev);
- "Portrait of Akhmatova" (Nathan Altman);
- "Mother" (Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin);
- "Cyclist" (Natalia Goncharova).
