| |
The first half of the 19th century did not
bring important changes to Russian art, in which the Academy in Saint
Petersburg continued to play the major role. It could not have been otherwise
since the Academy had controlled all artistic life and almost all its members
were its former students who had later become outstanding painters. Already by
the beginning of the century over 300 architects, painters and sculptors had
been trained by the Academy and many of them sent abroad to complete their
studies. Then in 1820 The Society for the Encouragement of Artists was founded,
which took it upon itself to help painters travel abroad. Those who visited the
West continued to be impressed by European taste, and mostly by the Italian,
but very few dared to challenge the Academy's conservative formality or admit
that official art threatened the free development of the creativity of the
nation. The liberal trend of the Russian intelligentsia that first spread in
politics and literature was slower and less radical in painting. Its first free
manifestation was the introduction of scenes and subjects that were more closer
to ordinary life, a sort of Romanticism in painting, followed by a Realism that
would include various segments of the society, including the poorest peasants,
not only the privileged minority. At the same time interest in art continued to
increase, and the reputation of painters grew, an improvement compared to the
previous centuries when by the great majority of people they were considered
some sort of craftsmen.
In 1833 Moscow inaugurated its first School of Painting and Sculpture, and
similar courses were offered later in some other major cities. By this time
Western Europe had already turned its back on Academism and pompous display,
and was in the process of forming the Romantic school. Russian painters got
acquainted with Romanticism after the fall of Napoleon. First the Russian army
marched through Europe, followed by Russian stipendists and students who
resumed their journeys to Italy and France to learn about new arts and trends
from the culturally more advanced Europe. However, assimilation of novelties in
Russia has usually been a long and sometimes painful experience, and the old
schools and academies continued to exert a strong influence and remain
unchallenged for several decades. Then, of course, it all depended on the
talent of each individual artist.
|
|
