Art deco

Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Masterpieces of Russian painting. The State Tretyakov Gallery.

The State Tretyakov Gallery possesses a unique collection of Russian art which includes masterpieces which span a period of a thousand years.

The Gallery was founded by a Russian merchant and patron of the arts Pavel Tretyakov. He donated his collection to the city of Moscow in 1892. The State Tretyakov Gallery has since become a world-famous museum. Nowadays it contains more than 170,000 works by Russian artists from early religious paintings to modern art.

Kramskoy, Ivan Nikolayevich
An Unknown Lady

 The viewer is intrigued both by the model and her name. We see here depicted a young woman in a carriage against the background of the Anichkov Palace in St Petersburg. The woman is not particularly beautiful but she is impressive and “chic.” Her costume corresponds to the latest fashion of the time and indicates that she belonged to the “ladies of the demi-monde.” Not without reason the critics called her “the coquette in a carriage,” “the dear camellia” and “one of the offspring of big cities.” Kramskoi emphasizes a certain demonism in his heroine’s features - the sensuous lips; eyes that seem to be hazy, under a veil, thick eyebrows forming a broken arc. The topic of the beauty of sin became fashionable among the next generation of Russian artists. The painting is unusually bright, densely painted, and relaxed. Kramskoi clearly tried to shine with his outstanding painterly mastery.

Shishkin, Ivan Ivanovich
Morning in a Pine Wood

The Morning in a Pine Forest turned very popular, being reproduced on various items, including the "Clumsy Bear" chocolates by Krasny Oktyabr. According to one poll, the painting is the second most popular in Russia behind Bogatyrs by Viktor Vasnetsov. Shishkin's similar paintings are the Forest in Spring (1884) and The Sestroretsk Forest (1896).

Vasnetsov, Viktor Mikhaylovich
Heroes (Bogatyri)

Having revived the images of Old Russia's legendary defenders, mighty in their spiritual power, such as Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich, Vasnetsov attempted at the turn of the 20th century to bridge the heroic past of the Russian people and its great future. Concrete as the images might be, the heroes are seen as a mythical epitome of the creative power of the Russian land. Mighty figures on horseback rise like mountains or colossal trees. The hooves of the heroes's horses tread on fragile young growth of fir and pine trees: a metaphor for intergenerational continuity. By turning to a pictoral hyperbole, Vasnetsov imparts to his heroes true qualities of Russian nature. Ilya Muromets epitomizes solidity, wise deliberate ways and tapping of experience and traditions of the people. Proud fighting spirit and desire to defend the motherland are embodied in Dobrynya Nikitich. And the image of Alyosha Popovich reflects a poetical, contemplative streak of the Russian soul, sensitivity to all manifestations of beaut.

Serov, Valentin Aleksandrovich
The rape of Europa

 The rape of Europa is a popular theme in global art. The story is borrowed from Ancient Greek mythology. Europa is the daughter of Phoenician king Agenor. Having turned into a bull, the king of gods Zeus abducted beautiful Europa. The work is produced under the impression of the artist's trip to Greece. Serov turned to monuments of Crete-Mycenaean culture, introducing into the picture's imagery a vessel in the shape of a bull head from the smaller palace in Knossos on the island of Crete, fresco paintings from the Knossos palace with the motif of flying fish and other monuments of the archaic period. Serov draws a comparison between the academic image of antiquity and archaic Antiquity. A unique treatment is also evident in the interpretation of the theme: the rushing forward bull turns back against its will: the uncouth abductor of beauty has underrated her power. Serov's Europa, unlike the frightened heroines of works by old masters, is self-composed. She has a perfectly symmetrical face of Greek Persephone; she embodies the perfection triumphant. The bull's horns take on the shape of a lyre, whose invisible strings seem to give voice to the sky and the sea.

 Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Cast iron pot with a spoon

 

In the Ancient Russia usually lunch was served on the table in the common dish - in poorer families were simple clay pots or cast iron boilers, and in the noble houses - beautiful clay and metal dishes. The peasant huts during dinner the whole family gathered around a large pot of porridge or soup. Serve each separate bowl was not accepted.

 

Russian culture is very rich in various traditional crafts. Many of them are associated with the production of an unusual and very beautiful dishes. For example, for many centuries throughout Russia is famous for the famous Khokhloma painting. This dish is made of wood, and then painted with four colors: black, red, yellow and green. Skilled craftsmen bring to the bowls, cups, spoons, and other products of the finest designs. From under their brushes out unusual flowers, red berries, unusual birds.

  

Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Saint Petersburg

reverse side

Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг) is the second largest city in Russia. It is politically incorporated as a federal subject (a federal city). It is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. It was named Saint Petersburg in 1703. In 1914 the name of the city was changed from Saint Petersburg to Petrograd (Russian: Петрогра́д;), in 1924 to Leningrad (Russian: Ленингра́д), and in 1991, back to Saint Petersburg. In Russian literature, informal documents, and discourse, the word "Saint" is usually omitted, leaving "Petersburg". In casual conversation Russians may drop the "burg" as well, referring to it as "Peter": Russian: Питер (Piter).

 Saint Petersburg is often[quantify] described as the most Westernized city of Russia, as well as its cultural capital. It is the northernmost city in the world with a population of over one million.The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint Petersburg is home to The Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world.A large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks, and businesses have offices in Saint Petersburg. More...

 Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Vologda (Russian: Вологда)

 About Vologda
 More...

This beautiful bookmark of flax brought my friend Yana from his hometown of Vologda.

Vologda is famous for its flax and lace.

Thank you very much, Yana ;)

A book beautifies you in happiness and comforts in sorrow.

Translated from russian :  A book beautifies you in happiness and comforts in sorrow.

Thank you very much for this wonderful bookmark, Ingrida :)

Henri Matisse "Red Fish". From Pushkin Museum,Moscow.

Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse ( 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter. Matisse is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp, as one of the three artists who helped to define the revolutionary developments in the plastic arts in the opening decades of the 20th century, responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture. Although he was initially labelled a Fauve (wild beast), by the 1920s he was increasingly hailed as an upholder of the classical tradition in French painting. His mastery of the expressive language of colour and drawing, displayed in a body of work spanning over a half-century, won him recognition as a leading figure in modern art. More...

Pushkin Museum

Thank you very much,my friend Olia :)

Bookmark-puzzle

Festive Fair on Red Square in Moskow. The beginning of 20 century. Artist- T.Kosurina

Thank you, Marina ;)

Matryoshka

Matryoshka doll (aka Russian nest-ing/ed doll) (Russian: Матрёшка) refers to a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo. Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan, a long and shapeless traditional Russian peasant jumper dress. The figures inside may be of either gender; the smallest, innermost doll is typically a baby lathed from a single piece of wood. Much of the artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be very elaborate. The dolls often follow a theme, aside from the typical traditional peasant girls, the themes vary, from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders. More...

Thank you, Marina ;)

Bookmark-puzzle

Sunday. Saint-Petersburg, the beginning of 20 century. Artist- T.Kosurina

Thank you, Marina ;)

Lighthouse.Saint Petersburg.Russia.

                 Lighthouse on Vasilievsky Island. St.Petersburg, Russia.

http://www.saint-petersburg-apartments.com/en/sightseeing/monuments/sightmonm30.html   
 http://www.galenfrysinger.com/saint_petersburg_lighthouse.htm

Thank you very much, Marina :)

Cute :)

Thank you, Marina :)

Ilustrations to the opera "Eugene Onegin" by P.I.Tchaikovsky

Eugene Onegin (Russian: Евге́ний Оне́гин, ) is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin.
It is a classic of Russian literature, and its eponymous protagonist has served as the model for a number of Russian literary heroes (so-called superfluous men). It was published in serial form between 1825 and 1832. The first complete edition was published in 1833, and the currently accepted version is based on the 1837 publication. More...

Thank you, Marina ;)

Gismonda

Gismonda is Greek melodrama in four acts by Victorien Sardou that premiered in 1894 at Renaissance Theatre. Later it would be adapted into the opera Gismonda by Henry Février. More...

Bookmark from Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.
 The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts (Russian: Музей изобразительных искусств им. А.С. Пушкина) is the largest museum of European art in Moscow, located in Volkhonka street, just opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
More...

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Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia

Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia, (Russian: Александра Павловна: Tsarskoye Selo 9 August 1783 – 16 March 1801 in Vienna) was a daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and sister of Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I. She became Archduchess of Austria upon her marriage to Archduke Joseph of Austria, Governor of Hungary. More...

Bookmark from  the State Tretyakov gallery. The State Tretyakov gallery possesses a unique collection of Russian art which includes masterpieces created for more than a thousand years.

The Gallery was founded by a Russian merchant and maecenas Pavel Tretyakov. He donated his collection to the city of Moscow in 1892. The State Tretyakov gallery has since become a world-famous museum. Nowadays it contains more than 160 000 works by Russian artists from the early religious paintings to the modern art objects.http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/

Thank you, Marina ;)

Bookmark from Zelenogorsk. A small town in Siberia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelenogorsk,_Krasnoyarsk_Krai

Thank you, Marina :)

Russian writer Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy(1828-1910)

 About Leo:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy

The porable of the Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son, also known as the Lost Son is one of the parables of Jesus. It appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament. According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 15:11-32), a father, in response to his demands, gives the younger of his two sons his inheritance before he dies. The younger son, after wasting his fortune (the word 'prodigal' means 'wastefully extravagant'), repents and returns home, where the father holds a feast to celebrate his return. The older son refuses to participate, stating that in all the time the son has worked for the father, he did not even give him a goat to celebrate with his friends. His father reminds the older son that everything the father has is the older son's, but that they should still celebrate the return of the younger son as he has come back to them. It is the third and final part of a cycle on redemption, following the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin.
In Western Catholic tradition, this parable is usually read on the third Sunday of Lent, while in the Eastern Orthodox Church it is read on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. More...

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 Thank you ,Marina ;)