Portraiture in painting is a genre of fine art in which artists strive not so much for external resemblance as they try to reflect the inner character of the person depicted. A portrait can be individual or collective; the master artist creates an image typical of a certain era.
History of the genre
How did it turn out during the ancient art. On the island of Crete, during excavations, many frescoes with images of women were found. Other art monuments date back to Egypt, where wooden boards were discovered with portraits depicted on them using the encaustic technique (these are wax-based paints). During the Middle Ages, portraits in painting existed only to depict donors and were part of the general artistic composition on religious themes.
The heyday of painting fell on the Renaissance. Renaissance artists preached humanistic ideas and took the world as a basis individual person, landscapes and interiors were given a modest role as background. The masterpiece of that time was La Gioconda, and its author Leonardo da Vinci became famous for centuries.
Titian made a huge contribution to the development of the genre; he created a whole gallery of portraits of his contemporaries. Self-portraits of artists such as Jan van Eyck and Albrecht Durer are examples for many portrait artists.
Portrait of a woman in painting
The eternal theme of art is the depiction of the image of a woman. Each era drew its own ideal of a woman, and her character attracted special attention many artists. Looking at the portrait of those times, we can see how the appearance and inner world influenced by certain events public life, art, literature, fashion.
Russian art in general, and portraiture in painting in particular, show how the ideal of female beauty has changed over the centuries. This is due to a change in worldview, habits, customs, with a change in systems of government and generations.
Images of women
By the end of the 18th century, Russian portraiture in painting reached its peak. And one of the most important and popular topics is image feminine charm. On the canvases we see flirtatious and seductive women. And in the portraits of foreign artists, Russian ladies and young ladies look like dolls, they coyly and playfully smile, and this makes one look like the other.
Russian artists I.P. Argunov, D.G.Levitsky, V.L. Borovikovsky sees a woman differently. They bring psychological revitalization and concrete character to a woman’s portrait. In painting they try to convey a living and real picture of the morals, tastes and fashion of the era of female omnipotence. We see the whole spectrum female characters: arrogant cold beauty and tender soft dreaminess, coquetry and modesty, spiritual charm and severe secrecy with isolation. But to dominate the hearts of men is the main thing.
New ideals
The era of romanticism of the 19th century was designed to show a woman’s special sensitivity and subtle movements of the soul. The work of Karamzin and Zhukovsky had a huge influence on artists of the beginning of the century, for example, O.A. Kiprensky. Their canvases reflected all the features of romanticism in the portrait genre. In painting and music, as well as poetry of this time, motifs of personal lyrical experiences and the mysterious beauty of native antiquity were in demand (A. N. Verstovsky’s romantic opera “Askold’s Grave” of 1835 was especially popular).
But by the middle of the century, the sublimity and dreaminess of female images disappeared without a trace. From the paintings of this period you can study fashion trends. Feathers on hats, jewelry, and lace are carefully painted; getting carried away by the details, artists often forget about the character himself. Arrogance reigns in the images of secular beauties, and that warmth and simplicity is no longer there.
But some artists of the beginning of the century, in particular Venetsianov and Tropinin, in search of “living” images turn to to the common people. The "common people" movement emerged portrait of a woman, an idealized image of a working woman is created.
Paintings by K.S. Petrova-Vodkina
The new century is characterized by the search for new forms in the portrait genre. In painting (the 6th grade of the school studies in detail the topic “Female Images” in art classes), artists turn to the past and the future in search of a female ideal. The theme of motherhood and femininity occupies a large place in the work of V. Petrov-Vodkin. In the work “Mother” the artist achieved a full disclosure of the theme. His painting is a hymn to family happiness and the sanctity of love. In the image of the mother, we feel moral strength, purity and sublimity; hugging the child to herself, she resembles the Madonna.
Painting “Our Lady. Tenderness of Evil Hearts” was written by him during the First World War; it is the artist’s emotional response to the bloody events of those times. He created a sublime and reverent image, which in terms of the depth of its impact is one of the most powerful in his work.
The image of a woman has changed from era to era, but has retained the main enduring features: beauty, tenderness, motherhood.
Throughout long history humanity female image excited painters and became a true source of inspiration for them. The creators who sang in their works the tenderness, beauty, and unsolved mystery of the representatives of the fair half gave preference to a subjective worldview. For example, the famous founder of cubism Picasso said that he was not painting a woman, but a picture.
The art of primitive society and ancient Egypt
Let's not take into account primitive societies. In the rock carvings found, the woman appeared stout and overweight. The desire to convey, first of all, her main purpose - motherhood - was obvious.
Women that men admired Ancient Egypt, V fine arts they appeared as graceful beauties with light skin not scorched by the sun.
The Middle Ages and the sinfulness of women
In the Middle Ages, women were associated with sin, and the use of cosmetics was condemned by church laws.
When people look at the works of Mary Jane Ansell, it remains a mystery to everyone how to convey the wonderful images of the heroines, breathing life into each of them. Connoisseurs contemporary art her paintings are stunning, and many people think that this is not a skillfully executed artistic canvas, but a real photograph of a modern charmer.
Each work of art that evokes special feelings in viewers is the embodiment of the artist’s soul, and the magic of famous paintings created several centuries ago fascinates contemporaries to this day.
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We first of all know two things about the painting: its author and, possibly, the history of the canvas. But we don’t know much about the fates of those who look at us from the canvases.
website I decided to talk about women whose faces are familiar to us, but their stories are not.
Zhanna Samari
Auguste Renoir, Portrait of the Actress Jeanne Samary, 1877
Actress Jeanne Samari, although she could not become a stage star (she played mainly maids), was lucky in something else: for some time she lived not far from the studio of Renoir, who painted four portraits of her in 1877-1878, thereby making her famous much more than her acting career could do. Zhanna played in plays from the age of 18, at 25 she got married and gave birth to three children, then even wrote a children's book. But this charming lady, unfortunately, did not live long: at the age of 33 she fell ill with typhoid fever and died.
Cecilia Gallerani
Leonardo da Vinci, "Lady with an Ermine"
1489-1490
Cecilia Gallerani was a girl from a noble Italian family, who at the age of 10 (!) was already engaged. However, when the girl was 14, the engagement was broken for unknown reasons, and Cecilia was sent to a monastery, where she met (or it was all set up) with the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. An affair began, Cecilia became pregnant and the Duke settled the girl in his castle, but then the time came to enter into a dynastic marriage with another woman, who, of course, did not like the presence of her mistress in their house. Then, after Gallerani gave birth, the duke took his son for himself, and married her to the impoverished count.
In this marriage, Cecilia gave birth to four children, holding almost the very first in Europe literary salon, visited the Duke and enjoyed playing with his child from his new mistress. After a while, Cecilia’s husband died, war came, she lost her well-being and found shelter in the house of the sister of that same Duke’s wife - it was in such wonderful relationships that she managed to be with people. After the war, Gallerani returned her estate, where she lived until her death at the age of 63.
Zinaida Yusupova
V.A. Serov, “Portrait of Princess Zinaida Yusupova”, 1902
The richest Russian heiress, the last of the Yusupov family, Princess Zinaida was incredibly beautiful, and, despite the fact that her favor was sought, among others, by august persons, she wanted to marry for love. She fulfilled her desire: the marriage was happy and brought two sons. Yusupova spent a lot of time and effort on charitable activities, and after the revolution she continued it in exile. Her beloved eldest son died in a duel when the princess was 47 years old, and she could hardly bear this loss. With the outbreak of unrest, the Yusupovs left St. Petersburg and settled in Rome, and after the death of her husband, the princess moved to her son in Paris, where she spent the rest of her days.
Maria Lopukhina
V.L. Borovikovsky, “Portrait of M.I. Lopukhina", 1797
Borovikovsky painted many portraits of Russian noblewomen, but this one is the most charming. Maria Lopukhina, a representative of the Tolstoy count family, is depicted here at the tender age of 18 years. The portrait was commissioned by her husband Stepan Avraamovich Lopukhin shortly after the wedding. Ease and a slightly arrogant look seem either to be a common pose for such a portrait of the era of sentimentalism, or signs of a melancholic and poetic disposition. The fate of this mysterious girl turned out to be sad: just 6 years after painting, Maria died of consumption.
Giovanina and Amacilia Pacini
Karl Bryullov, “Horsewoman”, 1832
Bryullov’s “Horsewoman” is a brilliant ceremonial portrait in which everything is luxurious: the brightness of the colors, the splendor of the draperies, and the beauty of the models. It depicts two girls who bore the surname Pacini: the eldest Giovanina is sitting on a horse, the younger Amatzilia is looking at her from the porch. The painting was ordered to Karl Bryullov, her long-time lover, by their adoptive mother, Countess Yulia Pavlovna Samoilova, one of the most beautiful women Russia and the heiress of a colossal fortune. The Countess guaranteed a large dowry for her grown-up daughters. But it turned out that by old age she was practically bankrupt, and then adopted daughters Giovanina and Amazilia collected the promised money and property from the countess through the court.
Simonetta Vespucci
Sandro Botticelli, "Birth of Venus"
1482–1486
The famous painting by Botticelli depicts Simonetta Vespucci, the first beauty of the Florentine Renaissance. Simonetta was born into a wealthy family, at the age of 16 she married Marco Vespucci (a relative of Amerigo Vespucci, who “discovered” America and gave the continent his name). After the wedding, the newlyweds settled in Florence and were received at the court of Lorenzo de Medici, which in those years was famous for its magnificent feasts and receptions.
Beautiful, at the same time very modest and friendly, Simonetta quickly fell in love with Florentine men. The ruler of Florence, Lorenzo, himself tried to court her, but his brother Giuliano sought her most actively. Simonetta's beauty inspired many artists of the time, among whom was Sandro Botticelli. It is believed that from the moment they met, Simonetta was the model for all Madonnas and Venuses painted by Botticelli. At the age of 23, Simonetta died of consumption, despite the efforts of the best court doctors. After this, the artist depicted his muse only from memory, and in his old age he bequeathed to be buried next to her, which was done.
Vera Mamontova
V.A. Serov, “Girl with Peaches”, 1887
The most famous painting The master portrait of Valentin Serov was painted in the estate of the wealthy industrialist Savva Ivanovich Mamontov. Every day for two months his daughter, 12-year-old Vera, posed for the artist. The girl grew up and turned into a charming girl, married out of mutual love to Alexander Samarin, belonging to the famous noble family. After honeymoon In Italy, the family settled in the city of Bogorodsk, where three children were born one after another. But unexpectedly in December 1907, just 5 years after the wedding, Vera Savvishna died of pneumonia. She was only 32 years old, and her husband never remarried.
Alexandra Petrovna Struyskaya
F.S. Rokotov, “Portrait of Struyskaya”, 1772
This portrait by Rokotov is like an airy half-hint. Alexandra Struyskaya was 18 when she was married to a very rich widower. There is a legend that for her wedding her husband gave her nothing less than a new church. And all my life I wrote poetry to her. It is not known for certain whether this marriage was happy, but everyone who visited their house paid attention to how different the spouses were from each other. Over 24 years of marriage, Alexandra bore her husband 18 children, 10 of whom died in infancy. After her husband's death, she lived for another 40 years, firmly managed the estate and left her children a decent fortune.
Galina Vladimirovna Aderkas
B.M. Kustodiev “Merchant's Wife at Tea”, 1918
Kustodiev’s “Merchant’s Wife at Tea” is a real illustration of that bright and well-fed Russia, where there are fairs, carousels and the “crunch of French bread.” The picture was painted in the post-revolutionary famine year of 1918, when one could only dream of such abundance.
Galina Vladimirovna Aderkas, a natural baroness from a family that traces its history back to one Livonian knight of the 18th century, posed for the merchant’s wife in this portrait-picture. In Astrakhan, Galya Aderkas was the Kustodievs' housemate, from the sixth floor; The artist’s wife brought the girl to the studio after noticing the colorful model. During this period, Aderkas was very young - a first-year medical student - and in the sketches her figure looks much thinner. After graduating from university and working for some time as a surgeon, she left the profession and Soviet years she sang in a Russian choir, took part in dubbing films, got married and began performing in the circus.
Lisa del Giocondo
Leonardo da Vinci, "Mona Lisa", 1503-1519.
Perhaps one of the most famous and mysterious portraits of all times is the famous Mona Lisa by the great Leonardo. Among the many versions of who owns the legendary smile, the following was officially confirmed in 2005: the canvas depicts Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of the Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. The portrait may have been commissioned from the artist to commemorate the birth of a son and the purchase of a house.
Together with her husband, Lisa raised five children and, most likely, her marriage was based on love. When her husband died of the plague and Lisa was also struck by this serious illness, one of the daughters was not afraid to take her mother with her and left her. Mona Lisa recovered and lived for some time with her daughters, dying at the age of 63.
How often do we admire works of art without thinking about who is depicted in them? Only the names of the royals remain in memory, and the identity of the girl, whose foggy silhouette is visible in the corner of the picture, remains unknown. About the women who posed for artists famous paintings, will tell todayAmateur. media.
Dutch Mona Lisa
The famous “Dutch Mona Lisa”, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Jan Vermeer was painted around 1665. For a long time the painting was simply called “Girl in a Turban”, its modern name she received it only in the 20th century. The depiction of turbans in paintings has become popular since the 15th century, and Vermeer often uses this detail of the toilet in portraits. The whole picture was painted in a special genre “troni”, which meant the image of a person’s head.
The "Dutch Mona Lisa" has long been called "The Girl in the Turban"
True to its name, the viewer's eye is drawn to a large pearl earring.
According to the most common version, it is believed that his young daughter Maria posed for Vermeer’s portrait, although some researchers still suggest that it could be the daughter of the artist’s patron, philanthropist Ruyven. Maria was one of Vermeer's 15 children - his marriage was truly happy. The artist loved his wife, and she often posed for him for paintings.
Mystical portrait of young Lopukhina
The portrait of Maria Ivanovna Lopukhina, one of the representatives of the Tolstoy count family, is one of the most famous works Russian artist Borovikovsky. It was painted in 1797 and is now kept in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Portrait of M. I. Lopukhina is one of Borovikovsky’s most famous works
The poet Yakov Polonsky dedicated his poems to the girl depicted in the portrait: “She passed away a long time ago, and those eyes are no longer there, and that smile is gone that silently expressed suffering - the shadow of love, and thoughts - the shadow of sadness, but Borovikovsky saved her beauty.” The artist uses traditional portrait painting technique - surrounding the character with objects that help characterize him. These are the features of the Russian landscape, and a delicate shawl, and drooping rosebuds.
The portrait of Lopukhina is considered the most poetic in Borovikovsky’s work
It is interesting that the portrait of Maria Lopukhina was used to scare young girls for a long time. The fact is that soon after painting the picture, a young woman at the age of 21 died of consumption. Many believed that the portrait seemed to have taken her life, and if the girls looked at the painting, they would also soon die.
Girl with an umbrella from Monet's paintings
Claude Monet's famous painting "Field of Poppies at Argenteuil" was painted in 1873. This painting appeared at an exhibition of the Impressionists in 1874, when they first declared themselves as a separate group. The two figures in the foreground are Monet's wife Camila and their son Jean.
Claude Monet's painting "Field of Poppies at Argenteuil" was painted in 1873
Monet painted, as was his custom, en plein air, trying to capture the atmosphere of airiness and movement. Interesting fact, which few people pay attention to: in the left corner of the picture there is another similar couple, a woman with a child. A barely noticeable path winds between the two couples.
The painting depicts two couples, one of which is Monet's wife and son
The love story of Monet and Camila was tragic: Monet’s father more than once threatened to deprive his son of his maintenance if he did not part with his beloved. They lived apart for a long time, but Monet could not last long without his family. However, the artist often asked his wife to pose for his paintings. We can see Camila both on the canvas “Lady in Green” and among “Women in the Garden”. There are also several separate portraits of Camila and their son. And when Camila died, he drew her posthumous portrait, which differs from the rest of the artist’s works.
Monet painted a posthumous portrait of his wife under the impression of her death
Impressed by the death of his beloved wife, Monet painted her posthumous portrait
The actress who charmed Renoir
Auguste Renoir, one of the most famous impressionist artists, loved and knew how to depict female beauty. Actress Jeanne Samary was his favorite model. Renoir painted 4 portraits from her, but the most famous was “Portrait of the Actress Jeanne Samary.” It was written in 1877 and is now kept in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.
The main shades used in the portrait are pink and green.
Zhanna was from a theatrical family and did not choose her field for long. She made her theater debut in the role of Dorina in Moliere's Tartuffe, and her fame grew rapidly. Before her marriage, the girl often went to Renoir’s studio and posed for him. True, she attended sessions irregularly, and this angered the artist. But he was completely fascinated by the grace of the actress, so over and over again he invited her to become his model. But her fame and happiness did not last long: she died at the age of 33 from typhus.
Dancer with the flexibility of a snake
The famous author of “Girl with Peaches” Valentin Serov, having met Ida Rubinstein in Paris in 1910, asked her to become a model for the new painting. Before that, she posed for many artists - Kees van Dongen, Antonio de la Gandara, Andre de Segonzac, Leon Bakst, and later for Romaine Brooks.
The portrait of Ida Rubenstein was almost immediately purchased from Serov
But it was the portrait of the Russian artist that became the most famous. The painting was almost immediately purchased from the author and placed in the collection of the Russian Museum.
Serov's daughter Olga wrote that in reality Ida was not so thin at all, and the artist deliberately stylized her
Ida Rubinstein was a famous Russian dancer and actress. From 1909 to 1911 she performed as part of Sergei Diaghilev's troupe. Rubinstein was tall, but her grace amazed the audience, and she was described as a dancer “with the flexibility of a snake and the plasticity of a woman.” The roles of Cleoparta and Zobeide became her star roles. After leaving Diaghilev, she created her own troupe, in which she performed for a long time. And in 1921 she even starred in the Italian film “The Ship”.
