Kramskoy Ivan Nikolaevich (1837 – 1887) – famous painter. He was born in Ostrog, in the modest middle class family, the initial training received in the district school. Drawing engaged in self-taught from childhood, and then, using the advice of a fan of drawing, and began working in watercolor. At the age of sixteen he entered the Kharkov retouchers one photographer.
After moving in 1856 in St. Petersburg, went on to do the same at the capital's best photographers. The following year, decided to go to Aqd. Arts, where he had rapid success in drawing and painting. As a student of prof. Markov, received a small silver. medal for drawing from life (in 1858), the same medal for the painting "The Dying Lenski (in 1860), a large silver. Medal sketch from nature (in 1861) and a small gold medal, written by the program now: "Moses exudes water from a stone." Kramskoy ought to compete for a large gold medals, but at this time between young artists, academics have arisen and matured doubts about his academic teaching, and they filed a petition to the board of the Academy that they were allowed to choose each according to their inclinations, the theme for the painting on the competition large gold medal.
Academy reacted unfavorably to the proposed innovation (One of the professors of the academy, architect Ton, even described the attempt of the young artists: "In the old days you would have given for it in the soldiers", resulting in 14 young artists, with Kramskoy at the head, was abandoned in 1863 PM, write on a given topic Academy – "Feast in Valhalla, and left the academy.
First, for priiskaniya livelihood, they have formed an artistic team, and in 1870 some of them, joining the young Moscow artists, with Myasoyedov headed, founded the Association of traveling exhibitions. Kramskoy became a portraitist. Later in his artistic activity Kramskoy constantly evinces the paintings – the works of imagination and willingly given to him, when life's circumstances is permitted. Even during his stay in academics, he has served his professor Markov, using a year of time for drawing cartons to the ceiling in the temple of the Saviour (Moscow), based on sketches by Markov.
Subsequently Kramskoy had to write on these cartons in the community with their colleagues in the academy, B. Venigom, Zhuravlev, and Koshelev, most bubble, remaining unfinished due to disagreements Markov I. Makarov, which he originally commissioned the work. For the finest works is not portraiture Archaeology include: "May Night" (after Gogol), "Lady in the Moonlight", "Inconsolable Grief", "forester", "contemplator", "Christ in the Desert" and some others. He put a lot of work to compose the picture "Jesus Christ, ridiculed as king of the Jews" – paintings, which he called "Laughter", and many had hoped for her. But he failed to provide a way to completely surrender to this work, which remained far unfinished.
Portraits he painted (so referred to. "Sauce") and wrote many of whom special mention should be made portraits Botkin, Ivan Shishkin, Grigorovich, Mrs. Vaughan, a family (women portraits) Ginzburg, boy Jew, ASSuvorin unknown, gr. Tolstoy, gr. Litke, gr. DA Tolstoy, Goncharov, and many others. They are full of similarities and talented characteristics of the person to whom the portrait was written, the above-mentioned painting "Inconsolable Grief" is actually a portrait that has all the quality and dignity of the picture.
But not all of his works of equal strength, that he himself admitted without hesitation, and sometimes he is not interested in the person with whom he had to write, and then became the only conscientious recorder. Kramskoy understand the landscape and although not painted anything of the sort, but in the "May Night", as well as in other "Nights," perfectly conveyed moonlight not only human figures but also the landscape environment.
Technique of painting in Archaeology was – a thin finish, which is sometimes considered some of the unnecessary or excessive. Nevertheless Kramskoy wrote quickly and confidently: a few hours getting a portrait of similarity: in this respect is remarkable portrait of Dr. Rauhfusa, the last farewell work Archaeology.(Portrait was one morning, but remained unfinished because Kramskoy this work is dead.) Many products Archaeology is located in the famous Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow (by the way, pictures of "Inconsolable Grief" Christ in the Desert ", and" May Night " ; portraits Tretyakov, gr. Tolstoy, DV Grigorovich, and NA Nekrasov, PI Melnikov, VV Samoilov, Saltykov, and others; drawings : "A green oak (white ink pen), portrait of Vasistova (ink). Yaroshenka N. (watercolor), etc.). Kramskoy also engaged in chalcography strong vodka, among them executed etchings, the best – the portraits of Emperor Alexander III, when he was Crown Prince, Peter the Great and T. Shevchenko.
Shall it be Kramskoy major historical painter – hard to say. Rationality prevailed over his imagination as he himself admitted in an intimate conversation, and correspondence, putting Repin above him on the merits of talent. Generally Kramskoy was very picky about the artists than made himself a lot poritsateley, but at the same time strictly belonged to him and tried to self-improvement. His comments and views on art were not only the nature of personal beliefs, but usually were conclusive, as much as possible at all in matters of esthetics. Its main demand – the rich content and nationality of works of art, their poetry, but nothing less, he demanded proper and good painting. In this regard, it should be noted, and this can be verified by reading his correspondence, published by A. Suvorin of thought and, edited by Vladimir Stasov (Ivan Kramskoy, his life, conversations and art-critical essays. "( SPb., 1888).
Not that he judged correctly by first impressions, but always more or less motivated change opinions. Sometimes the views of his long remained hesitant until he could find no compromise. Kramskoy not had much education, have always regretted that, and fill this gap permanent serious reading and the community of intelligent people, so that he himself had been a useful companion for artists. Kramskoy also known for his teaching, as Lecturer in 1862 in the School of Drawing Society for the Encouragement of Artists. See the recollections of his pupils EK Gauger and EN Mihaltsevoy in the above book Stasov.
Significant traces he left behind his antiakademicheskoy effort begun in 1863, since leaving the Academy he and his comrades, he was constantly agitated in favor assimilation of the principles of free artistic development of young people. Although in his later years he seemed inclined to reconciliation with the academy, but it was because he thought he had hoped to wait for opportunities to transform according to his basic views. This shows that he was an agitator is not for the love of campaigning, which was ready to stop as soon believed that his cherished goal can be achieved by other means. In general, the importance Archaeology in the history of Russian art in two ways: as an artist and as a public figure.